Castelfranco Travel Guide, Italy

Esagno comprises the area spanning from Venice to the Dolomites mountains lingering along the line where the Venetian plateau meets the pre-Alpine hills. It comprises the towns of Asolo, Bassano, Castelfranco, Citadella, Marostica and Possagno.

It is a highly touristic area with lots of attractions, history and tradition in the six art towns it comprises and set in a marvelous natural environment, a magic landscape with a mild climate.

The area is known world wide because of its enormous cultural heritage, its museums, villas, castles, fortresses, all works of art. People coming here are astounded by the architecture, landscape and entertained by the lively cultural programs.

Wherever you turn your head you see a work of art of high value, this is so because the area is in the hearth of the artistic world. Great artists like Andrea Palladio, Giorgione, Antonio Canova and Jacopo da Ponte have worked and created masterpieces you can see even today.

The Veneto villas spread around the area are the symbol of the richness of these people and their love of art. They bear the artistic heritage of the region including architecture, painting, sculpture and all the other arts used to give the villas their aspect. Even if some of them were built in the 15th century they still retain the grandeur and the charm they once had.

Everything is restored to look just as they looked way back.

There are many who work in the restoration field and the ones you can see at work are the local craftsmen. In their workshop you can see the traditional methods they use to restore an old piece of art or make new ones.

Even if there are countless museums you don’t really need to visit one to get a general idea of how people lived in the past, but they are definitely worth visiting especially the one where you can see how the famous “grappa” was once made.

And if we are talking about drinks and local cuisine you are sure to taste only the best. No matter if you are drinking wine, grappa or taste some delicious food you will immediately admit the originality and quality of what you are offered. The best places to go are the so called “trattorias” where you can taste traditional dishes. Try the ones that include the white asparagus of Bassano because this asparagus has a really special flavor as it is deep planted in the soil and it is not exposed to light compared to the green one which is. The list of special products of this land goes on with the sweet cherries of Marostica, the peas called “bisi di Borso”, the broccoli of Bassano and the “radicchio” of Castelfranco that looks like a large rose with petals in various tones of red, you really have the impression that you eat a flower, a very delicious one that is slightly bitter.

You will find in this area a varied landscape of hills, mountains, parks, rivers and caves. The hills around Asolo and Possagno are beautiful and their footpaths lead you to monumental sites and spots connected to the Great War. Another site connected to the events of the war is Mount Grappa. Here great battles were fought and you can follow the tracks that tell you their story but you will definitely not miss observing the rich variety of flora around.

A rich variety of flora and some rare plants can also be seen at the botanical garden called Giardino Parolini in the center of Bassano and another great English style park is Parco Revedin Bolasco from Castelfranco, this too situated in the town center.