Ceresara amid cherry orchards and living history

Ceresara amid cherry orchards and living history

The area around Ceresara displays its rural character particularly in its cherry orchards: more than 6,000 cherry trees grow around the main town and its two hamlets. The Seriola Marchionale also runs through the area. The former irrigation canal is of historical and landscape value.

Churches, towers, and palazzi

The parish church of Santissima Trinità has an original structure dating from the 12th or 13th century, which was expanded in 1724. The church also houses an organ that was transferred there after the demolition of the Jewish synagogue in Mantua.

The Torre Gonzaghesca in Ceresara originated as a barbican that was transformed into a tower through successive alterations and additions. In San Martino Gusnago, Palazzo Secco Pastore consists of a central section dating from the 15th century and two lateral wings from the 19th century. Some rooms in the palazzo also preserve 15th-century frescoes.

The Santuario della Madonna della Possenta houses a terracotta statue of the Madonna and Child attributed to the 15th century. The sanctuary was restored in the second half of the 15th century at the request of the people of Ceresara and was later dedicated to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Access to the Santuario is possible upon request to the sacristan.

Festivals with historical connections

The Festa de la Saresa has been held every year since 2009 on the first weekend of June in the historic center of Ceresara. Every September, the Convivio a Palazzo brings a 1491 banquet back to life through theatrical prologues, historical dinners, and performances. The Fiera della Possenta renews the celebration of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary held on March 25; in the past, this celebration took place at Ceresara’s Marian sanctuary of the same name.

On foot, by bicycle, and through the cherry orchards

The Passeggiata tra i ciliegi in fiore is an approximately eight-kilometer-long, non-competitive walk through the cherry orchards in the Ceresara area and is also open to families. Its approximate length provides a concrete framework for personal day planning. The routes suggested in Ceresara can be experienced on foot, by bicycle, or in a combination of both. This allows the landscape to be explored in different ways depending on the desired pace and focus, without the walk being geared toward competition.

Dishes featuring cherries

Two dishes place cherries in different culinary contexts: Tortello della Possenta is filled with cherries and ricotta, while Torta Dolceresa is made with chocolate and cherries. Both specialties thus feature an ingredient that is also visibly part of the local scenery in the cherry orchards around Ceresara.

More destinations to read about

If you would like to add more places to your trip, you can find Revere, Gonzaga, Barche, Davini, Gazzuolo, Goito, Pomponesco and Castel Goffredo here.

For the overview of the broader trip: Mantua.