Curtarolo
Curtarolo is a municipality of about 6,750 inhabitants in the province of Padua, lying along the course of the Brenta river, a sho...
Updated 12 July 2026
The story
The story of Curtarolo
History and origins
Curtarolo's territory has yielded traces of Venetic and Roman settlement along the Brenta river, including the discovery of a dugout canoe at the Palazzina locality. Lombard groups settled there in 568, and after the great flood of 589, which shifted the main course of the Brenta, the village became a strategic crossing point toward Padua. The name itself is debated: some trace it to 'Scurzarolo' (shortcut), others to 'curtis Rodulo', the estate of a local Lombard family. Curtarolo is first mentioned in a document from 1077 and, during the Middle Ages, was contested ground between the Scaligeri and Carraresi families due to its position along the routes into the city.
Heritage to see
Curtarolo's most significant monument is the ruins of a small 12th-century Franciscan monastery, once dependent on the Monastery of Santa Giustina in Padua. Inside, frescoes in the apse are attributed to the school of Giusto de' Menabuoi, the artist behind the famous fresco cycle in the Baptistery of Padua Cathedral. In the historic centre, the Church of Santa Giuliana is worth a stop: an ancient foundation that became a parish church in 1500 and holds several works of local art. The urban fabric still preserves the layout of a plain village that grew up around the church and the river crossing.
The Brenta river and nature
The Brenta is Curtarolo's defining feature, with recreational and natural areas along its banks popular for walks and cycling. The municipal territory, located along the middle course of the river, has been shaped over the centuries by floods: the 1966 flood, one of the most severe of the 20th century in Veneto, hit Curtarolo hard as well. Today the relationship with the water is mainly recreational, thanks to cycle paths and green areas that make the most of the riverbank and floodplain, within a still well-preserved agricultural setting.
Local life and economy
Curtarolo is today a lively municipality of nearly seven thousand inhabitants, with a mixed economy combining agriculture, small and medium enterprise, and services linked to its proximity to Padua. Its position along major connecting roads makes it a sought-after residential municipality for people who work in the provincial capital but prefer a quieter setting. Village life revolves around the main square, local businesses and a calendar of community events typical of towns in the Padua commuter belt.
How to get there and surroundings
Curtarolo lies about 15 kilometres north of Padua and is well connected via the provincial roads that follow the course of the Brenta. The territory is crossed by the Medio Brenta cycle path and by a stretch of the former Ostiglia–Treviso railway, now converted into a greenway, allowing cyclists to reach neighbouring towns such as Vigonza and Carmignano di Brenta. It makes an ideal stop for anyone cycling the Brenta valley between Padua and the Vicenza area.
Experiences not to miss
- Visitare i resti del monastero francescano e i suoi affreschi trecenteschi
- Visit the ruins of the Franciscan monastery and its 14th-century frescoes
To see
What to see in Curtarolo
Routes · Trovido Route
