Hotel Asolo
Asolo - Via Castellana 9
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The enchanting town of Asolo is a small jewel of the Pedemontana Trevigiana, the hilly strip that acts as a hinge between the flat countryside of the Veneto plain and the foothills of the Belluno Alps.
Of Paleovenetian origin, Asolo became an important centre in Roman times and centuries later was the favourite retreat of artists, intellectuals and nobles eager for peace and beauty. The poet Giosuè Carducci called it the ‘City of a Hundred Horizons’ because of the magnificent views that have bewitched and continue to be bewitched visitors from yesterday and today. The English poet Robert Browning coined the term ‘asolando’ to indicate a slow aimless wandering, dedicated to the ecstatic contemplation of beauty.
Even today, Asolo is not a hit-and-run tourist destination. One comes here to be enraptured by an emotion, or perhaps to experience a ‘collected and pensive solitude’, the one mentioned by theatre critic Silvio D’Amico in one of his portraits of Eleonora Duse.
The divine actress is one of the Three Ladies of Asolo: extraordinary women in terms of temperament and life experiences who fell in love with this Veneto village and made it their home; the other two are the writer and traveller Freya Stark and Queen Caterina Cornaro.
Discovering their stories full of events and emotions, seeing their homes and paying homage to their tombs is a good excuse to come to Asolo. Then stop at the panoramic viewpoints of the town, treat yourself to a dreamlike moment admiring its famous horizons, and then stroll unhurriedly through the streets of the historic centre.
The best way to end your unforgettable trip to Asolo? A glass of Asolo Prosecco Superior.
Asolo is one of those towns that enchant visitors with its romantic atmosphere, dreamy views, and picturesque glimpses. There are interesting things to see, but they are more like landmarks for creating a walking itinerary in the village.
Here are the most famous attractions.
The symbol of Asolo is the Rocca, a military fortress with a defensive function built between the 13th and 14th centuries.
Situated on top of Monte Ricco, a 310-metre hill close to the centre, it is an exceptional vantage point from which to admire the Colli Asolani and the villas in the surrounding area; on a clear day it is even possible to see the Dolomites.
It is worth climbing to the top of the Rocca to admire the enchanting view that was the inspiration for the poet Robert Browning.
The other landmark building of Asolo is the Castle, known as the Castello della Regina Cornaro (Queen Cornaro’s Castle). Older than the Rocca (it was built about two centuries earlier), it is famous for having hosted Caterina Cornaro at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, who was the Queen of Cyprus and Lady of Asolo.
Over the centuries it suffered alternating fortunes and in the 19th century ended up being used as a prison; since 1932 it has housed the Asolo Theater, dedicated to Eleonora Duse, so it is only possible to see inside the castle during shows and events.
A theatre was already present inside the castle: when the current theatre was built, it was dismantled, sold to a Venetian antique dealer and then to the Ringling Museum in the United States, where it was faithfully reconstructed to be admired by the public.
The castle’s outer courtyard is often used for outdoor events; the Civic Tower in the courtyard is a beautiful vantage point from which to view the city and surrounding hills.
A must-see attraction in Asolo is the Garden of Villa Freya, the sumptuous residence of the adventurous English writer considered one of the founders of modern travel literature. Here Stark died at the age of one hundred.
The park of the villa is inspired by the romantic gardens of the 19th century, but does not strictly follow the traditional layout. A visit to the Villa Freya Garden can best be described as an experiential tour divided into several ‘rooms’, each with a different vegetation.
You will move with ease from an organic vegetable garden to an ornamental one, from a path of roses and blue irises to a grove of holm oaks, from a shady garden to a tunnel of wisteria. It is a stroll through shapes, colours and scents during which you will come across clues here and there to the extraordinary life of Freya Stark.
Inside the garden there is also an archaeological area where you can admire the remains of an ancient Roman theatre and a belvedere from which to take splendid photographs of the Asolo landscape.
Along the medieval city walls of Asolo is a historical palace known as Casa Duse. The famous actress who was the muse of the poet Gabriele d’Annunzio lived here on several occasions; Duse fell in love with it and decided to purchase it to make it her permanent residence. She died before fulfilling her wish to move to Asolo for good.
You can easily recognise the building thanks to a plaque bearing a text written for her by D’Annunzio a year after her death.
Before Eleonora Duse, other historical figures lived in this elegant palace: Francesco Nursio Timideo da Verona, Queen Cornaro’s personal secretary, and Jane Morison Miller, a friend of Robert Browning’s sister.
After Duse’s death, the house remained the property of her daughter Enrichetta Checchi until 1932; it is still privately owned today and therefore cannot be visited.
Eleonora Duse never left Asolo: as per her wish, her body was buried in the small Sant’Anna Cemetery in the historic village. Her grave is still there, a simple marble slab with a small plaque bearing her words of love for the town of Treviso.
Following the indications in the actress’s will, the tomb was turned towards Monte Grappa: it is a place of silence and peace where you can pay homage to a solitary soul and a mountain that marked the history of our town.
Freya Stark is also buried in the same cemetery.
Walking around Asolo, you will come across two buildings that seem to have nothing to do with anything else.
And indeed they do: the Case Anseatiche (Hanseatic Houses) are two buildings that follow the canons of northern European architecture, standing out clearly from the other houses in the village. They are Casa de Maria and Casa Pusinich and were built around 1914-15 by the painter Mario de Maria, known as Marius Pictor.
Like other intellectuals and artists of the time, Marius Pictor also wanted to live and be buried in Asolo; his tomb, like that of Duse, bears a dedication by Gabriele d’Annunzio.
Located in the piazza of the same name (also known as Piazza Garibaldi), Asolo’s Fontana Maggiore ideally marks the centre of the town. The form we admire today dates back to the second half of the 16th century, while the winged lion was added in 1910.
To learn more about the Three Ladies of Asolo and the history of the town, you can visit the small Civic Museum housed inside the Palazzo del Vescovado and the Loggia della Ragione.
The pieces that most interest visitors are usually portraits, letters, dresses and other personal items of Caterina Cornaro, Eleonora Duse and Freya Stark; there are also memorabilia of D’Annunzio and Browning.
The other rooms of the museum house an archaeological section with artefacts from the prehistoric age to the late Middle Ages found in and around Asolo, a sacred art section and a picture gallery where you can admire a tempera and other works signed by Antonio Canova.
Not a few visitors dedicate a short visit to the centre of Asolo and then spend the day in the nearby hills.
Situated between the Po Valley and the foothills of the Alps, the Colli Asolani are a dream destination for relaxing walks and days of outdoor sports: there are numerous paths perfect for trekking, mountain biking, trails and Nordic walking.
Another attraction of Asolo, probably more famous than the historic houses and museums, are the wine cellars where the area’s typical wine, Asolo Prosecco DOCG, is produced.
Immersed in an idyllic hilly landscape, the wine cellars of Asolo are an unmissable destination for all wine tourism enthusiasts and for those who want a pleasant diversion from art and history. Some wineries organise guided tours and tastings.
Asolo is a small town: half a day is more than enough to see all the main attractions. Once in the area, however, you can continue the day by visiting the attractions in the surroundings.
Less than 10 km from Asolo is Villa Maser, one of the masterpieces of Andrea Palladio, the architect who designed all the most beautiful 16th-century Venetian villas, unanimously considered one of the most innovative and refined artists of his time. Another Palladian villa near Asolo is Villa Emo in Fanzolo (about 15 km).
A great artist born not far from Asolo is Antonio Canova, the sculptor who was the greatest exponent of Neoclassicism. In Possagno (about 12 km from Asolo) you can visit the gypsotecha museum dedicated to him, which includes the house where the sculptor was born, a collection of original plaster models of his most famous works and an elegant garden.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
In the centre of Asolo and in the immediate vicinity there is a good number of b&b’s, hotels and holiday homes with a good quality/price ratio; for a special occasion or if you want to treat yourself to more comfort there is also a 5-star hotel.
If you are travelling by public transport, sleeping in the centre is strongly recommended, while if you are arriving by car and want more peace and quiet, the best solution for you is accommodation in the countryside just outside the centre.
The recommended way to reach Asolo is by car. The nearest motorway tollbooths are Treviso Nord and Treviso Sud, about 40 km away; once off the motorway you should continue along the SR53. Bear in mind that the historic centre is a restricted traffic zone and free parking is very scarce.
It is not possible to get to Asolo by train. The nearest railway station is Castelfranco Veneto, served by frequent regional trains on the Calalzo-Padova, Trento-Venezia and Vicenza-Treviso lines. It is 15 km away and is connected by direct buses of the local transport company.
It is also possible to get to Asolo by direct bus from Treviso, Montebelluna and Bassano del Grappa, but it is best to check the timetables before departure.
The nearest airport is Treviso, an important stopover served by numerous low-cost flights. It is about 35 km away.
What's the weather at Asolo? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Asolo for the next few days.
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