Discover Santa Maria

Santa Maria combines religious heritage with cycling routes along the Bacchiglione. When choosing a destination, sacred art and architectural history can be weighed against a cycling route that follows the river. The village’s rural character is also part of the overall picture.

Church, Art and Local History

The parish church in Santa Maria di Veggiano is dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Behind the main altar is a painting depicting the birth of Mary. It was painted by G.B. Pellizzari, an artist from Verona who was active in Padua in the first half of the 17th century. The church’s dedication and the subject of the painting refer to the same event; Pellizzari’s origins and period of activity also give this religious connection a specific biographical and historical context.

Santa Maria’s architectural heritage also includes the Oratorio di Santa Eurosia, a side oratory. The two religious sites offer different points of interest: alongside its dedication, the parish church features a particular painting; the Oratorio itself is the focus. Another point of interest is the Vecchio Mulino, which can be reached via the route near Santa Maria. It is the surviving part of the old mill of Selvarese, whose origins date back to the 11th century. As a surviving section, it points to the old complex, not to the entire structure. The history of the mill thus complements the religious themes with another aspect of the area’s heritage.

Cycling along the Bacchiglione

For cycling travelers, the Bacchiglione is an easy landmark to follow. The Ciclovia del Bacchiglione follows the river from Santa Maria di Veggiano to the border with the Province of Vicenza and onward to Codevigo, near the lagoons of Chioggia and Venice. The “5 cycle tours: from Lake Garda to Venice” route also reaches the village of Santa Maria by following the Bacchiglione. The routes can therefore be distinguished by their local role: the Ciclovia continues onward from Santa Maria, while the other route reaches the village along the river.

Stage W04 of the Cammino Veneto delle abbazie e dei santuari also passes near Santa Maria along the unpaved embankment of the Bacchiglione and follows the river to Longare. The unpaved surface is a practical consideration when planning. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Rural character

Santa Maria is a rural village with notable rustic buildings in an agricultural landscape. The routes describe specific stretches along the river; the village’s rural character and buildings, by contrast, describe its broader character. Each route choice concerns a particular stretch or stage surface, while the landscape and buildings describe the destination as a whole.

Discover more destinations

Boara Pisani, Anguillara Veneta, Grantorto, Carmignano Di Brenta, Due Carrare, Granze, Borgoricco, Pozzonovo

For the main travel overview: Padua.