Founded in the 2nd century BC as “Bassianus”, Bassano del Grappa is a riverside city in northern Italy’s Veneto region. It was the site of a 1796 battle during the French Revolutionary Wars and was home to Ernest Hemingway as he penned his 1929 novel “A Farewell to Arms”.
Things to do in Bassano del Grappa
Housed within a former Franciscan convent is the Civic Museum, which exhibits archaeological findings and artefacts from the surrounding region. In addition to ceramics dating back to the 9th century BC, there are antique jewels and coins on display. The museum is particularly renowned for its collection of paintings by Jacopo Bassano and houses plaster casts and drawings from the sculptor Antonio Canova.
Spanning the River Brenta is the Ponte Vecchio, a covered wooden bridge that was designed by Andrea Palladio in 1569. It has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times throughout the centuries and is designated as a National Monument. At the bridge’s eastern end is the Poli Grappa Museum, which explores the history and production of this beloved Italian beverage.
On the other side of the River Brenta is the Palazzo Bonaguro, a magnificent 15th-century building decorated with frescos. It houses the natural history exhibits of the Civic Museum, which are based on the collection of local geologist Giambattista Brocchi. Sprawling south is an attractive park with plenty of benches for watching the world go by.
Getting around Bassano del Grappa
Bassano del Grappa is around an hour’s drive from Padua and Venice Marco Polo Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Bassano del Grappa railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Bassano del Grappa is compact enough to explore on foot.