Bassano del Grappa

Bassano sits in a stunning location by the River Brenta with Monte Grappa in the background. It is about 35 kilometres north east of Vicenza. The town's symbols are said to be the Palladian bridge, white asparagus, ceramics and the Grappa liqueur. If you like to be slightly off the tourist track or prefer a more rural setting for short break or as a base for a touring holiday, Bassano is ideal.

Apart from having an important role in Italian and European history, this town is chic, young and highly fashionable. There are wonderful bars and restaurants which line the central piazza, glamorous shops and opulent buildings kept in pristine condition.

The river "Brenta", which cuts through the town is emerald green and surrounded by brightly colored buildings on either side. The fast flowing river comes down from the Alps. To the East of the river, the historical center of the town is still surrounded by the medieval walls which were once built to defend it. Within these walls, a labyrinth of streets, which are pedestrian only, allows for considerable window shopping and sightseeing without commotion.

Indeed, Bassano del Grappa is a peaceful place, not frequently visited by many English speaking tourists, but what we here at ItalianVisits consider to be one of the Veneto's best kept secrets.

It is often assumed that the city takes its name from the well known liqueur Grappa. However it is named after Monte Grappa. The mountain's name originates from "crapp" or "greep", meaning crag in an ancient pre-Latin language. The name of the liqueur - which is produced in Bessano in quantity - stems from "grappolo", meaning a cluster of grapes.

Grappa liqueur has been produced in Bassano since 1779 when Bortolo Nardini bought a Grapperia on the Brenta River bank. Grappa is made from the by-products of wine making, the seeds, stems and skins. The company is still run by members of the Nardini family.

Ponte Vecchio has become synonymous with Bassano. The bridge is first mentioned in the 11th century. The bridge has been rebuilt several times due to flooding or destruction during wars. It is still the original design by Palladio from 1569. The bridge is built of wood, making it more resilient to the fast flowing River Brenta.


During the First World War the Italians took a last stand against the Austrians in Monte Grappa where they entrenched themselves in tunnels and bunkers to repel the Austrian
attackers. Over 12,000 Italian and 10,000 Austrian soldiers lost their lives in the numerous battles.

During the Second World War Italian partisans hid in Monte Grappa, organizing raids on the main supply route from Germany to the German troops stationed in Italy. In 1944 the Germans took revenge by marching up the mountain behind women, children and elderly local inhabitants. Any partisans discovered or civilians suspected of assisting
partisans were killed. There were public hangings and shootings with families forced to watch.

In 1946 the Italian prime minister awarded Basssano the gold medal for military valor. Every year the city commemorates these events during September.

So, Bassano may not be the ultimate destination of your journey, but it is highly recommended to travelers and tourists who are in the Veneto Region and want to experience an authentic northern Italian river town. Put it on your travel map, why not?