The path of Vin Friularo
A walk in the lands of the Carraresi
Aggiornato al 14 February 2018
This path introduces the discovery of the relationship between Venice and the Paduan territory. A relationship that can still be found today thanks to the Friularo wine, a true wine making the identity of the area. The merchants of the Serenissima appreciated this beverage for being a wine with a high acidity and, therefore, suitable for long crossings to the commercial ports of the Mediterranean. Actually on many villas that embellish the center of Conselve are still visible the traces of the “Lion of San Marco” left during their domination, from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. These include “Villa Zen Malipiero”, now the municipal seat, “Villa Sagredo-Toderini”, an authentic and unique example of construction developed on one floor and famous for the friendships that tied over the centuries its owners to the king of France, Louis XIV, to Galileo Galilei and to Ugo Foscolo. Alongside the aristocratic splendor, the path also interwines the rural past of the area, represented by the “Cason di Beolo”, and the popular faith: witnessed by the many capitals that still meet in the dusty streets of the countryside.
Bovolenta > Cagnola > Cartura > Conselve > Terrassa > Bovolenta
Arrived on the SP35 take Via Madonna to get to the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Mercy, an original place of faith whose current appearance dates back to the eighteenth century, its interior preserves valuable paintings proof of the popular devotion. You continue your journey further on Via Madonna (SP 35) until you reach Bovolenta and the embankment of the Cagnola canal. You follow the embankment from Via Macello, moreover this elevated road allows a beautiful view of the countryside reaching the village of Cagnola. Otherwise, you can cross the embankment and reach the same location from Via Bersaglio. From here, taking Via Valli, you can reach the Ai Prà dairy, famous for its zero-kilometer cheeses. After the intersection with Via Leonina, the street changes its name in Via Pratiarcati. You go further until you come to the intersection with Via Beccara. The latter, after a short stretch in the plains, will rise on the bank of Cagnola up to the bridge over the homonymous watercourse. From the bridge you turn left and take the SP 92. Before arriving to the center of Cartura you come across to Since you are here, a typical restaurant serving traditional dishes and different types of pizza. Still on the SP 92 you pass through the center of Cartura towards Conselve. Near the town from which we left, you'll cross Conselve Vigneti and Cantine, an historical, social winery where the famous Friularo is produced and distributed, which gives its name to the route, and the other labels of the territory. Beyond it you will get into a large roundabout and, taking the third exit, you will return to the road that leads to the Town Hall from where you left. In the last short stretch of the main street, in addition to other villas, as well from the Venetian era, you'll find the Coltelleria Piva: an historical shop specialized in household items and in the sale of local products.
1. SANCTUARY OF THE MADONNA DELLA MISERICORDIA - Terrassa Padovana
They say that the Virgin chose a mute child to communicate her desire to have a temple in Terrassa. After appearing, she gave him the speech to report to his father and to the parish's priest her request. It was the end of the fifteenth century. A few years later, with the 22nd September 1499 papal's bull, works for the reconstruction began, it is supposed without the demolition of the existing building but incorporating it. Over the centuries it has been subjected to several changes but the current appearance dates back to the mid-eighteenth century. There are two images of the Madonna that are venerated in Terrassa. The oldest one illustrates the prodigious fact at the origin of the church, while the second one is worshipped as miraculous by faithful people. This one though is very worn out: only the face is visible, the rest of the painting is covered with a silk mantle. The current fresco paintings date back to 1862, but perhaps are traced back to the previous ones.
Continuing a few more meters on Via Matteotti and past the roundabout, keeping the same direction on the left, you will find Via Fondà, following it all the way up it will take you to the capital dedicated to the Madonna della Neve. Continue on Via Papa Giovanni XXIII, until you cross Via Beolo. At this point, turning left and going forward a few kilometers, you will see 'Casone di Beolo' on the right. It is the only example of these ancient buildings existing in the territory, dating back to the end of the nineteenth century, it indeed is a good example of the type of construction provided by the peasants. These poor and of easy construction, built by sharecroppers in funds provided by landowners, spread during the Venetian period to disappear completely with the advent of modernity. Our route continues on Via Beolo, crossing Via Cabasadonne, from where you take the direction toward Terrassa Padovana.
2. THE MANSION OF BEOLO: the nineteenth-century country residence
The Mansions to the rural classes are like the villas to the aristocrats of the Serenissima Republic. These large and plain houses, built by sharecroppers on the landowners' lands, spread during the Venetian period and disappeared after World War II with the beginning of the modern reconstruction. True examples of green building 'ante litteram', these spacious country buildings, were for centuries masterpieces of rural architecture both in terms of aesthetics and functionality. Worthy of note is the Casone on Beolo street in Conselve, which dates back to the late nineteenth century is the only one preserved in the municipal territory.
Now keeping the villa behind you take the street facing the intersection and turn left, you will be in Via Matteotti, that is the main road of Conselve, on which overlook several other villas also dating back to the period of Venetian rule and, a few kilometers away, you can stop at Villa Ca' Sagredo/Toderini. This villa has a particular feature: it is one of the few venetian constructions to be developed on only one floor, not being tied to the land. While most of the patrician residences were agricultural holdings, from which the Venetian aristocracy controlled the progress of seasonal agricultural works, this was born in the seventeenth century as a villa of delights and leisure activities. Its owner Giovanni Sagredo, ambassador of the Venetian Republic, was a very powerful man in the main European courts; by King Louis XIV he even obtained the privilege of inserting the "lily" of France in his family coat of arms. From the aristocratic palaces now the path leads to the rural ones of the poor people.
3. VILLA SAGREDO, the palace of the Prosecutor of the Serenissima
Villa Sagredo, among all the Conselve's villas, is the only one not linked to the land, since it has not being built as a rustic residence, from which to conduct the agricultural activities, but with the intent to recreate a small palace of Versailles. It was surrounded by the Venetian countryside and built in 1660 for the leisures of Giovanni Sagredo, ambassador of the Venetian Republic in the main European courts. Indeed the family coat of arms, still preserves the three lilies on the red band in the golden field, inserted by courtesy of the Sun King of France.
The fourth route allows you to get to know closely the relationships that the Serenissima Repubblica established in the Paduan territory since the beginning of the fifteenth century. The itinerary, in fact, intercepts those elements of the "venezianità" that continue to characterize the territory: you will run into villas, but also vineyards of the famous Friularo wine that the Venetians called "Vin da viajo" or 'wine for long trips'. 'Wine for long trips' being characterized of a marked acidity which guaranteed, yesterday like today, a long shelf life and therefore made it suitable for long crossings in the Mediterranean; apt to be sold in all the emporiums that have made Venice the powerful commercial city that everyone knows. From the route you won't miss houses of rural civilization, the famous "casoni veneti", and the churches of popular faith. So the start of this fourth path can only be the center of Conselve, right from the Town Hall, in Piazza XX Settembre, known as Villa Malipiero/Zen: an aristocratic house with annexes and appurtenances attested since the Low Middle Age. In 1447 it became part of the property of the Venetian Malipiero's family, who gave the sixtieth doge to the Republic.
4. VILLA MALIPIERO, the residence of the Venetian landowners
To testify the stark presence of venetian Dominants in Conselve there are many villas scattered in the municipal territory. In the mid-1600s, actually, the Carrarese dynasty had long before declined, thereafter the Venetian possessions represented the granaries of the lagoon aristocracy and the villas were houses destinated to manage the cultivation of cereals and the production of wine. Villa Malipiero is the stronghold of the Venetian presence in Conselve: built in the late Middle Ages, the noble residence was part of the possessions of Toma Malipiero's family in 1447, which gave the sixty-sixth doge to the Republic.
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