Bassano del Grappa (bäs-sä'nō dĕl gräp'pä), city (1991 pop. 38,871), Venetia, NE Italy, on the Brenta River. It is an agricultural, commercial, and industrial center. Its products include grappa (a kind of brandy), metals, and textiles. First mentioned c.998, the city came under several lords before passing to Venice in 1404. In Sept., 1796, Napoleon I defeated the Austrians there. The Da Ponte family of painters, called the Bassano family after the city, had a flourishing school there in the 16th cent., and many of their works remain in the city. In the 17th and 18th cent. the Remondini printing plant was famous throughout Europe. Of note are a 13th-century castle, a wooden covered bridge (13th cent., rebuilt numerous times including 1945), and a number of fine old churches and villas.
Bassano del Grappa
| Wikipedia: Bassano del Grappa |
| Bassano del Grappa | |
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| — Comune — | |
| Comune di Bassano del Grappa | |
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  Bassano del Grappa
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| Coordinates: 45°36′N 10°32′E / 45.6°N 10.533°ECoordinates: 45°36′N 10°32′E / 45.6°N 10.533°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Veneto |
| Province | Vicenza (VI) |
| Frazioni | Campese, Marchesane, Quartiere Prè, Rubbio, San Lazzaro, San Michele, Sant'Eusebio, Sarson, Valrovina |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Stefano Cimatti |
| Area | |
| - Total | 46 km2 (17.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 129 m (423 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| - Total | 40,411 |
| - Density | 878.5/km2 (2,275.3/sq mi) |
| - Demonym | Bassanesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 36061 |
| Dialing code | 0424 |
| Patron saint | St. Bassianus |
| Saint day | January 19 |
| Website | Official website |
Bassano del Grappa (Venetian simply: Basan, italianized: Bassan or Bassàn) is a city and comune in the province of Vicenza, region Veneto, in northern Italy. It bounds the communes of Cassola, Marostica, Solagna, Pove del Grappa, Romano d'Ezzelino, Campolongo sul Brenta, Conco, Rosà, Cartigliano and Nove.
The artist Jacopo Bassano was born, worked, and died in Bassano and took it as his surname. Bassano Del Grappa is also famous for the spirit Grappa.
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History
The city was founded in the 2nd century BCE by a Roman called Bassianus, whence the name, as an agricultural estate.
The first news of the existence of the medieval city dates from 998, while the Castle is mentioned first in 1150. In 1175 Bassano was conquered by Vicenza, but the city maintained a semi-autonomous status as a free commune in the 13th century also, when it was under the family of the Ezzelinos.
In 1368 it was acquired by the Visconti of Milan and, in 1404, by the Republic of Venice: the latter did not alter the citadine magistratures, limiting to impose a Captain chosen by the Venetian Senate. The city became home to a flourishing industry producing wool, silk, iron and copper, and mainly for ceramics; in the 18th became especially famous in all Europe for the presence of the Remondini printers.
During the French Revolutionary Wars the city was the seat of the Battle of Bassano. In 1815 it was included in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, and became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1866. Napoleon Bonaparte remained in Bassano del Grappa for many months.
The original name of the town was Bassano Veneto. After the terrible battles on Mount Grappa in WWI , where thousands of soldiers lost their lives, a decision was made to change the name of the town. In 1928, the name was changed to Bassano del Grappa, meaning Bassano of Mount Grappa, as a memorial to the soldiers killed. Ernest Hemingway during his days as a ambulance driver in the war spent many days in Bassano and eventually setted there a part of A Farewell to Arms. Also other American writers spent some days in Bassano during WWI such as Scott Fitzgerald and Dos Passos.
During World War I Bassano was in the front area, and all industrial activities were halted. In World War II, after the Armistice with Italy, the city was invaded by German troops, which killed or deported numerous inhabitants.
The symbol of the town is the covered wooden pontoon bridge , which was designed by the architect Andrea Palladio in 1569. The bridge was destroyed many times, the last time during WWII. The Alpine soldiers, or Alpini have always revered the wooden bridge and Bassano del Grappa. After the destruction of the bridge, they took up a private collection and had the bridge completely rebuilt. Often soldiers flock to the bridge to remember and sing songs from their days as alpine soldiers. The grappa shop of Nardini Distillery is located on the bridge, also known as Ponte Vecchio.
Main sights
- The Cathedral (Duomo), built around the year 1000 but renovated in 1417. It has works by Leandro da Bassano, Ottavio Marinali and others
- The Castello Superiore (Upper Castle)
- The church of St. John the Baptist, built in the 14th century and restored in the 18th century.
- The church of St. Francis, with a Crucifix by Guariento (14th century) and remains of contemporary frescoes. Next to the church is the Town Museum, with ancient archaeological remains, works by Antonio Canova and the Tiepolos, and drawings by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Spagnoletto, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt
- The wooden covered Bridge, or Ponte degli Alpini, on the Brenta River, designed in 1569 by the architect Andrea Palladio to replace a pre-existing construction existing at least from 1209. The bridge was destroyed in 1748, and was rebuilt three years later. The Nardini tavern on the bridge, unchanged since 1779.
- Palazzo Michieli-Bonato', wth a façade frescoed by Jacopo da Bassano.
- The Palazzo del Municipio (Town Hall), erected from 1404. It has a noteworthy loggia and a fresco attributed to Jacopo da Bassano.
- The Monte di Pietà, a Renaissance edifice with 15th century coats of arms.
- The Palazzo Sturm, home to the Ceramics Museum
In the neighbourhood are the Villa Rezzonico, designed by Baldassarre Longhena, and the 17th century Villa Bianchi-Michiel, with a garden decorated by statues.
Famous people
- Bob Rifo and Tommy Tea of The Bloody Beetroots.
Twin towns
Gallery
 Bassano seen from the Bridge of the Alpini. |
 A view of the town from the Brenta River, with the famous covered bridge. |
 Ponte degli Alpini - Bassano del Grappa. |
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bassano del Grappa |
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Bassano. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
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 | Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bassano del Grappa". Read more |
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