The town's name derives from the Latin "Vicus Novus" (new village). Municipality in the province of Venice, located where the Naviglio crosses with the river Brenta, on a flat area on the border with the territories of Padua, the area of Vigonovo is particularly rich in springs and water sources and is also crossed by the channel Piovego and other smaller streams. The local economy, once based primarily on agricultural activities, is now linked to the presence of important footwear industries.
The first inhabitants of this area were the Etruscans, Euganee and Paleo-Venetian populations, that subsequently were all removed by a tribe, originally from Asia Minor, who settled here around year 1000 B.C. Later colonized by the Romans, the area was enriched by important roads, such as the Via Emilia Altinate, built by the Consul Lepidus to connect Padua with Altino and Aquileia. After the fall of the Empire of Rome and the descent of the barbarian tribes, the main centers of the Veneto region all submitted raids and looting, which forced the local inhabitants to seek refuge on the islands of the lagoon. Only in the VI century the inhabitants of Vigonovo returned to the mainland and rebuild their village where it stands today. The area was then ruled by the Lombards and invaded by the Hungarians, and after year 1000, the town was directly involved in the clashes between Padua and Venice. Subjected to the first, in 1405, it was submitted, like the other towns of the Veneto region, to the Serenissima Repubblic of Venice, until it was conquered by Napoleon. It was later assigned to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and, finally, became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
Attractions:
- the Archpriest Church, originally built in the late sixth century and rebuilt in the XVI and later modified in the first half of the XVIII, presents a series of classical forms. The façade of extreme elegance, is enriched with four half-columns with base and capitals, and a pediment. The building is flanked by a tall and slender Bell Tower, highlighted by a particular play of colors. All this is complemented by a dome shaped roof topped by a slender spire. The Bell Tower dates from the late XIX century;
- Palazzo Zanon, today seat of the Town Hall, was built in the second half of the XIX century by the architect Zanon;
- the XIX century Villa in Via Naviglio;
- the XVIII century Villa Dorighello;
- the XVI century Euganean Well of trachyte;
- the XVIII century Villa Smania;
- Villa Sagredo with its adjoining chapel, built in 1690;
- the XVIII century Villa Bellini;
- Villa Draghi.