How about a story of a town divided into districts? The story of Rio San Martino is a tale of five distinct parts. Imagine a place so small, yet so diverse.
Rio San Martino is a small town near Scorzè. Its history is not full of big events. But its location has always been special. This is the story of Rio San Martino.
The town might have Roman roots. It sits where ancient Roman roads once crossed. Place names like Gallese and Sermazza hint at early settlements. Gauls and Sarmatians may have lived here long ago.
In 1152, Rio San Martino was a chapel. It depended on the church in Zero. Later, in the days of the Republic of Venice, the town was split. It became five districts. These were Rio San Martin Galese, Rio San Martin di Sopra, Rio San Martin di Mezo, Rio San Martin Sarmazza, and Rio San Martin Chiesa.
The parish church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. It was consecrated in 1512. Over the years, it has been changed. Restorations occurred in 1761. Big changes happened in 1958. Inside, you can find the altarpiece “San Martino and the Poor”. It is thought to be by Sante Peranda. The ceiling shows the “Apotheosis of San Martino,” painted by Giovanni Carlo Bevilacqua in 1811. He also painted “David Playing the Harp Before Saul”. Other works by him are now lost. The frescoes in the presbytery are from 1950-1952. Professor Soligo created them. The organ was made by Domenico Malvestio. It came from the church in Noale. The bell tower was built between 1846 and 1856.
Once, Villa Corniani stood near the center of Rio San Martino. A fire destroyed it in 1901. In 1935, the chapel was taken down. The Fedeli-Corniani family owned land here since the 1500s. They had land in other places too. A monument by Claudio Zampini now stands in its place. It marks the “Villaggio Corniani”.
Rio San Martino has a festival. It is the Festival of Radicchio. It takes place from the second to the fourth week of November.
The people of Venice celebrate San Martino Day. This happens on November 11. Children wear paper crowns. They sing and play music. They go door to door asking for coins or candies. Bakeries sell a special cake. It is shaped like Saint Martin on a horse. It is decorated with frosting and candies. In the Venetian dialect, San Martino becomes San Martin. Many words ending in a vowel are shortened in this way.
San Martino was a soldier. He cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar. That night, Jesus appeared to him in a dream. This led him to become a Christian.
So, as you wander through Rio San Martino, remember its layers. From Roman roads to divided districts. From ancient chapels to modern festivals. This small town tells a big story.