Guide to Bassano del Grappa, Northern Italy

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

Toal House

Guide to Bassano del Grappa, Northern Italy