La Galzega del Riso

When Rice Becomes a Celebration

The Galzega del Riso is one of the most cherished festivals in Minerbe, in the province of Verona. The name recalls the "galzega," the ancient end-of-harvest festival that marked the end of the agricultural season. The event commemorates the history of rice cultivation in the countryside of Minerbe, which began in 1635 under the rule of the Republic of Venice.

The Civilization of the Rice Paddies

The festival brings to life the rural society linked to the rice paddies, with its historical roles: landowners, rice weeders (mondine), estate managers (castaldi), granary keepers (granarari), farmhands (foresti), and overseers (spie). The evenings are held at the Palaminerbe, in Via Giuseppe Verdi, and feature food stalls with rice-based menus — risotto is the star — alongside entertainment, culinary challenges, music, and theatre.

A Heritage of the Territory

Among the traditional events are the "mayor's risotto" cooked for the community, cooking challenges, tours that rediscover the "via delle pile" (the ancient mills for rice processing), and initiatives by the Ecomuseo Aquae Planae. The Galzega del Riso thus enhances the agricultural identity of Minerbe and the Basso Veronese area, recounting a tradition spanning almost four centuries.