Asolo, the town of a hundred horizons

This medieval village, surrounded by 14th-century walls and bearing a strong Renaissance influence developed over four centuries of Venetian rule – recognised as one of the most beautiful in Italia – is the ideal starting point for understanding the essence of this region. The Rocca, the castle and the architecture of the historic centre bear the traces of a history whose roots stretch back to antiquity, around 1100 BC, when peoples from ancient Turkey settled here. Originally a Palaeo-Venetian village and later a Roman town, Asolo’s Civic Museum, housed in the former Bishop’s Palace, is a treasure trove containing the key artefacts of its long history. But what makes the village so special lies also in the notable figures who lived there, turning it into a sort of international crossroads of art and culture spanning two centuries: Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus, who in the 15th century was granted lordship of the village following her abdication; the actress Eleonora Duse, and Freya Stark (who resided in the still-standing Villa Freya), a British explorer and writer famous for her travels in the Middle East. Robert Browning was also among the intellectuals who made the village their regular haunt from the 19th century onwards. And then there is the village’s more intimate spirit, made up of details that characterise a stroll through the historic centre, such as the Venetian-style Zen fountain, the antiques market and the craft shops where one can admire textiles woven on historic looms. Finally, the hospitality sector, too, retains traces of history thanks to establishments such as the Albergo al Sole, dating back to the early 20th century, and the Hotel Cipriani, built by the family that founded the Harris Bar in Venice.

https://www.asolo.it/