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Vicenza - Aerial view
In the central area of Veneto, in a land crossed by many rivers, lies the Province of Vicenza, an ever-changing landscape where mountains, valleys, water courses, art cities, and food and wine itineraries offer evocative landscapes and many opportunities to spend a pleasant holiday.
In the north is the plataeu known as the Altopiano di Asiago with its 8 municipalities: dressed by a palette of colours where emerald valleys and meadows scattered with the colours of cyclamens, primroses, woodruffs, and lilies of the valley, mix with the dark green of thick woods, which are softened when the white snow covers the entire panorama.
Below the plateau lies the Bassano area , dominated by Monte Grappa it is the perfect destination for those who love pretty hilly areas, places of remembrance, traditions and old trades. Even further down are the wide valleys of Alto Vicentino, with their remarkable natural, historic and artistic landscapes.
Vicenza, situated in the centre of the plain is a very good example of what this area has to offer. The Basso Vicentino area, a strip of land in the very south of the province, has the appearance of a geometrical mosaic, covered by rows of vineyards, olive trees and fruit trees, is dominated by the impressive rocks of the Berici Hills.
It is the nature, the art and history narrated by the elegant villas by Palladio, the wonderful gardens, religious places, medieval castles, artisan workshops and commemorative events that keep alive the memory of the customs and traditions of an ancient past.
To journey through this area is to experience excitement, entertainment, culture, relaxation, and an opportunity to taste exquisite food and wine. The main ingredient of the good local cuisine is love, the feeling that ties people to this land; a love that is felt even more intensely when it is time to taste a good local wine.
The villas of the Veneto Region reached their apex in the 16th century with those designed by Andrea Palladio, considered the best architect of his period for the elegance of the forms and the incomparable style he imparted to his work. His abilities are amply represented in Vicenza and the surrounding area, which has been a Unesco heritage site since 1994, with 39 places to visit and admire the architectural talent of this old master.
In the old city centre the wonderful Piazza dei Signori is dominated by the superb Loggia del Capitano, and by the impressive Basilica Palladiana, where the architect, unknown at that time, realised the double order of arches and loggias. The streets and the piazzas of Vicenza are dotted with impressive works by Palladio, such as Palazzo Chiericati -one of the most beautiful buildings of the 16th century- and the Teatro Olimpico, originally designed by Palladio, and later developed by Vincenzo Scamozzi.
Outside the city Villa Almerico Capra known as “La Rotonda”, is Palladio’s undisputed masterpiece, the interior too is sumptuous, decorated with wonderful frescoes and stuccoes. Not far away, Villa Valmarana “ai Nani” (dwarfs), which takes its name from the 17 stone statues of dwarfs now placed on the walls surrounding the house. Palladio deserves the credit for the elegance and harmony of the architectural forms, Giambattista and Giandomenico Tiepolo are responsible for the wonderful paintings which decorate the interiors. Different talents combined to create a remarkable piece of . Tiepolo is the other great artist who contributed to the artistic beauty of Vicenza and its province. There are many places where it is possible to admire his wonderful works of art: the Palazzo Chiericati Gallery, the Church of St. Stefano, the Church of St. Vito, St. Modesto and St. Crescenzia of Noventa Vicentina and the famous Villa Cordellina Lombardi of Montecchio Maggiore. The Montagna Spaccata is a wonder of nature, a deep crevice hollowed out of the rock by torrents and geological mutations over the centuries. It is a fabulous landscape to climb, day and night, along stairways and pathways that meander through this captivating natural oasis.
There is also a legend involving this mountain, the story of the doomed love of Etele and Giordano, whose relationship was put to an end by an act of sorcery. Not far away, located in the wonderful scenery of Conca Smeraldo at the feet of the Piccole Dolomiti, Recoaro Terme -one of the most renowned spa baths in Italy- provides the ideal place to regenerate and recover a perfect psycho-physical balance thanks to the curative properties of the local waters and the wonderful surroundings.
The Altopiano di Asiago and its municipalities offer a wonderful natural landscape, both in winter when snow covers everything, and in summer when nature reawakens in an explosion of colours.
The various landscapes of the Province of Vicenza offer a wide variety of opportunities for sport lovers. Climbing, paragliding, and quad biking for the more adventurous, and mountain biking, trekking and orienteering for those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground: many different ways to have fun exploring the charming places, such as those offered by the Berici Hills, Monte Grappa and the Altopiano di Asiago.
When the snow comes, there are even more opportunities for fun filled holidays in the midst of nature: skiing, snowboarding, sledge races and ice-skating. The famous Marcia Bianca - now in its 37th edition- is an exciting opportunity for Nordic ski lovers to test themselves over 25 or 50 km routes, starting from Enego.
If the ideal place for your holiday is a Strada del Vino (a Wine Route), you cannot miss a trip through the land’s producing Recioto di Gambellara, the DOC wines of Breganze, and the Berici Hills. It is an unusual experience, evoking a mixture of feelings, running along routes winding their way through unspoiled landscapes, places of historic interest and and artistic heritage, where it is possible to feed the body and the mind.
For foodies and wine lovers, the area of Vicenza is perfect. There are many food and wine routes to discover old flavours and exquisite local specialities, such as those dedicated to Baccalà alla Vicentina (dried codfish) or to Asiago cheese, made in Italy products that are internationally renowned for their excellence .
For those who are crazy about chocolate, Vicenza offers three days of excitement, with more than 50 booths to choose from to satisfy visitors with a sweet tooth. We are talking about CioccolandoVi, the kermis totally dedicated to chocolate, where the most famous chocolatiers offer up this delight in many different forms and recipes. The feasts that are celebrated every year in the municipalities of Vicenza are unmissable: there are festivals valorising wine, cherries, water, and even “corgnoi” (snails). There are also historical re-enactments, such as the famous Partita a Scacchi (chess game)with live characters, which takes place in the piazza in Marostica.
The Vicenza area is, by tradition, bound to the cult of good wine and a passion for good food, with a variety of food from cheese to fish to cold cuts. The Altopiano di Asiago, is renowned for cheese such as Asiago PDO, Morlacco and Burlacco (produced only in summertime in the Grappa area ). Strong and special tastes are offered by cold cuts like the Soppressa vicentina (a perfect combination of sweet and peppery), the Veneto Berico-Euganeo PDO and the Val Liona hams, the donkey meat salami that can be grilled, fried or eaten raw with polenta.
The land offers a variety of fruit and vegetables including white asparagus and the white radicchio of Bassano del Grappa, the potatoes of Rotzo, the cherries of Marostica, the mushrooms of Costozza and the black truffles of the Berici Hills. As for fish, the most famous is without doubt the baccalà alla vicentina (dried codfish), then there is the excellent brown trout, prized for its white meat and delicate taste, that can be cooked in tinfoil, grilled or boiled.
These genuine flavours can be complemented with a glass of good wine, and the area around Vicenza produces many excellent wines.
Theproduction of spirits is also wide and varied, the most famous being the grappa of Bassano and a wide variety of bitter liqueurs.
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