Treviso Guide Italy

Asolo and the pearls of the Marca Trevigiana

Asolo and the pearls of the Marca Trevigiana

• Castelfranco
  This age-old town is the birthplace of the Renaissance painter Giorgione. The square fortress appears immediately in the center surrounded by pretty gardens, overlooking a large square with arcades. By entering the walls you reach the oldest part of the city with the neoclassical Duomo and former Monte dei Pegni. The Duomo contains remarkable works of art, including a famous altarpiece by Giorgione.
  
  
• Villa Emo
  A short distance from Castelfranco lies the town of Fanzolo, where the magnificent Villa Emo is situated, created in 1560 by Andrea Palladio. This country villa is an excellent example of Palladian architecture, which manages to combine the forms of ancient architecture with the practical necessities of agrarian life. The exterior of the villa is simple, while the interior is richly decorated with frescoes.
  May-October: Mon.-Fri. 2:30-6:00 p.m., Sat. 2:30-7:00 p.m., Sun. 10:00-12:30 p.m. and 2:30-7:00 p.m. November-April: Sat. and Sun. 2:00-6:00 p.m. - Tel. +39.0423.476334
  
  
• Asolo
  The pearl of the Marca Trevigiana rises at the top of a hill overlooking the plains. Asolo possesses a charm that few other cities have, in fact famous people have lived here including the poet Robert Browning, actress Eleonora Duse and explorer Freya Stark. Asolo houses a great artistic heritage, we invite you to stop even to simply breathe the magic atmosphere of the place, possibly sitting at one of the cafes in the main square. Or why not leave to discover dreamlike corners on the roads of the surrounding hills? More information...
  
  
• Villa Barbaro
  Not far from Asolo, in the town of Maser, is one of the masterpieces of Italian architecture, listed on Unesco's "World Heritage List". This is Villa Barbaro, built in 1550-1560 by Andrea Palladio in a slightly elevated position on the slope of a hill. The interior of the villa is decorated with frescoes by Paolo Veronese who created one of the most extraordinary fresco cycles of the 16th century here. The Museum of Antique Carriages is located near the villa. Visits: Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays 3:00-6:00 p.m. Tel. +39.0423.923004
  
  
• Possagno
  From Asolo, by crossing the charming landscape of the Colli Asolani, you reach Possagno, at the feet of the mountains in chestnut and acacia woods. Possagno is the birthplace of Antonio Canova, the Neoclassical sculptor who became famous throughout Europe. Visitors immediately notice the enormous mass of the Canova's Temple, a massive Neoclassical construction from 1830 that Canova designed based on inspiration from the Parthenon in Athens and Pantheon in Rome. If the exterior is striking due to its grandeur, the interior is even more beautiful: Canova's tomb and numerous works of art are housed here. It is also possible to visit the Canova Museum in Possagno, which includes the artist's home and the famous Gipsoteca, where all of the plaster models, unsold marble, paintings and work are kept, which after the artist's death were transferred from Rome to Possagno.
  
  
• Mount Grappa
  The Grappa Massif rises above Possagno, a mountain which became famous during World War I, earning the name "Italy's Sacred Mount". In 1917 and 1918 Italian and Austrian troops fought various battles leaving 23,000 dead. At the top of the mountain rises the impressive Sacrario Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery), which contains the remains of the fallen soldiers of the two sides. The World War I Museum can be visited in the same square. Today Mount Grappa is very popular with hikers, mountain bikers and climbers, and is one of the best spots in Europe for paragliding and hang gliding. A stop in one of the traditional shepherd's huts is recommended to try the excellent high mountain cheeses.
  
  
• Bassano del Grappa
  The itinerary ends in Bassano, an old town made famous by its wooden bridge. The entire city is filled with very tasteful buildings: walking through the historical center you reach three central squares flanked by lovely buildings such as Monte di Pietà and Loggia del Comune. Piazza Garibaldi is home to the Museo Civico, which contains various paintings by Jacopo da Ponte and other artwork.
  However, the true gem of Bassano is its covered wooden bridge, which was designed by Andrea Palladio and rebuilt various times with its original appearance. The last time it was rebuilt was after World War II. Bassano is also famous for ceramics and the production of grappa. Make sure to visit the historic site of the Distillerie Nardini next to the wooden bridge.

Photos courtesy of: Provincia di Treviso – Assessorato Turismo, Servizio Turismo

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