Page 155 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

THE VENE T O AND FRIULI  153

5 Castelfranco
Veneto
Treviso. * 30,000. V @ n Via
Riccati 14 (0423 49 50 00), open Tue–
Sat am. ( Tue am & Fri am.
Fortified in 1199 by the rulers of
Treviso as a defence against the
neighbouring Paduans, the
historic core of this town lies
within well­preserved walls.
The Casa di Giorgione is said to
be the birthplace of the painter
Giorgione (1478–1511). It now
The 16th-century wooden bridge by Palladio at Bassano del Grappa houses a museum devoted to
his life. Giorgione innovatively
3 Bassano the Venetian wife of the King of used landscape to create mood,
del Grappa Cyprus, who poisoned her adding figures to intensify the
husband so that Venice would atmosphere – for instance, in his
Vicenza. * 39,000. V @ gain Cyprus. Cardinal Pietro most famous work, the brood­
n Largo Corona d’Italia 35 (0424 52 Bembo, a poet, coined the verb ingly mysterious but evocative
43 51). ( Thu & Sat am. asolare to describe the bitter­ The Tempest (see p110). Another
∑ bassanodelgrappa.com sweet life of enforced idleness of his few directly attributable
she endured in exile here. Among works hangs here in the Duomo:
This peaceful town lies at the others who fell in love with the the Madonna and Child with
foot of Monte Grappa. The River narrow streets and grand houses Saints Liberal and Francis (1504).
Brenta is straddled by the grace­ was poet Robert Browning, who
ful Ponte degli Alpini, designed named a volume of poems Environs
in 1569 by Palladio. It is built of Asolanda (1889) after Asolo. About 8 km (5 miles) northeast
timber to allow it to flex when hit of the town, at Fanzolo, lies the
by the spring meltwaters. Bassano Environs Villa Emo (c.1555). Designed by
is well­known for its majolica At Maser, 10 km (6 miles) east of Palladio, it is a typical example of
products (decorated and glazed the town, stands the magnificent his work: a cube flanked by two
earthenware), some of which are Villa Barbaro (see pp84–5). sym metrical wings. Inside there
on display in the Palazzo Sturm. It was designed by Palladio in are lavish frescoes by Zelotti.
The town is also synonymous about 1555, in conjunction with
with the popular Italian clear the artist Veronese, and perfectly P Casa di Giorgione
spirit known as grappa. It is blends symmetry and light, airy Piazza San Liberale. Tel 0423 73 56 26.
produced from the lees (graspa) rooms with sumptuous trompe Open Tue–Sun (am only Tue–Thu).
left over from wine production; l’oeil frescoes. Closed pub hols. &
information about the process is ∑ museocasagiorgione.it
given in the Museo degli Alpini. P Villa Barbaro P Villa Emo
Masèr. Tel 0423 92 30 04. Open Via Stazione 5, Fanzolo. Tel 0423 47 63
E Palazzo Sturm 10:30am–6pm Tue–Sat, 11am–6pm 34. Open May–Oct: daily (pm only Mon–
Via Schiavonetti. Tel 0424 52 49 33. Sun & pub hols. Closed 1 Jan, Easter Sat); Nov–Apr: daily. Closed 1 Jan, 25,
Open Tue–Sun. & ∑ musei Sun, 25 Dec. & ∑ villadimaser.it 26 & 31 Dec. & =∑ villaemo.org
bassano.it
E Museo degli Alpini
Via Angarano 2. Tel 0424 50 36 50.
Open Tue–Sun. & 7 - =
∑ museibassano.it
4 Asolo
Treviso. * 2,000. @ n Piazza
Garibaldi 73 (0423 52 90 46), open
Tue–Sun. ( Sat. ∑ asolo.it
Asolo is beautifully sited among
the cypress­clad foothills of the
Dolomites. This tiny walled town
was once ruled by Queen
Caterina Cornaro (1454–1510), Fresco by Paolo Veronese adorning a ceiling in Villa Barbaro, near Asolo

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