Cappella: Mills, River Landscape and Local History

Cappella brings together river landscapes, local history and everyday Italian culture within a closely connected narrative setting. Particularly characteristic are the Dese with its historic mills and the striking parish church; in addition, there is the Festa del Pomodoro in Cappella di Scorzè.

Cycling along the Dese

Route RV 14 – Da Venezia alla Pedemontana connects Venice and Asolo over 79 kilometers. At kilometer 27.5, it reaches the Dese River at Mulino Cosma in Cappella di Scorzè. From there, a cycle and pedestrian path created by the Municipality of Scorzè begins, winding along the Dese for approximately 5 kilometers to the private Mulino Todori in the oasis of the same name. The different distance figures help you distinguish the route in its total length from an individual section along the river and structure your own daily plans realistically.

Mulino Cosma is the fourth mill built along the Dese within the municipal area of Scorzè. The structure is probably a mill dating from the second half of the 15th century. It was operated by water power until 1960; from 1961 onward, it operated electrically, continuing until 1995. Thus, the Dese is home not only to a single historic building, but also to a concrete example of how technical use changed over several decades. For travelers interested in culture, this transition over time is just as tangible a point of reference as the mill’s location on the river.

Churches and Historic Places in the Surrounding Area

The history of Cappella also includes the present-day parish church of San Giovanni Battista. It was built from 1909 onward based on a design by Antonio Beni and consecrated in 1925 by Blessed Bishop Andrea Giacinto Longhin. Together with Mulino Cosma, the church offers two different ways of approaching the local history: here, the focus is on sacred architecture from the early 20th century; there, on the development of a mill on the Dese from water power to electric operation.

The area around Cappella also contains several cultural destinations with different characteristics. Forte Gazzera is a fortress, while Palazzo dei Trecento is a palace. The Musei Civici di Treviso and the Ecomuseo le Terre del Brenta are museums. These destinations are suitable as thematic additions if you do not want to limit your stay to a single place and wish to combine historic buildings, regional memory and museum perspectives. Also located nearby are Parco Rabin, Parco via Kennedy and Area verde via Giussani, which provide further green points of reference as parks.

Tomato Festival and Regional Cuisine

The Festa del Pomodoro in Cappella di Scorzè reached its 40th edition in 2019. At this 2019 edition, the program opened with an exhibition of various locally produced tomato varieties. There was also a parade of historic and modern agricultural machinery. The festival thus combined agricultural tradition and the present day with the regional product that gives it its name.

The gastronomic side of the Festa del Pomodoro 2019 was also clearly represented: the food stand offered Pomodoro ripieno gratinato as a special delicacy, prepared according to a particular local method for the batter. For planning your trip, Cappella can therefore be understood through both its mills and the Dese and its combination of agriculture, festival culture and cuisine.

Further Destinations in the Regional Area

In the wider regional area around Cappella lies Spiaggia Lungomare d'Annunzio, a beach. The range of these destinations therefore extends beyond rivers, mills, churches, museums and parks to include a coastal landscape. Depending on whether you prioritize culture, nature, cycling or regional cuisine, you can weigh the location of your accommodation according to your personal priorities. Other places for your own orientation are Concordia Sagittaria, Burano, Martellago, Chioggia, Passarella, Malafesta, Ceggia and San Liberale.

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