| Unique PointsBassano sits in a stunning | | | | including work being done on the cell which |
| location by the River Brenta with | | | | was used by |
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| Monte Grappa in the background. It is about | | | | the two saints.The Church of San Francesco |
| 35 kilometres | | | | was started in the mid 12th |
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| north east of Vicenza. The town's symbols | | | | century, after the return of Ezzelino 11, |
| are said to be the | | | | the Stutterer, from the |
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| Palladian bridge, white asparagus, ceramics | | | | Holy Land. The Church of St John the Baptist |
| and the | | | | was originally |
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| Grappa liqueur. I visited the town for the | | | | built in 1308 but reconstructed in the 18th |
| day in February | | | | century by local |
| | | | |
| 2005. I really liked the location, the | | | | architect Giovanni Miazzi. Giambattista |
| fresh air, the fast flowing | | | | Piazzetti made the |
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| river and the picturesque bridge. If you | | | | altarpiece of John the Baptist and Orzio |
| like to be slightly off | | | | Marinali created the |
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| the tourist track and would prefer a more | | | | statues of angels and the bas-reliefs.The |
| rural setting for | | | | Cathedral of Holy Mary was a 10th century |
| | | | parish |
| short break or as a base for a touring | | | | |
| holiday, Bassano is | | | | church in the original high part of the |
| | | | town. The present |
| ideal.How to get thereThe nearest airports | | | | |
| are Treviso, used by Ryanair as it's | | | | cathedral dates from the 17th century. The |
| | | | high altar piece |
| airport for Venice and Venice Marco Polo. | | | | |
| You could hire a | | | | and the painting of St Stephen are the work |
| | | | of Leandro di |
| car from the airport. It is possible to | | | | |
| reach Bassano by train | | | | Ponte, and the sculptures are by Mainali. Di |
| | | | Giacomo Dacci |
| on the Vicenzia - Trento or Padova - | | | | |
| Bassano lines.HistoryIt is often assumed that | | | | made the organ and the three ceiling |
| the city takes its name from the | | | | paintings are by |
| | | | |
| well known liqueur Grappa. This is not the | | | | Volpata.AccommodationVilla Brocchi Colonna, |
| case; it is named | | | | Bassano del GrappaThis lovely agriturismo, |
| | | | country farmhouse hotel, is located |
| after Monte Grappa. The mountain's name is | | | | |
| said to | | | | two kilometres from Bassano in spectacular |
| | | | countryside, |
| originate from crapp or greep, meaning crag | | | | |
| in an ancient | | | | surrounded by hills. The west wing was |
| | | | converted in 2002 |
| pre-Latin language. The liqueur Grappa's | | | | |
| name stems | | | | to provide eleven elegantly furnished |
| | | | bedrooms. Breakfast, |
| from grappolo, meaning a cluster of | | | | |
| grapes.Grappa liqueur has been produced in | | | | prepared by the owner, offers home made |
| Bassano since 1779 | | | | jams, breads, |
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| when Bortolo Nardini bought a Grapperia on | | | | biscuits and cakes, prepared using her own |
| the Brenta | | | | natural farm |
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| River bank. Grappa is made from the | | | | produce.Rooms cost from 90 - 150 euros per |
| by-products of wine | | | | night including |
| | | | |
| making, the seeds, stems and skins. The | | | | breakfast. There are two rooms with an |
| company is still | | | | internal door |
| | | | |
| run by members of the Nardini family, | | | | suitable for a family and two rooms suitable |
| accounting for around | | | | for disabled |
| | | | |
| one quarter of annual grappa | | | | guests.Albergo Contarini, near BassanoThe |
| production.Ponte Vecchia has become | | | | Contarini is in the lovely village of |
| synonymous with Bassano. | | | | Compologno sul |
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| The bridge is first mentioned in the 11th | | | | Brenta, in the Brenta valley, at the foot of |
| century. The bridge | | | | the Dolomite |
| | | | |
| has been rebuilt several times due to | | | | Mountains, a few kilometres north of |
| flooding or | | | | Bassano. There is a |
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| destruction during wars. It is still the | | | | large garden and private parking. Each of |
| original design by | | | | the three annexes |
| | | | |
| Palladio from 1569. The bridge is built of | | | | has its own character and contains bedrooms, |
| wood, making it | | | | studios and |
| | | | |
| more resilient to the fast flowing River | | | | one-bedroom apartments.Double rooms cost |
| Brenta.There is a record of the city on St | | | | from 55 - 72 euros per room per night, |
| Mary's Hill from the 10th | | | | |
| | | | single rooms cost from 40 -54 euros. If you |
| century. From the 14th to 18th century the | | | | stay for at least |
| city was under | | | | |
| | | | three days there is the option of half board |
| Venetian rule. It became well known for the | | | | at 40 - 54 euros |
| manufacture of | | | | |
| | | | per person per night, or full board at 48 - |
| ceramics, wool, silk, iron and copper. The | | | | 62 euros per |
| Remondini | | | | |
| | | | person per night.Col delle Rane |
| family ran one of the most up to date | | | | ApartmentsThese four farm agriturismo |
| printing houses in | | | | apartments are located 10 km |
| | | | |
| Europe from the17th to the 19th | | | | east of Bassono, in the green hills of the |
| century.Grappa liqueur has been produced in | | | | Trevisan March. |
| Bassano since 1779 | | | | |
| | | | The agriturismo is run by the Gallina |
| when Bortolo Nardini bought a Grapperia on | | | | family. There are lovely |
| theBrenta | | | | |
| | | | walks in the nearby hills and vineyards, and |
| River bank. Grappa is made from the by | | | | you can hire |
| products of wine | | | | |
| | | | bicycles too. There is a shared leisure |
| making, the seeds, stems and skins. The | | | | garden.The apartments are all on the ground |
| company is still | | | | floor, with garden |
| | | | |
| run by members of the Nardini family, | | | | views. There is a living room/kitchen. The |
| accounting for around | | | | kitchen has a |
| | | | |
| one quarter of annual grappa production.The | | | | fridge and gas rings. There is a double |
| Town Hall was first constructed in1405. | | | | bedroom and a |
| Bartolomeo | | | | |
| | | | bathroom.The price is 385 euros per week, |
| Ferranci installed the present clock | | | | based on two sharing, |
| mechanism in 1743. | | | | |
| | | | which includes linen, water, electricity, |
| The interior walls are adorned by frescoes | | | | gas and air |
| of 120 coats of | | | | |
| | | | conditioning. It is possible to accommodate |
| arms.White asparagus was first produced in | | | | an additional |
| the 16th century after | | | | |
| | | | two guests in the apartments, at a cost of 5 |
| Bassano experienced a hailstorm which | | | | euros per |
| destroyed the | | | | |
| | | | person per night. There is a final cleaning |
| asparagus crop. The farmers dug up the part | | | | charge of 15 |
| of the plant | | | | |
| | | | euros. |
| below the earth and discovered that it was | | | | |
| so tender and | | | | Where to eatTrattoria del Borgo is a |
| | | | traditional restaurant with a garden, |
| delicious that they started to grow it | | | | |
| underground | | | | via Margan 7, tel 0424 522155Birreria Ottone |
| | | | is an a 13th century palazzo. They offer a |
| permanently.Parolini, a local nobleman, | | | | |
| designed the Giardini Parolini in | | | | selection of Italian, Tyrolean and Austrian |
| | | | dishes, via |
| the early 19th century. In 1829 Parolini | | | | |
| catalogued 3000 | | | | Matteotti 48 - 50, tel 0424 522206.Day |
| | | | tripsMarosticaMarostica is a 14th century |
| plant species in the garden.During the First | | | | medieval town where the |
| World War the Italians took a last stand | | | | |
| | | | original town wall stands intact. |
| against the Austrians in Monte Grappa where | | | | |
| they | | | | It is best known as the "town of chess". |
| | | | Every second year a |
| entrenched themselves in tunnels and bunkers | | | | |
| to repel the | | | | match, with people dressed in elaborate |
| | | | costumes to |
| Austrian attackers. Over 12,000 Italian and | | | | |
| 10,000 Austrian | | | | portray the pieces, is played on the giant |
| | | | chessboard below |
| soldiers lost their lives in the numerous | | | | |
| battles.During the Second World War Italian | | | | the castle. This takes place on the second |
| partisans hid in Monte | | | | Friday, Saturday |
| | | | |
| Grappa, organising raids on the main supply | | | | and Sunday every second year, when the year |
| route from | | | | ends in an |
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| Germany to the German troops stationed in | | | | even number. This commemorates the chess |
| Italy. In 1944 | | | | match |
| | | | |
| the Germans took revenge by marching up the | | | | played in 1454 when the victor was to win |
| mountain | | | | the hand in |
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| behind women, children and elderly local | | | | marriage of Lianora, the daughter of the |
| inhabitants. Any | | | | Lord of the Castle |
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| partisans discovered or civilians suspected | | | | of Marostica. Two suitors, Rinaldo |
| of assisting | | | | d'Angarano and Vieti da |
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| partisans were killed. There were public | | | | Vallonara, had fallen in love with Lianora |
| hangings and | | | | and were to fight a |
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| shootings with families forced to watch.In | | | | duel to see how would marry Lianora. The |
| 1946 the Italian prime minister awarded | | | | Lord forbade the |
| Basssano the | | | | |
| | | | duel and order decreed that the victor of |
| gold medal for military valour. Every year | | | | the chess match |
| the city | | | | |
| | | | would marry Lianora. However all was not |
| commemorates these events during | | | | lost for the |
| September.The Museo degli Alpini was | | | | |
| established in 1948 in memory | | | | defeated suitor, as he would marry Lianora's |
| | | | younger sister, |
| of the Italian Alpine Troops It is located | | | | |
| on the eastern side | | | | Oldrata. |
| | | | |
| of the Ponte Vecchio. You have to enter it | | | | The period costumes are permanenly displayed |
| through a cafe. I | | | | in the |
| | | | |
| found this rather confusing but the museum | | | | Lower Castle.Marostica holds a Cherry |
| is down stairs | | | | Festival every year during May and |
| | | | |
| to the left when you enter the cafe. | | | | June. There are kiosks in the streets |
| | | | selling a variety of |
| Originally the collection was very small but | | | | |
| has grown as | | | | cherries including morello, roame,marostagne |
| | | | and sander. |
| more war relics have been gathered together. | | | | |
| There are | | | | There is an annual exhibition of comic |
| | | | cartoons in the town. |
| many original photos, uniforms and | | | | |
| armoury.Museo della Cermica is near the | | | | Every July and August local craftsmen |
| eastern side of the Ponte | | | | display their work the |
| | | | |
| Vecchio. The building was constructed as the | | | | exhibition hall of the Lower Caste. |
| residence of | | | | |
| | | | There are some lovely walks through the |
| Ferrari family, owners of a local silk | | | | surrounding hills.AsolaAsola is a charming |
| factory. The entrance | | | | hilltop town, with a castle, a cathedral |
| | | | |
| hall is adorned with a fresco by Giorgio | | | | with a altar piece by Lorenzo Lotto and the |
| Anseli. There are | | | | 15th century |
| | | | |
| pieces of engraved ceramics from medieval | | | | Palazzo della Ragione. It was called the |
| times, Mainardi | | | | "city of one |
| | | | |
| majolica pieces from the 17th and 18th | | | | thousand horizons" by Giosue Carducci, |
| century, along with | | | | because of all the |
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| modern pieces.The Civic Musuem is one of the | | | | fantastic views. It was much favoured by the |
| oldest in the Veneto region. | | | | Venetian |
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| It was built in1828 on the site of the | | | | nobility. Caterina Corona, the former Queen |
| convent of St Francis. It | | | | of Cyprus, lived |
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| houses a collection of paintings by the Da | | | | here in the late 15th century. Robert |
| Ponti family, | | | | Browning, the English |
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| Guariento and Magnasco, a collection of | | | | poet, bought a house ere in the mid 17th |
| prints by the | | | | century. Eleanora |
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| Remondini family. There is also an | | | | Duse, credited with being the greatest |
| archaeological section | | | | actress of the Italian |
| | | | |
| and pieces by Antonio Canova.Bassano boasts | | | | stage was also a resident. The travel |
| several churches. San Donato was built in | | | | writer Freya Stark was |
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| 1208. It is claimed that St Francis of | | | | brought up in Asolo and spent a lot of time |
| Assisi and St Anthony | | | | here between |
| | | | |
| of Padua both stayed here during the third | | | | her various expeditions. There is an |
| decade of the | | | | antiques market every |
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| 13th century. The church was a hospital, | | | | second weekend of the month, except during |
| run by Benedictine | | | | July and |
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| nuns in the 14th century, then a Fransican | | | | August.Karen Bryan is an independent travel |
| monastery during | | | | consultant and writer, |
| | | | |
| the 15th century. The church was restored in | | | | specialising less well known destinations in |
| 1900, | | | | Europe. |
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