Rovigo: Art, Theatre and Cycling Routes

Rovigo combines art collections, distinctive buildings and routes through the river landscape of Polesine. This character is particularly evident in the historic old town: it can easily be explored on foot or by bicycle and is accessible from the FS railway station as well as from the surrounding car parks.

Art and History at Palazzo Roverella

Palazzo Roverella was built from 1474 onwards and preserves original decorative elements of Renaissance architecture. Today, it houses the collection of the Pinacoteca of the Accademia dei Concordi and the Episcopal Seminary of Rovigo, as well as changing art and photography exhibitions. The Pinacoteca in Palazzo Roverella presents paintings spanning seven centuries – from the Gothic period and Venetian painting of the 16th and 17th centuries to the most important Venetian painters of the 18th century.

The Accademia dei Concordi was founded in 1580 on the initiative of Count Gaspare Campo.

Museums and Architecture in Polesine

The Museo dei Grandi Fiumi presents the archaeological, cultural and ecological heritage of Polesine, a region shaped by Italy’s great rivers, the Po and the Adige. The exhibition combines original artefacts dating from the 2nd millennium BC to the beginning of the modern era with interactive reproductions, scenographic installations, multimedia installations, dioramas and models. The museum also includes a Roman lapidarium outdoors and the new “Il Museo in Scena” hall, dedicated to the artist, director and set designer Gabbris Ferrari, who was born in Rovigo.

The buildings outside the museums also tell stories of different periods. The Torre Donà is about 60 metres high and is considered one of Italy’s most important early medieval towers. Palazzo Roncale was built between 1550 and 1562 to a design by the Veronese architect Michele Sanmicheli. The San Bartolomeo architectural complex in Rovigo originated in the 13th century and reached its greatest flourishing in the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Olivetan monastery was expanded.

La Rotonda is known for its octagonal floor plan. Its interior is decorated with Baroque teleri, including works by Francesco Maffei and Antonio Zanchi. The bell tower of La Rotonda is 57 metres high and was created by Baldassarre Longhena in 1773. The Teatro Sociale was built from 1817 onwards in the Neoclassical style to a design by the Rovigo-born architect Sante Baseggio. After a fire in 1902, it was rebuilt in 1904; its pictorial decorations were among the early examples in Veneto of the new design principles of the Liberty style.

Theatre Experiences and Practical Planning

Since 1967, the Teatro Sociale has been the only Teatro di tradizione in Polesine. It offers opera, drama, dance and children’s theatre, as well as symphonic, chamber music and jazz seasons. A guided tour of the Teatro Sociale lasts about one and a half hours, includes the auditorium, the Ridotto and the stage, and must be booked in advance.

Rovigo by Bicycle and on Regional Routes

Several routes of different lengths are available for cycling plans. The Anello di Rovigo is a 71.2-kilometre cycling loop along the Adige and Canal Bianco towards the Adriatic. I luoghi degli Olivetani is completely flat and runs as a 25-kilometre loop partly on cycle paths, partly on paved roads that are sometimes busy, and partly on unpaved paths. The Via dell'Archeologia is a Bike-&Boat route from Rovigo to Adria.

The road connections also make the location convenient for excursions. From Rovigo, the S.R. 443 leads to Adria; other roads run via Loreo, Rosolina–Taglio di Po and Ariano. The Rovigo–Chioggia connection stops in Adria, Loreo and Rosolina.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

For further travel planning, you can also discover Cavanella Po, Porto Tolle, Crespino, Occhiobello, Pontecchio Polesine, Costa di Rovigo, Castelguglielmo Rovigo and Salara.

To the higher-level travel overview: Rovigo.