Hotel Vescovi
Asiago - Via Don Viero 80
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Asiago is the salvation of many Veneto people oppressed by stifling heat and city traffic. Easily reached from the plains in an hour’s drive or a little more, this pretty little town is the ideal destination for those who want to experience the mountains without going so high. Both in summer and winter.
It lies in the centre of a wide green basin at 1,000 metres (an altitude sufficient to feel the cooler air, without sultriness), surrounded by peaks over 2,000 metres. The landscape is 100% mountainous and the same can be said of the local cuisine and products, first and foremost Asiago DOP cheese, perhaps the most typical of Italian mountain cheeses.
The basin on which Asiago stands is the largest plateau in Italy: it is the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, more often called the Asiago Plateau for simplicity. The other municipalities are Rotzo, Enego, Foza, Roana, Gallio, Lusiana; to these is added an eighth (Conco) also linked to the seven municipalities by an ancient brotherhood.
The attractions of the Asiago Plateau linked to the First World War deserve special attention: they are monuments and symbolic places of this territory, the scene of some of the bloodiest battles of the entire world conflict. The wounds inflicted were deep and the locals rightly do not want to forget. The war sites on the Asiago Plateau should therefore be visited with silence and respect.
The most well-known location on the plateau is often only a starting point for exploring the entire area. You can experience it this way or choose it as a relaxing destination from which not to move: in either case you are sure to have found the right place for a mountain holiday in Veneto that is easy to organise, affordable and rich in emotions.
The attractions of Asiago and the Plateau towns all revolve around the beautiful mountain scenery and the tragic events of the Second World War.
It is also worth spending some time in the town, perhaps on your return from an excursion, because the centre of Asiago is pretty and very lively, especially in the months of peak tourist numbers.
Corso IV Novembre is the main street in the centre of Asiago. It is the classic pedestrian street lined with shops and cafés: the social lounge where everyone flocks to go shopping or have an aperitif. You will also find the ever-present souvenir shops and some delicious pastry shops.
The fortunate combination of clear mountain air and lack of light pollution makes Asiago a particularly suitable place for contemplation and scientific study of the stars. It is no coincidence that the largest telescopes of the National Institute of Astrophysics on Italian soil are located on the plateau.
The Astronomical and Astrophysical Observatory of Asiago organises numerous popularisation activities. In the summer months, guided tours of the facility are organised that are open to individual travellers (at other times they are mainly for groups and school classes).
If you prefer to stay with your nose to the sky in the open air, you can take part in night excursions guided by an astronomer from the observatory.
If you don’t feel like struggling with a mountain trek but like the idea of stretching your legs while admiring a landscape surrounded by greenery, you can take the Strada del Trenino (Road of the Old Little Train).
It is an easy walk, suitable for everyone, that retraces the route of the old railway that ran all the way to Asiago. The route is flat and the ground is almost entirely asphalted, so it can also be walked with bicycles and pushchairs.
The starting point is Millepini Park, located close to the historic centre of Asiago; the arrival point is at Tresche Conca. The total length is approximately 10 km one way.
The name Asiago immediately brings to mind its most famous typical product: a PDO cheese made from cow’s milk that has become a symbol of mountain cuisine.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the malghe and dairies where this genuine goodness is prepared. Going to the malghe is an excellent excuse to end a walk in the green with a tasting of typical products; visiting the dairies of Asiago and its surroundings is a convenient alternative for those who prefer to travel by car.
Among the Asiago cheese factories that allow guided tours, we recommend the historic Pennar Dairy4, winner of numerous international food and wine awards. Reservation is required.
A not-to-be-missed family-friendly attraction in Asiago is the Village of the Gnomes, an unusual and delightful theme amusement park located entirely within a forest and green meadows and inspired by the magical world of small creatures.
The park’s top attraction is the forest path that ends in a village of gnome-sized wooden houses. Visual and sound effects such as smoke from chimneys and voices from the rooms of the cottages make it easy to believe that gnomes really exist!
The park also features trampolines, slides, swings, electric cars, sports fields and an equipped fitness trail.
There are many monuments, museums and Great War-themed excursions on the Asiago plateau: here are the most famous and interesting.
Asiago Ossuary, Asiago Military Memorial, Leiten Memorial… different names for the same unmistakable monument. It is a must-see for anyone wishing to learn about the historical events of the Great War and pay homage to the fallen soldiers: an exciting and touching attraction, to be visited with deep respect.
Built on top of the Leiten Hill and inaugurated in the summer of 1938, it is an imposing memorial commemorating the soldiers who died on the plateau during the First World War. Inside are the remains of more than 50,000 Italian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers.
The monument was built from a single block of local cement and marble and consists of a square base surmounted by a Roman-style arch; the inside of the lower part of the base corresponds to the crypt where the remains of the fallen soldiers are kept.
Two front steps lead to a terrace from which one can see the places where the bloodiest battles were fought; a third staircase leads to the upper part of the arch and the votive area.
The dimensions of the monument are imposing: an impressive 47 metres high and 80 m long sides. The shrine can be reached from the centre of Asiago along Viale degli Eroi (Heroes’Avenue).
Next to the entrance to the crypt of the Leiten Sacrarium is a museum of the Great War fought in the mountainous sector from the Adige to the Brenta.
On display are historical documents, period photographs and relics found on the battlefields that tell of the harsh living conditions at the front and the desperate and bloody fighting.
The Great War Museum in Canove was founded in the 1970s on the initiative of a group of local residents. Housed in a former railway station, it displays a rich collection of weapons and tools used in the trenches, uniforms, medals, soldiers’ personal items, period photos and other memorabilia.
The atmosphere is more intimate and cosy, less monumental, than the Memorial Museum, but the cultural and historical importance of this museum is very high.
Although short-lived, Fort Verena played a key role in the unfolding of historical events. It was from here that the first Italian cannon shot started our country’s intervention in the World War. The Austrians responded promptly and only twenty days later the Italian fortress was severely damaged by a mortar shell; the explosions caused the death of 40 soldiers and the captain.
Today, the fort is completely restored and can be visited free of charge. It can be reached on foot following different routes, some easy others more challenging, by bicycle or chairlift.
Fort Interrotto is a military barracks built in the mid-19th century with a medieval design. During the Great War it was only used as a strategic observation point first by the Italians and then by the Austro-Hungarians. Its appearance is more reminiscent of a medieval castle than a military fort.
It can be reached on foot with an easy hike starting from the village of Camporovere. The first section, which is rather short, is on tarmac; it then continues on a dirt road and path through the forest.
The Calvario degli Alpini (Calvary of the Alpines) is a spectacular footpath on Mount Ortigara, considered one of the most beautiful and historically important of the Great War-themed itineraries on the Asiago plateau. The mountain is sadly known for a dramatic and futile battle during which almost 30,000 soldiers died, were wounded or went missing.
Unfortunately, the itinerary is not for everyone: it is a steep path from Asiago to the top of the mountain, at an altitude of about 2,000 metres, and it takes about four hours to walk it all. If you are well-trained, however, it is worth doing because the landscape is very beautiful and along the way you will encounter numerous war memorials.
Another excursion for those who want to visit the sites of the Great War leads to the top of Mount Cengio. It is an easy hike, lasting about 3 hours and has an altitude difference of only 150 metres, but it is not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo due to the presence of some exposed sections.
The itinerary retraces a mule track used in wartime to reach the top of the mountain safe from the Austrian artillery. Along the route to the summit you will pass through tunnels, walkways and trenches.
Once at the top you will enjoy what today is a beautiful panorama; in wartime it was a strategic view of the plateau.
Remember to bring a torch because the tunnels are not illuminated.
If you think that excursions to Mount Ortigara and Cengio are out of your reach, you can take the Sentiero del Silenzio – Porta della Memoria (Path of Silence – Door of Memory) at Campomuletto, a path immersed in a magnificent mountain environment along which artistic installations have been placed that invite reflection and meditation.
The path starts on the Campomuletto plain, at the entrance to places that were once the scene of battle, and is intended as a heartfelt and moving tribute to the young men who fell in the war.
About 2 km long and with no technical difficulties, the Campomuletto Silence Trail can be walked by everyone.
Rather than do it yourself, do you prefer a guided tour? The Lusiana Open-Air Museum13, a museum network with numerous themed venues scattered across the Asiago plateau, organises walking tours to the sites of the Great War, particularly along the line of resistance in the Mount Corno area.
An expert in local history will accompany you to discover trenches, tunnels, and war cemeteries hidden in the woods of the plateau and will tell you anecdotes, curiosities, and touching human events.
You can choose from three different routes. Booking is strongly recommended.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Most tourists come to Asiago to be in the open air. There are many activities one can do, both in summer and winter.
Outdoor walking is the most popular summer activity in and around Asiago. The Plateau’s mountains offer a variety of routes for all levels, from family walks to challenging treks. Mount Zebio, Cima Larici, Bocchetta Portule, the Malghe di Caltrano, the places of war… so many destinations for wonderful day trips.
From Asiago you can easily move to other mountain resorts in the Veneto region for an even greater choice of itineraries, or perhaps even higher altitudes, but take our advice: stay in the area and take your time to explore the plateau.
The second most popular summer activity is mountain biking. Some of the walking routes are also practicable by mountain bike, plus there are specific routes. You can rent mountain bikes and electric bikes in the area.
In winter, skiing is the main activity, and cross-country skiing in particular is very popular in this area. The tracks extend for a total length of more than 500 kilometres and among them is a 250-kilometre loop that touches all the municipalities on the plateau.
Those who prefer downhill skiing can count on more than 40 working ski lifts and slopes of various levels, from absolute beginner to expert. There are also numerous ski schools and equipment rentals. Everything you need for a wonderful skiing week!
Other sports that can be practised on the Asiago plateau are golf, tennis, bowls, archery, ice skating, and horse riding. If you love strong emotions you can go rafting and bungee jumping.
Asiago is the main centre of the plateau and, as you would imagine, is also the place with the greatest choice of hotels, flats and B&Bs. There are accommodations in all categories, from economy to luxury; however, do not expect to find the chic hotels of trendy resorts like Cortina.
Sleeping in the centre of Asiago is the best choice for those arriving by public transport and for those who, even in the mountains, do not want to miss out on shops and clubs.
In the other towns on the plateau the choice is decidedly less, both in terms of accommodation and of bars and restaurants, but the average prices for sleeping are lower, so it is worth having a look, perhaps in Enego or Gallio. Here you will find mostly family-run medium-low hotels, simple but with a warm welcome.
Other places to sleep in the Asiago Plateau are Lusiana, Conco (particularly in the hamlets of Val Lastaro and Biancoia) and Rotzo.
One of the reasons Asiago is so popular is that it is a mountain resort that can be easily reached by car and public transport.
The nearest motorway exit to Asiago is Piovene Rocchette along the A31, a motorway that crosses central Veneto from south to north and is connected to the longer A4 Milan-Venice. From the tollbooth follow the signs for the plateau.
There is no railway station in Asiago, but the train is not to be discarded. The nearest stations are those of Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa and Thiene: the first is on the Milan-Venice line and is also served by intercity and high-speed trains; the other two are served by regional trains. All three stations are connected to Asiago by direct buses.
Local buses connect the city of Asiago to the main towns on the Plateau and to Marostica.
What's the weather at Asiago? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Asiago for the next few days.
Asiago is a municipality in the province of Vicenza located in the central-eastern part of Veneto. It is about 60 km from the provincial capital; closer, about 50 km, is the border with the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Venice is about 120 km away, Padua and Belluno 90 km.
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