Marostica

There are a couple of towns that are worth seeing while you are in the Asolo area. If brandy holds a special interest for you, visit Bassano del Grappa, an old town famous for its production of grappa (or brandy). The town is also a pottery center. However, Bassano del Grappa is rather large and, in our estimation, much less interesting than Marostica, a tiny town just a few kilometers farther on. If you are in this area in September, check your calendar and consider a stop in Marostica. Here, during the first part of September (in alternate years) the central square is transformed into a giant chessboard and local citizens become the human chess pieces. Even if it isn’t the year of the chess game, you will enjoy this picturesque little medieval town encircled by ramparts, its pretty central square enclosed by colorful buildings and castle walls. There is also a second castle guarding the town from the top of the hill.