Bassano del Grappa and Venice
Day 6 of our holiday was the last day we had a car. We drove from Castelrotto down to Bolzano and Trento, and then the whole length of the Valsugana to reach Bassano in (the) Veneto.
Bassano del Grappa is quite an attractive town on the river Grappa.
It is famous for its covered wooden bridge designed by Palladio in 1569 and destroyed and re-built many times over the centuries (last time was after WWII. During the war after the armistice when the north of the country was de-facto controlled by the Germans, some local people blew the bridge up to spare the city the Allies' bombs. The Germans executed a number of people in reprisal).
After visiting Bassano, we drove to Venice airport where we returned the car we had hired in Verona.
A 50 minute trip on the Alilaguna, and we were at the S. Stae vaporetto stop on the Canal Grande.
The hotel was just a couple of minutes walk from there and it was a real find. It certainly deserved all the positive feedback on TripAdvisor. It's only a two star but in my modest opinion deserves more. Very professional and personable service, and a great room (with typical Venetian floor, fabric on the wall and Murano chandelier), re-furbished only a couple of years ago.
The hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo takes its name from the bridge that gives access to its courtyard (although there's another step-free entrance). Apparently a Mocenigo doge used the bridge for romantic assignations!
Our room wasn't in the main building but in another old palazzo just a couple of doors up from the Palazzo Mocenigo museum.
We didn't waste much time and after a short rest, went out to have a look around the Rialto.
It's quite lovely not to have to 'do' things but have the time to wonder around almost aimlessly in a city you have visited a number of times before (it was our 7th time together).
We had to stop for an Aperol spritz of course and watched the world go by for a while.
The Rialto fish market having a rest before another manic morning:
We had booked a table at La Zucca for 9 pm
a restaurant we always visit when we are in Venice. Perhaps this time our main courses were a bit disappointing but the dessert (a white peach bavarese with raspberries was out of this world).
After dinner another quick look at the Grand Canal at S. Stae
and it was time for bed.
Bassano del Grappa is quite an attractive town on the river Grappa.
It is famous for its covered wooden bridge designed by Palladio in 1569 and destroyed and re-built many times over the centuries (last time was after WWII. During the war after the armistice when the north of the country was de-facto controlled by the Germans, some local people blew the bridge up to spare the city the Allies' bombs. The Germans executed a number of people in reprisal).
After visiting Bassano, we drove to Venice airport where we returned the car we had hired in Verona.
A 50 minute trip on the Alilaguna, and we were at the S. Stae vaporetto stop on the Canal Grande.
The hotel was just a couple of minutes walk from there and it was a real find. It certainly deserved all the positive feedback on TripAdvisor. It's only a two star but in my modest opinion deserves more. Very professional and personable service, and a great room (with typical Venetian floor, fabric on the wall and Murano chandelier), re-furbished only a couple of years ago.
The hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo takes its name from the bridge that gives access to its courtyard (although there's another step-free entrance). Apparently a Mocenigo doge used the bridge for romantic assignations!
Our room wasn't in the main building but in another old palazzo just a couple of doors up from the Palazzo Mocenigo museum.
We didn't waste much time and after a short rest, went out to have a look around the Rialto.
It's quite lovely not to have to 'do' things but have the time to wonder around almost aimlessly in a city you have visited a number of times before (it was our 7th time together).
We had to stop for an Aperol spritz of course and watched the world go by for a while.
The Rialto fish market having a rest before another manic morning:
We had booked a table at La Zucca for 9 pm
a restaurant we always visit when we are in Venice. Perhaps this time our main courses were a bit disappointing but the dessert (a white peach bavarese with raspberries was out of this world).
After dinner another quick look at the Grand Canal at S. Stae
and it was time for bed.