Comune di Galliera Veneta (PD)

To reach Galliera Veneta from Padua, Bassano del Grappa or Vicenza, take Route 47 Valsugana to Cittadella and Route 28 or 53 towards Castelfranco Veneto and Treviso.

To reach Galliera Veneta from Treviso, take Route 53. Its nearest train stations lie in Cittadella, Treviso, Vicenza and Padua, while Treviso’s and Venice’s are its nearest airports.

The municipal government of Galliera Veneta under the guidance of Mayor Silvano Sabbadin
has activated many services for the citizens in the past years, particulary in the area of social and cultural development .
In 2001, the municipality working together with the parish set up a child-care center for children from one to three years of age, with a capacity for thirty children.
In 2002, a summer recreation program was set up for children from three to seven years of age.
This service aims to integrate a broader family support program, with the purpose of providing children with further opportunities for growth and socialization with their peers.
An afternoon recreation facility opened in 2000 for children of elementary school age, providing homework assistance as well as a series of recreational activites twice a week.
School lunches were introduced in 1999, with more then 80% of Galliera’s pupils now talking advantage of this service.

The Municipality of Galliera Veneta covers an area of about 9 sq. Km, marked by Roman centuriation. Its place name comes from Gens Galeria, a Roman family, or the German galeria, meaning military fortifications.
In the 1st century AD, Galliera Veneta belonged to Cittadella centuriated land an was crossed by the Via Postumia, a route built in 148 BC to connect Genoa to Aquileia.
Many roads still follow Roman centuriation and it is likely that built-up areas grew at crossroads. After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, barbarian invasion started.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, Galliera provided the setting for conflicts Vicenza, Treviso and Padua.
In 1405, it fell into the hands of the Republic of Venice. Venetian rule bringing about peace and prosperity, accompanied by St. James’ Church.
Around 1600, Cappella ditch eas dug pumping water from the Brenta River towards Galliera, resulting in improved farming and the set-up spinning, timber and grain grinding mills and blacksmith’s workshops.

The imposing Villa Cappello – now known as Imperial Villa, because it was the summer residence of Empress Maria Anna of Savoy, wife of Ferdinand I° of Austria, from 1858 – is the glory of the town.
The Venetian Cappellos had it built in the early 16th century. In 1798, the Villa faced northwards and marble stairs lead up to its front door. Its façade bore Ionic and Doric half-columns and pillars.
A barn and St. Johns’s Oratory stood at uts right, while stables and a nursery school for spinning mill worker’s children stood at at its left. It was surrounded by formal gardens. In 1796, the Cappellos died out and the Villa became a royal property till when il was bought by the Comellos in 1821. The Comellos hired the famous designer Francesco Bagnara to change its formal gardens into landscape gardens. In 1858, Empress Maria Anna of Savoy purchased the Villa and had it enlarged and renovated.
Moreover, she St. Mary’s Chapel built. The De Michelis owned the Villa from 1895 to 1929. In 1929 the property was called for tenders and bought by the Nationals Social Security Institute and the villa was turned it into a hospital.

January: Epiphany bonfire and games.
February: Theater, outing on the snow, carnival in the town square, theater and children’s carnival, Fritoe e Ciacoe.
March.: Theatre, Womens’s Day, Ester egg sale, sports facilities open in Viale Venezia, sacred art exhibition.
April: Easter Monday bicycle ride, theater, kite festival, Liberation Day commemoration, youth outing, art exhibition at Villa Imperiale.
May: park opening, preschool march, feast of Madonna del Buon Consiglio, bike ride along the Mincio, spring fest, book fair, art exbition.
June: 18-year-olds’ evening, Scouts’ anniversary, parish festival, soccer tournament, feast of Sacro Cuore.
July: Santa Maria Maddalena and San Giacomo village festivals, Watermelon festival in Mottinello Nuovo.
August: Opera Estate Festival concert, Fosbury Festival.
September: Town clean-up, bike ride, sports festival.
October: grandparents’ Day, children’s festival.
November: Military commemoration and festival.
December: local artist’s exhibition, Santa Claus rides through town, Christmas Eve party in the town square.

Rice and chickpea soup.

Ingredients:


· 250 gr. Chickpeas (Soak for 24 hours),
· 200 gr. Rice,
· 100 gr. Smoked bacon,
· 1 garlic clove,
· minced onion,
· 1 spring rosemary,
· 1 tbsp. Tomato paste,
· 1 bay leaf,
· 1 bouillon cube,
· pepper,
· olive oil,
· and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Preparation: cook the chickpeas in a pression cooker for 45 minutes. Brown the garlic and cubed bacon in 2 tbsp. Olive oil. Add the cooked chickpeas, ¾ liter of broth from the peas, tomato paste, rosemary, bay leaf, pepper, and a bouillon cube. Bring to a boil and add the rice. Stirring continually, cook until tender. Serve with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Peverade sauce


Ingredients:

· 100 gr. Chicken livers
· 10 gr. Soppressa sausage,
· 2 salted anchovies,
· 2 garlic cloves
· 1 tbsp chopped parsley,
· 2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
· rind from one lemon
· vinegar
· salt
· white pepper

Preparation: Brown the chopped garlic and add the chicken livers, sausage, anchovies, and lemon rind. Blend the mixture. Add 2 tbsp, vinegar and plenty of pepper. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Add parsley, salt, and vinegar.