San Martino a Cavallo

The city stages its history

The historical re-enactment San Martino a Cavallo and moments of the History of the City of Piove di Sacco is one of the most cherished events in the calendar of Piove di Sacco, in the province of Padua. It is held every year on the fourth Sunday of October, on the eve of the celebrations for the patron saint, Saint Martin.

From the courtyard to the square

The event begins in the Cortile San Martino, with a scene dedicated to the figure of the patron saint; from here, a historical procession forms, crossing the centre to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, where the narrative continues with various living tableaux. The scenes retrace the key moments of the city's history: its foundation, the Carrarese period, the Venetian era, and up to modern times.

A tradition born in 1997

The re-enactment originated from the donation, by the CTG of Piove di Sacco in 1997, of a statue depicting Saint Martin, created by artist Stefano Baschierato. Since then, the event, organised by the Centro Turistico Giovanile (CTG) Saccisica with the municipal administration, has grown to surpass twenty-five editions, becoming a benchmark among the historical re-enactments and palios in the Padua region and a recognised stop on the Veneto region's register of historical events.