Holiday apartment in Grumolo Delle Abbadesse – Rice fields and villas

Grumolo delle Abbadesse takes you to two closely connected aspects: a landscape shaped by rice farming and buildings whose origins date back many centuries. Rice fields, seasonal water, regional products, villas and chapels give the area its own character and offer different perspectives for planning your trip.

Rice fields, water and wildlife

Rice cultivation shaped the landscape of Grumolo delle Abbadesse through land reclamation, clearing, the drainage of wetlands and the construction of irrigation canals. Rice fields have existed for more than 500 years in the area of the historic fief of the abbesses, including in the municipality of Grumolo delle Abbadesse and in nearby historically documented areas. When the fields are flooded in April and May for sowing, the landscape takes on an impressive lagoon-like character. Storks, herons, wild ducks, moorhens and lapwings can be found in the rice fields.

Rice as a local flavour

The rice varieties Vialone Nano and Carnaroli are grown and marketed in Grumolo delle Abbadesse. The municipality has recognised the rice produced there with a De.Co. designation. Vialone Nano di Grumolo delle Abbadesse is also a Slow Food Presidium supported by the Veneto region. Those wishing to include regional products and seasonal traditions in their trip will find several specific themes here. The Festa del Riso has been held regularly in Grumolo delle Abbadesse every September for several decades.

Villas, chapels and historic waterways

In 1618, the navigable Meneghina Canal was created and a landing place was built where boats transporting rice to the granaries could dock. The Barchessa was built in 1200 as a farmstead and warehouse for in-kind payments to the nuns. After the former building had fallen into disrepair, it was restored in 1710.

Villa Canal, formerly Villa Rossi di Schio, dates from the 17th century and is located on Via Piave at the edge of the centre of Grumolo delle Abbadesse. Its complex includes a chapel built in 1697. Centuries-old trees stand in the grounds of Villa Godi–Piovene. The La Favallina chapel next to the park of Villa Piovene is an example of 17th-century architecture from the Vicenza area and is attributed to Carlo Borrella.

Villa Chiericati is also one of the area's notable buildings. Its authorship is attributed to Andrea Palladio; this is based on the master's own drawings, which are kept in Great Britain. Together with Villa Canal, the Barchessa and the chapels, it forms a cultural focal point that clearly differs from the impressions created by the rice fields.

The right focus for your stay

A holiday apartment in Grumolo Delle Abbadesse can suit an itinerary that combines the landscape, regional rice culture and architecture. If you prefer observing nature, the seasonally flooded rice fields and their birdlife take centre stage. For a culturally focused stay, the villas, chapels, Barchessa and historic canal become the main attractions. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether the focus of your trip should be on the rice fields in spring, regional products or historic buildings.

Other places in the surrounding area

Other destinations you can include in your regional selection: Zugliano, Tonezza Del Cimone, Schiavon, Tezze Sul Brenta, San Vito Di Leguzzano, Bassano Del Grappa, San Floriano, Arsiero

For the overarching travel overview: Vicenza.