Boretto

In the hamlet of Santa Croce stands the 'Pietro Ghizzardi' House Museum, dedicated to the famous naïve artist from Boretto, a leading figure in 20th-century art.

• Rive Vive –
  .

• River Run -
  

• Gran Premio Motonautico – first half of June
  Spectacular motorboat races.

• Sagra del Po – second half of June
  A stunning musical fireworks display on the river.

The Boretto area is home to the famous Borettana onion, which has been awarded the De.C.O. (Municipal Designation of Origin) label.
Prized for its sweetness and versatility, it is grown in two seasonal cycles - spring and autumn - ensuring its availability on the market all year, and features prominently in numerous traditional local dishes.

The Po River offers a wealth of opportunities for outdoor sports and wellness:

• canoeing, recreational fishing and motor sports;
• the Po Cycle Route (VenTo Cycleway), which traverses the whole riverine area of the municipality, connecting Gualtieri with Brescello;
• the Lido Po area, where a Big Bench was unveiled in 2023 as part of the international Big Bench Community Project, locatedin a scenic spot.

Located along the banks of the great Po Rive, Boretto has its roots in an ancient and fascinating past, where water and land have always been in harmony.
Its origins, shrouded in mystery, seem to date back to the prehistoric terramare settlements of Ravisa di San Genesio and Motta Ballestri, between Poviglio and Brescello, in a landscape of reeds, marshes and waterways that intertwined until they flowed into the Po.
The western part of the town, on the other hand, maintains a clear Roman influence, linked to the ancient Brixellum.

During the Middle Ages, Boretto experienced a turbulent and contested history: in 1305 it came under the rule of the bishops of Parma, before passing into the hands of the Visconti family.
A particularly significant chapter began in 1409, when, along with Brescello, it was occupied by the Venetians.
Although brief, Venetian rule left a deep and still visible mark: Boretto shares its patron saint with Venice and, next to the parish church, stands a Lion of St Mark, a symbol of the link with the Serenissima and of the flourishing trade which, thanks to the port on the Po, brought life to the town.

The village is first mentioned by name in documents dating back to 855 as Beruptum, Boruptum and Bisruptum, terms that reflect the frequent breaches in the river’s banks.
There is, however, a more poetic interpretation, which suggests the name derives from Poreptum, meaning ‘straight Po’, in reference to the surprisingly straight course the river takes in this very stretch.

Boretto is the birthplace of numerous notable figures, including: Saint Alberto degli Avogadri, Mario Nizolio, Guido da Boretto, Don Angelo Dosi, Artemide Zatti (Blessed), Marcello Nizzoli and Pietro Ghizzardi.

Altitude
23 m
Postcode
42022
Weekly market
Thursday
Patron saint
Saint Mark the Evangelist (April 25)
Hamlets
Santa Croce, San Rocco