Resting between two rivers, the Adige and the Po, Rovigo is a traditional Veneto town, with its pentagonal layout, ancient towers and imposing bell towers scattered all over. Of Roman origin, its ancient Latin name, Rhodigium, has a Greek root and means "rose" (a flower which is still the symbol of the city today). Rovigo remained almost immune to barbaric invasions owing to the natural protection of the swamps surrounding it. Between the 12th and the 15th century it was governed by the Este house and therefore its history, at that time, was quite bound in with that of Ferrara. Later it entered under the dominion of the Republic of Venice, and during that time it experienced its time of greatest splendour, draining the swamps and building churches and monuments the city still possesses today. When the Republic of Venice fell, Rovigo was occupied by the French first and the Austrians later, and it became free only in 1866, uniting with the Kingdom of Italy.
As well as the city's history and beauty, Rovigo still has a lot to offer in the territory of its province, the Polesine, a fertile and beautiful land, suspended between two rivers, the last strip of the Po Planes. Deeply marked by the Po's terrible flood, in 1951, the Polesine area succeeded in gathering itself up and creating one of Italy's most thriving economies, in a relation of rekindled love with its river. It is precisely the Po that offers the most breathtaking views, where it flows into the sea creating one of the most beautiful deltas in the world. Now that delta is mostly a national park, in order to better valorise and maintain the cultural landscape of the area; it extends over 786 Sq km and offers very diverse experiences, from tasting traditional dishes to cycling tours, visiting villages that still retain their age old relationship with the river.
One of Rovigo's most famous monuments is the pair of leaning towers, Torre Donà and Torre Mozza, where the first is one of the highest towers in Italy. Also very popular is the Column with the Leone di San Marco, the symbol of Venetian dominance. Visitors to Rovigo, also, should definitely see the Palazzo dell'Accademia dei Concordi, the seat for two libraries and a rich art gallery, the latter, in particular, contains masterpieces by Piazzetta, Giambellino, Tiepolo, just to mention a few. As far as the province is concerned, there has to be at least a visit to Adria, a very ancient town which gave its name to the Adriatic Sea.
Traditional happenings in the territory of the Polesine are countless, since the communities there have always maintained a strong relationship with their history and territory. The lovely Fiaccolata di Nataledeserves a mention, held in Ariano every 24th December, also the bonfire of the "Vecia", the 6th of January in Corbola, and the blessing of the Po, with processions of boats on the river, held in Papozze on the 15th of August.