Asolo
Nestled in enchanting hills, just a few miles North of Venice, Asolo is one of the best known and lovliest villages in Italy. Called "the town of a hunderd horizons", its charm exudes from the beauty of the views from all directions.
The aromas of the local cuisine, the workshops of the native craftspeople who together with taverns and cafes face onto arcades and squares are part of the inviting atmosphere that one perceives walking through the streets of the village. It is the leisurely rhythm of living as an "Asolan".
Its great location and wonderful climate made Asolo a populated center right from prehistoric times. A spa, an aqueduct, a forum and a theatre testify to the importance of Asolo in Roman times. But it was during the Renaissance that this charming town became famous.
In 1489 Venice bestowed upon Caterina Cornaro, former Queen of Cyprus, the Seigniority of Asolo. She created a magnificent Renaissance court of artists, men of letters and poets and left an indelible imprint in the art and in the very ideal of the city.
"I assure you that even with the experience I have had of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy and elsewhere, I know of nothing that can compare with the view one enjoys from the tower and the Queen's palace (letter dated 1889 to friend Mrs FitzGerald).
"Come, my soul! And I saw a town, splendid with magnificent architecture perfect in every aspect" ("Asolando").
ROBERT BROWNING
"Neither San Gimignano, nor Siena, nor Volterra gripped me like Asolo which, from that day forward, dominated me and made me its slave" ("Treviso - Ritratto di una Provincia") G.FRANCESCO MALIPIERO
"From the window while we were having tea in Asolo, the sunset light from the Veneto hills, softly evoking spirits, came streaming in" ("Viaggio in Italia").
GUIDO PIOVENE
High up in the fortress you feel as if you are on the point of a diamond where every face presents an iridescent landscape" ("Veneto Felice").
GIOVANNI COMISSO
Surrounded by castles and country churches Anghiari looks out over the beautiful High Tiber Valley landscape, a natural amphitheatre filled with the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi.
Anghiari is well worth visiting all year round thanks to its active cultural life. There are exhibitions, fairs, local festivals, a busy theatre program and an active interest in the conservation and re-enactment of historical and folklore traditions all contributing to the cultural life of the town.
Visitors enjoy the enchanting atmosphere enhanced with fairs, markets and open-air shows. The excellent local cooking and warmth of the Anghiarese people adds to the superb landscape.
