The best road cycling routes around Santa Maria Di Sala

La Rocca dei Tempesta is the monumental heart of Noale and one of the most fascinating medieval defensive structures in the Veneto region. Built in the 12th century at the behest of the Tempesta family, the fortress stood on a strategic area, protected by an ingenious system of moats fed by the waters of the Marzenego river. The imposing brick structure, of which today the majestic perimeter walls and corner towers remain, preserves the intact charm of a lowland castle. Although the interior is now a suggestive green meadow used for historical re-enactments such as the Palio, the remains still allow us to read the original layout of the noble residence. The Rocca represents a symbol of power and resistance, offering a unique setting where nature intertwines harmoniously with ancient medieval vestiges.

The Porta del Castello di Noale, also known as the Clock Tower (or Porta Trevisana), is one of the most evocative symbols of the Venetian medieval village. Located on the eastern side of the fortified complex, it represented the ancient main entrance to the citadel under the rule of the Tempesta family. This imposing brick tower is characterized by a solid and soaring structure, topped by a swallowtail Guelph crenellation that emphasizes its military origin. The large clock face stands out on the facade, but it is the underpass that holds the most fascinating detail: the remains of ancient frescoes that once decorated the entrance. Together with its twin, Porta Cervese (or Porta Padovana), it closes the main axis of the historic center, visually connecting the town square to the Rocca area, offering a glimpse that immediately transports the visitor to the heart of the Middle Ages.

It is closed in winter.

Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua / Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua The Basilica of Saint Anthony, known as "the Saint," is the city's most important religious center and attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, especially on June 13, the saint's feast day. The basilica was built in 1232 to protect the tomb of the Franciscan friar Anthony, who died in Padua in 1231. The large building presents a complex structure with a fusion of styles: Romanesque elements in the façade, Gothic elements in the ambulatory, Byzantine elements in the eight domes covered with lead, and Moorish elements in two tiers. The Church of Saint Anthony holds numerous reminders of the Carrara Signoria. In 1350, Cardinal Guido de Boulogne came to the cathedral to acknowledge the saint's miracle and was greeted by Jacopo II da Carrara and Bishop Hildebrand. Members of the Carraresi family, such as the Lupi di Soragna and the Conti, chose the basilica as the site for their own mausoleums. The Chapel of the Black Madonna now stands on the site of the earlier church, dedicated to Santa Maria, Mother of the Lord. The polychrome Madonna is by Rinaldino di Francia and dates from 1396. Rinaldino is also likely the artist of the shield bearing the portrait of Stefano da Carrara, now in the city museums. A funerary monument to Raffaele Fulgioso, a renowned jurist from the University of Padua, is located to the left of the chapel. The Chapel of Blessed Luca reveals even closer ties to the Carraresi family: it was built between 1380 and 1382 by Naimerio and Manfredino Conti, executing the will of Fina Buzzaccarini. They commissioned Giusto de'Menabuoi, a painter from the Carraresi court, to create the frescoes. The stories of Saints Philip and James, arranged on the chapel walls, reveal a surprising new sense of spaciousness. In the center, within the lunette, are portraits of the patrons: Saint Anthony, Blessed Luke, Saint Francis, and Saint Louis of Toulouse, as they are presented to the Virgin. Text / Source: Turismo Padova https://www.padua.info/de/padua/was-zu-sehen-ist/details/basilica-di-santantonio

Nice resting points around the castle in the shadow.

Internal channel

open

The Naviglio Interno was an ancient canal that ran through the eastern part of the historic center. In the 1950s it was almost completely filled in.