On the name the linguists have one idea and the municipality another. Two theories stand: a Germanic personal name, Gaidari or Vaiarin, or the Venetian gaiàra, the place where there are many magpies, since in these parts a magpie is called a gaja. The two explanations that are to be discarded are the heap of gravel and the coppice wood — and those are precisely the ones the municipal coat of arms takes its cue from. The first mention of the village is from 1295, as territorio de Gajarinis. The parish church, consecrated in 1443 and again in 1559 after rebuilding, is dedicated to Saint Thomas of Canterbury.
In a small territory the Regional Institute for Venetian Villas has catalogued eight of them. Villa Cappellari della Colomba was the home of the family that gave the Church pope Gregory XVI, who lived there before ascending the throne. Villa Altan Sandre, at Campomolino, is of the sixteenth century and today houses the municipal library: there every spring a camellia show is held, in homage to the abbot Lorenzo Berlese, who was born at Campomolino and is held to be the father of camelliography.
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Near Gaiarine
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Places to see within 25 km
Outside Gaiarine, but an easy day trip away.