Introducing Bassano Del Grappa to my friends

Markets, Mountains, and the Perfect Aperitivo by the River

Jun 17, 2025

I spent a big part of May in Italy, where I got married to Fernanda. We took this opportunity to visit some places in my region, Veneto, and before the wedding, we showed my hometown, Vicenza, to my friends and some towns nearby.

On a Sunday, I decided to bring them to one of my favourite cities in the area, Bassano del Grappa. From Vicenza, it is around 50 minutes by car in the north direction towards the mountains. On the way, we stopped in Marostica, a medieval city I wrote about last week, and you can read about here.

Tucked at the foot of the Venetian Prealps in northern Italy, Bassano del Grappa is a town that charms visitors with its perfect blend of history, art, and Alpine scenery. Famous for its namesake spirit, grappa, it offers much more than just a stiff drink.

The heart of the town is the iconic Ponte Vecchio, also known as the Ponte degli Alpini. Designed by Andrea Palladio in the 16th century, this wooden bridge spans the Brenta River. It serves as a symbol of resilience and unity, having been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the centuries. Today, it’s a favourite spot for both locals and tourists to enjoy the views and perhaps sip a drink at the historic Nardini Distillery nearby.

Wandering through Bassano’s medieval old town, you’ll find cobbled streets lined with arcaded houses, cosy cafés, and artisan shops selling hand-painted ceramics and local delicacies. The town also bears marks of its strategic role in both World Wars, with memorials and museums that reflect its storied past.

At the Museo Civico di Bassano, you can find works by Jacopo Bassano and other Venetian masters, while it is possible to explore the nearby Monte Grappa, a site of historic battles and panoramic hiking trails.

I brought my friends to the bridge first. The view over the Brenta River, with the mountains in the background and the colourful houses lining the water, is something special, serene, and timeless.

After, we headed into the town centre. We walked to Piazza Libertà, where we found that it was market day, and the square was filled with stalls. We strolled around for a bit and then found a spot to sit and have a coffee in the sun, right there on the square.

From there, we walked over to Piazza Garibaldi, wandering through the narrow streets, and stopped for a gelato. Then we slowly made our way back to the bridge, where we decided to end the day with an aperitivo. One reason I like Bassano is that when I was living in Italy, almost every Sunday with my friends, we were having an aperitivo on the bridge with Mezzo e Mezzo (a bitter-sweet aperitif made with herbal liqueur and soda, originally from Bassano del Grappa and famously served at the historic Nardini bar). So that day, I decided to do the same with Fernanda and our friends.