Page 178 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

176  THE VENE T O AREA B Y AREA

2 Thiene
* 20,000. @ n Piazzetta Rossi 17
(0445 80 48 37). ( Mon am.
Thiene is one of the area’s many
textile towns, manufacturing
jeans and sweatshirts for sale
all over Europe. Two villas
nearby are worth a visit.
Of these, the Castello Porto-
Colleoni stood in open
countryside at the time it was
built. Its impressive defences
were a precaution against
bandits and raiders. Inside,
16th-century frescoes
by Giambattista Zelotti add a
lighter note and many portraits
of horses remind the visitor
that the villa’s owners, the The human chess board in the town square of Marostica
Colleonis, were employed 4 Bassano del
by the Venetian cavalry. 3 Marostica
Zelotti also frescoed the * 12,500. @ n Piazza Castello 1 Grappa
Villa Godi Malinverni, which (0424 721 27). ( Tue. * 38,770. V @ n Piazza Garibaldi
was the first villa designed 34 (0424 51 99 17). ( Thu & Sat am.
by Palladio (see pp28–9). Marostica is an almost perfect
The garden is charming and medieval fortified town, with This peaceful town is
the frescoes are magnificent. town walls built in 1370 by the synonymous with Italy’s
Inside are works by Italian Scaligeri (see p213). The rampart favourite after-dinner drink
Impressionists and a lovely walk from the Castello Inferiore (although grappa is not named
portrait by Pietro Annigoni (lower castle) to the Castello after the town, but after graspa,
(1910–88) called La Strega Superiore (upper castle) has the Italian term for the lees used
(The Sorceress). fine views. to distil the liquor). Information
The lower castle exhibits cos- on this and on the role played
+ Castello Porto-Colleoni tumes worn by participants in the by Bassano during both world
Corso Garibaldi 12. Tel 3298 54 19 town’s human chess tournament, wars is given at the Museo
62. Open mid-Mar–mid-Nov: 3, 4 the Partita a Scacchi, held every degli Alpini, across the Ponte
& 5pm Tue–Fri, Sun & public hols; other September (see p39). Up to degli Alpini bridge. Designed
Groups by appt all year round. 650 people participate in this in 1569 by Palladio, the current
& 8 7 partial. ∑ castellodi colourful re-enactment of a bridge dates from 1948: its
thiene.com game first played here in 1454. timber allows it to flex when
P Villa Godi Malinverni hit by spring meltwaters.
Via Palladio 44. Tel 0445 86 05 61. + Castello Inferiore Bassano is also famous for
Open Mar–Nov: Tue, Sat & Sun Piazza Castello 1. Tel 042 47 21 27. the majolica wares (see p256)
after noons; other times, phone Open 9am–12:30pm, 3–6:30pm daily. at Palazzo Sturm. The life
ahead. & ∑ villagodi.com & ∑ marosticascacchi.it and works of locally born artist
Jacopo Bassano (1510–92) and
the sculptor Canova (1757–
1822) are celebrated in the
Museo Civico.
E Museo degli Alpini
Via Angarano 2. Tel 0424 50 36 62.
Open 8am–8pm Tue–Sun.
Closed 10 days in Jan. - = 7
E Palazzo Sturm
Via Schiavonetti 40. Tel 0424 52 49 33.
Open 9am–1pm, 3–6pm Tue–Sat
(from 10:30am Sun & pub hols). &
E Museo Civico
Piazza Garibaldi. Tel 0424 51 99 01.
Open 9am–6pm Tue–Sat, 10:30am–
1pm, 3–6pm Sun & pub hols. &
The Ponte degli Alpini at Bassano del Grappa ∑ museibassano.it

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