Roman Period

The region has been inhabited since antiquity. The regular network of roads and dykes has been miraculously preserved almost in itq entirety until today, and is precious testimony to the urban planning of the Romans who, around the middle of the first century B.C., created the Camposampiero centuriation (system of land division), centred on the via Aurelia, which connected Patavium (Padua) to Acelum (Asolo).

The many artefacts on display in the Centuriation Museum in Borgoricco show daily life based on agricultural activity.


Medieval Period

The Middle Ages were characterised by the hard toil of small, isolated communities often living along the antique Roman roads, which resulted in painstaking, ceaseless and almost heroic maintenance work on the roads and dykes.

This period was strongly marked by the visit of Saint Anthony of Padua to Camposampiero: four weeks of presence, prayer and preaching which would become, in later centuries, the most jealously guarded treasure of Camposampiero and the entire region. Every year, the Thirteen Day Novena to Saint Anthony (from 1st to 13th June) brings together the inhabitants of the region in common prayer.


The Serenissima

The rule of the Serenissima (1405-1797) left behind it notable work on the water network in the Camposampiero region (excavation of the Muson dei Sassi river, creation of canal bridges, deviation of water courses, etc.) and the construction of large, luxurious villas and sturdy country houses.

The region is studded with them. Alongside the best known ones - genuine artistic edifices - such as the villa Cornaro by Palladio in Piombino Dese, the villa Baglioni in Massanzago with its frescos by Tiepolo or Ca’ Marcello in Levada di Piombino Dese with its frescos by Crosato, one can still see, in the urban areas of the eleven municipalities, Venetian manor houses that were both economic and recreational centres.


Post-war Period

After the Second World War, the structure of economic activity in the region transformed the landscape.

Along the main roads, fields gave way to a succession of barns and houses, which have fortunately left the ancient Roman network intact.