Bassano del Grappa is a city in Vicenza province, region Veneto, Italy. It bounds the communes of Cassola, Marostica, Solagna, Pove del Grappa, Romano d'Ezzelino, Campolongo sul Brenta, Conco, Rosà, Cartigliano and Nove.

The artist Jacopo Bassano was born, worked , and died in Bassano and took it as his surname. Bassano Del Grappa is also famous for the spirit Grappa.

[edit] History

The town was founded in the 2th century BCE by a Roman called Bassianus, whence the name, as an agricultural estate.

The first news of the existence of the medieval city dates from 998, while the Castle is mentioned first in 1150. In 1175 Bassano was conquered by Vicenza, but the city maintained a semi-autonomous status as a free commune in the 13th century also, when it was under the family of the Ezzelinos.

In 1368 it was acquiered by the Visconti of Milan and, in 1404, by the Republic of Venice: the latter did not alter the citadine magistratures, limiting to impose a Captain chosen by the Venetian Senate. The city became home to a flourishing industry producing wool, silk, iron and copper, and mainly for ceramics; in the 18th became especially famous in all Europe for the presence of the Remondini printers.

During the Napoleonic Wars the city was the seat of the Battle of Bassano. In 1815 it was included in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, and became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1866.

During World War I Bassano was in the front area, and all industrial activities were halted. In World War II, after the Armistice with Italy, the city was invaded by German troops, which killed or deported numerous inhabitants.

[edit] Main sights

• The Cathedral (Duomo), built around the year 1000 but renovated in 1417. It has works by Leandro da Bassano, Ottavio Marinali and other
• The Castello Superiore (Upper Castle)
• The church of St. John the Baptist, built in the 14th century and restored in the 18th century.
• The church of St. Francis, with a Crucifix by Guariento (14th century) and remains of contemporary frescoes. next to the church is the Town Museum, with ancient archaeological remains, works by Antonio Canova and the Tiepolos, and drawings by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Spagnoletto, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt
• The wooden covered Bridge or Ponte degli Alpini on the Brenta River, designed in 1569 by the architect Andrea Palladio to replace a pre-existing construction existing at least from 1209. The bridge was destroyed in 1748, and was rebuilt three years later.
• Palazzo Michieli-Bonato, wth a façade frescoed by Jacopo da Bassano
• The Palazzo del Municipio (Town Hall), erected from 1404. It has a noteworthy loggia and a fresco attributed to Jacopo da Bassano.
• The Monte di Pietà, a Renaissance edifice with 15th century coats of arms.
• The Palazzo Sturm, home to the Ceramics Museum

In the neighbourhood are the Villa Rezzonico, designed by Baldassarre Longhena, and the 17th century Villa Bianchi-Michiel, with a garden decorated by statues.

[edit] External links

• Official site
• ItalianVisits.com
• Video clips from the wooden covered bridge (Ponte degli Alpini) and Brenta river

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