It is believed that the city of Adria (RO) was founded by Hadrian, king of the Pelasgians. Therefore, Adria would be the toponym linked to the name of that ancient king, and it is from the Pelasgians that the occupation of the Polesine seems to have started, thousands of years ago.
Myth has it that Hadrian travelled on a chariot made of solid gold, therefore very heavy, and that both he and his luxurious chariot were buried right under the city of Adria.
Popular tradition has it that the night of St John, between 23 and 24 June, is the magical night par excellence. On this date, in fact, ancient popular traditions and profound esoteric and religious meanings merge together, since St John's Day is linked to the summer solstice. When the sun reaches its maximum positive declination and then resumes its winter path, so St John can be said to be the solar festival par excellence, the crushing victory of light over darkness, of good over evil. And in this case, the amazing fact would be that Hadrian's chariot would re-emerge on this magical night, with a carter driving two enormous oxen.
In 1938, during a campaign of archaeological excavations in the area, a chariot pulled by two horses was found buried.
