Lost in the Venetian countryside? Discover Codevigo.
Codevigo a charming comune in the Padua province boasts a rich history. It’s located southwest of Venice. It’s also southeast of Padua.
Picture this. Codevigo’s story begins long ago. Its roots trace back to Roman times. Documents mention Caput de Vicco as early as 988. The name evolved through Caput de Vico and Caput de Vigo before becoming Codevigo. A 988 deed shows a donation to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Brondolo.
The Carraresi lords of Padua controlled Codevigo in the 14th century. They built fortifications. They created a defensive system of watchtowers. The Venetians defeated the Carraresi. They started hydraulic works to prevent lagoon silting. The “new Brenta” canal caused floods. This damaged the land making it marshy. People abandoned settlements. The Corner family’s reclamation efforts in the early 16th century revived Codevigo. Its economy grew.
Codevigo’s history is linked to the Corner family. They commissioned the church facade. Falconetto designed it. He also designed a rural villa. Alvise Cornaro and Angelo Beolco known as Ruzante spent time in Codevigo’s palace in the early 1500s. After the Corners the Foscari family owned Codevigo.
The church dedicated to St Zaccaria is mentioned in a 1173 deed. It was built in the 1500s by Lorenzo da Bologna. The facade is by Falconetto.
Tragedy struck Codevigo after World War II. The Codevigo massacre occurred. In spring 1945 the British Eighth Army crossed the Po River. They marched north. The Cremona Combat Group and partisans from the 28th Garibaldi Brigade were with them. On April 29th they eliminated the local schoolteacher Corinna Doardo and other local fascists.
The partisans were ordered to rest. The Cremona group carried out the round-ups. They targeted the Republican National Guard and the blackshirt brigade. They rounded up people in the countryside. They were taken prisoner under false pretenses. They were murdered near the Brenta and Bacchiglione rivers. Their bodies were abandoned. For almost 70 years the massacre was silenced. Documents and 55 survivor testimonies existed.
One hundred and thirty-six executions are confirmed. Eighteen were from Codevigo Pontelongo Correzzola and Piove di Sacco. At least 64 were from Ravenna province. These were random acts of violence unrelated to official military commands.
A tragic bus accident happened in Conche in 1974. A school bus crashed into the Novissimo Canal. Sister Elvira Pettinato died saving children. She received a gold medal for civil valor. Luigi Bartella rescued two children. He got a silver medal.
Explore Codevigo. Discover its layers of history from Roman times to the present. Experience its connection to Venice and the Venetian lagoon. Remember the tragedies and triumphs of its past. Enjoy the beauty of its churches and countryside. Codevigo a hidden gem awaits.