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Castelfranco Veneto - via Borgo Treviso,196
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A small but pretty town in the province of Treviso, Castelfranco Veneto is one of the region’s ‘walled cities‘ that has managed to keep its medieval structure intact. Castelfranco is also known as ‘the city of Giorgione’ since it was here that the painter Giorgio Zorzi, known as ‘Il Giorgione’ because of his build, was born in 1477. In addition to being the birthplace of an important artist, Castelfranco Veneto has always been famous for its strategic location, as it is nestled between the territories of Padua, Vicenza and Treviso.
It is to the city of Treviso that we owe the foundation of Castelfranco, as the people of Treviso decided to build the town as an outpost to protect the border from possible enemy attacks. The centre of this new town was characterised by a castle enclosed within walls and about a hundred families who were exempt from paying taxes were moved here. From these characteristics came the name ‘Castelfranco’, meaning castle ‘free’ of taxes.
The historical centre of Castelfranco has kept intact much of the oldest nucleus, which is characterised by a castle and a high wall of red bricks. In the 14th century the city came under Venetian rule and Castelfranco became a meeting point for artists and architects of the time attracted by its dynamic cultural climate. Later, with the fall of the Serenissima, the city was dominated by the French and the Austrians before becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
Small but welcoming, Castelfranco Veneto now presents itself as a town to be discovered on foot, walking under its elegant arcades that house not only boutiques and shops but also restaurants where you can sample excellent local cuisine.
The city’s main square is Piazza Giorgione, which was once the site of the city market, but is now home to stately palaces, bars and clubs that are also meeting places for the inhabitants of Castelfranco Veneto. Most of the sites of interest, however, are located within the city walls that preserve their original structure. Access to the castle, which was originally through ‘Porta Treviso’ (facing the city of Treviso) and ‘Porta Cittadella’ (built in the direction of the city of Cittadella), is now provided by four entrances.
Located within the city walls, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Liberale is the city’s most important religious building. Its construction dates back to the 18th century and is the work of Francesco Maria Preti. The building was constructed on the site of an earlier Romanesque church that was demolished along with part of the walls to construct the building. The Cathedral is in neoclassical style with a salient façade built in the 19th century that features Doric semi-columns surmounted by an architrave and a frieze with geometric elements.
The interior consists of a single nave and has a Latin cross plan. It houses frescoes and works of great value, including the famous ‘Madonna Enthroned with Child’ by Giorgione. This work, also known as the Pala di Castelfranco, depicts the Virgin between San Liberale and San Francesco and was commissioned by the local noble Costanzo family.
Right next to the cathedral is the famous Casa Giorgione, a museum that was opened on the site where the Venetian painter once lived. Giorgio da Castelfranco, also known as Giorgione, was in fact born in this city in 1477 and is now known worldwide for his paintings. Inside the museum you can learn more about Giorgione’s life and creations and admire one of the artist’s earliest works, the ‘Frieze of the Liberal and Mechanical Arts’. The museum tour also allows visitors to trace the history of these territories between the 15th and 16th centuries thanks to the presence of objects and artefacts found in the Veneto region.
According to ancient sources, the walls of Castelfranco Veneto contained seven towers, four corner towers and three median towers. The Civic Tower, located on the eastern side near Porta Treviso, is still intact and can be visited.
Also known as the ‘Torre Franca’, this tower boasts a height of 43 metres and on the outer side features a clock with a blue dial that is surmounted by a lion of St. Mark with an open book symbolising peace. You can visit the interior of the tower and from the top floor you can admire a wonderful panorama of the city and its surroundings.
After a tour of the historical centre, you can take a stroll through the Villa Park Bolasco, the city’s true green lung. The complex covers eight hectares and includes a magnificent park and villa that were built by architect Giambattista Meduna at the behest of Count Francesco Revedin.
The park boasts more than a thousand trees, rich fauna and a small lake with two small islands. In addition to the flora and fauna, there are two dovecote towers, the cavana where boats used to find shelter and the Cavallerizza, which is surrounded by 52 sculptures from the 17th century. The site is currently owned by the University of Padua.
Castelfranco Veneto is a small town compared to other places in the region, but still boasts some good hotels. In the centre you can find some 3-4 star hotels that boast excellent value for money, while going out of town a bit you can also find agriturismi and B&Bs.
Being a town on a human scale, Castelfranco Veneto lends itself to being visited in half a day; moreover, having a truly strategic position, Castelfranco Veneto can be chosen as a base for visiting other destinations in the area such as Asolo, Bassano del Grappa, or Cittadella.
Castelfranco can be easily reached by car or by public transport as the city is served by an excellent transport network. The city’s location makes it easy to reach four main cities in the Veneto region: Treviso, Venice, Padua and Vicenza.
Those arriving by car from Padua can reach Castelfranco by taking the SR308, while those arriving from Treviso must first travel along the SR53 and then along the Strada Castellana. Castelfranco Veneto, in fact, is located along SR245 (known as ‘la Castellana’), which connects Mestre to Bassano del Grappa. Those coming from Verona (or more generally from the west) must take the A4 as far as the Vicenza Nord exit and then continue along the SR53.
Those who want to reach Castelfranco by train can do so thanks to its railway station, which has connections with many places in the Veneto region such as Padua, Bassano del Grappa, Venice, and Belluno. Regional bus lines, on the other hand, connect Castelfranco to nearby towns such as Cittadella, Montebelluna, Asolo and Treviso.
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Castelfranco Veneto is a small town in Veneto located at the western end of the province of Treviso. The city is 15 km from Cittadella, 37 km from Vicenza and 40 km from Padua.
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