Villages and Art Cities
Asolo
Described by Giosuè Carducci as the “City of a Hundred Horizons,” Asolo is one of the most enchanting villages in Italy. Nestled on the slopes of the gentle Asolan hills and surrounded by ancient walls that extend from the Rocca, a 12th-century fortress, Asolo has long been a destination for poets, writers, artists, and travelers. Among its notable visitors are Queen Caterina Cornaro, English poet Robert Browning, the famed actress Eleonora Duse, composer Gian Francesco Malipiero, and English writer and explorer Freya Stark.
Bassano del Grappa
A walk through the historic center of this delightful medieval town is a journey into art. The streets are decorated with works by renowned figures such as Palladio, Canova, and Jacopo Da Ponte. Bassano is also home to Veneto’s oldest Civic Museum. Yet, the city’s true emblem is the Ponte Vecchio, designed by Palladio and traditionally linked to the heroism of the Alpine troops during the Great War.
Marostica
Between Asolo and Bassano, this charming town at the foot of the Asiago Plateau is world-famous for its chessboard square. Every two years (in even-numbered years), on the second weekend of September, a chess match is played here with living characters—a tradition that began in 1923 and is said to be inspired by an event from 1454. Marostica is also renowned for the production of the delicious Marostica Cherry, a product with protected geographical indication (PGI).
Cittadella
Cittadella is a beautiful medieval town founded in 1220, and the only walled city in Europe with a fully walkable, elliptical medieval rampart. The walls can be explored via a panoramic walkway 15 meters high, offering a unique experience of “Walking Through History.”
Castelfranco Veneto
The hometown of the painter Giorgione, this city is a gem surrounded by fascinating walls, among the best preserved in Italy. Strolling through the historic center, you’ll encounter charming views and prestigious buildings, such as the Teatro Academico and the Palazzo del Monte di Pietà. But it is at sunset, when the Castle is illuminated, that the town reveals its most enchanting and fairy-tale-like atmosphere.
Treviso
Treviso, the city of water, is crossed by the Sile and Cagnan rivers and numerous canals that, with their gentle flow, bestow an almost poignant sweetness upon it. Treviso is a city to be explored slowly, walking through its streets to discover the many artistic wonders enclosed within its walls, such as the Cathedral with Titian’s Annunciation altarpiece, the Civic Museums located in Santa Caterina and the Luigi Bailo Museum, and Ca’ dei Carraresi, which hosts important international exhibitions.
Venice
No words are needed to describe the city that many consider the most beautiful in the world, just under an hour’s drive or train ride away. Immortal and mysterious, it is now one of the world’s capitals of contemporary art. To say it is rich in artistic treasures is almost disrespectful; here, charm and history are absolutely unique.
