I love the historic alleyways, picturesque canals, and gondolas of Venice you'll probably want to venture beyond the floating city's tourist-packed cobblestone streets One of my favorite spots to visit is Bassano del Grappa which is only an hour's train ride from Venice The enchanting city is located along the Brenta River at the base of the Dolomites My family has nearly 200 years of history there making it a worthwhile stop on an Italian getaway Here's why I love visiting this charming city I love visiting tourist hubs like Venice or Milan but I feel a better sense of Italian culture when I'm visiting Bassano I've noticed that far fewer Bassano residents speak English and most businesses are small or family-owned The city can get crowded with visitors in the summer but it feels less curated for tourists' comfort than other popular spots Visiting Bassano feels like being a guest observing everyday local life In general, I've found the food in Bassano is fresher and more authentic than in the heavily touristed cities throughout Italy family-run businesses that take pride in providing the highest quality of cuisine and friendly service my family has owned Ristorante Birraria Ottone for the past 150 years but dining here is a must when visiting Bassano which is one of my favorite spots for an aperitif One of Bassano del Grappa's main landmarks is Ponte Vecchio (meaning "Old Bridge") This impressive wooden bridge spans across the Brenta and connects the two sides of downtown The center of the bridge has the best view of the river lined with yellow and pink townhouses and with a backdrop of the mountain range — it's like stepping into a fairy tale and ceramic shops with local artisan pieces My favorite shopping experience is the weekly market that happens every Thursday morning Stretching across three large piazzas in the center of town The market is always bustling with bargaining shoppers and it's a fun way to find unique gifts and special mementos to bring home Bassano's natural beauty alone makes it worth the visit from the Alpine river to the surrounding mountains and lush greenery It makes sense why this region is a hot spot for outdoor adventurers Those who want an adrenaline rush can paraglide off the nearby Monte Grappa I like to enjoy a slower-paced approach to the outdoors which is why I love walking along the dirt paths that line the river I'll often pass by sunbathers sprawled out on rocks dragonflies fluttering through willow trees and views of the paragliders floating in the distance the 19th edition of AmiCigar will bring together 100 cigar enthusiasts from more than 25 countries for an exclusive and highly anticipated gathering in Venice and Bassano del Grappa All available spots were filled within minutes of the event announcement underscoring the unique appeal of this annual tradition among cigar connoisseurs AmiCigar is neither a trade show nor a promotional platform—it is a ritual The event offers participants the rare opportunity to slow down and engage in meaningful conversations far from the noise of everyday life against the backdrop of the city’s iconic skyline and continue in the historic town of Bassano del Grappa enjoying the company of fellow passionados including collectors and longtime friends of the AmiCigar community This year’s event celebrates the cultural and philosophical dimensions of cigar smoking: a deliberate pause and a form of quiet resistance to the fast-paced modern world Enter your email and join the global Cigar Journal family By pressing the ‘I AM OF LEGAL AGE’ button I agree that I am of legal age for smoking and drinking in my country Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website Content from video platforms and social media platforms is blocked by default access to those contents no longer requires manual consent the oldest university or even the first espresso machine about 20 miles from Vicenza at the base of the Monte Grappa hills Farmers had long made stronger alcohol out of grape pomace once they’d used the grape juice for wine which meant both “water of life” and “water of the vine.”  This “water of life” is what drew me to Bassano del Grappa one very hot day in July After years of working in Italian restaurants in the U.S. I was familiar with grappa but didn’t love it bitter and typically consumed by older men after dinner is how I thought of it But after learning that it was first produced so close to my new home and hearing friends rave about the town’s beauty I decided to revisit my relationship with grappa At the Nardini distillery I learned about the family’s history followed the distillation process and sampled grappa cocktails in the onsite bar While straight grappa is still not my favorite I did gain an appreciation for how it’s made Nardini makes a cocktail called mezzo e mezzo served with a splash of soda water and lemon peel visitors can learn about the town’s other famous grappa family and see some of the original distillation tools as well as taste more than 20 flavors of the beverage though most of my travel companions liked the citrus flavor the best But don’t be fooled into thinking from the name Bassano del Grappa that this town of about 70,000 people is all about imbibing The main attraction is the gorgeous Ponte Vecchio over the Brenta River The wooden bridge is sometimes called Ponte degli Alpini in honor of the Italian troops who crossed the bridge on their way to defend the Sette Comuni plateau during World War I It was originally designed in 1567 by Andrea Palladio who also designed Vicenza’s most famous buildings The original lasted 200 years before it collapsed after a flood It was rebuilt in the same design but burned down and was rebuilt again an explosion destroyed the bridge yet again but the Alpini rebuilt it to Palladio’s specifications the covered bridge was crowded with people of all ages eating gelato and hanging out in the shade and this time people were drinking hot wine and taking photos of the snow-capped mountains but the best vantage point of the bridge itself is the courtyard of Palazzo Sturm which looks over the river and toward the bridge and mountains the Rococo-style mansion hosts rotating modern art exhibits walk about five minutes from Palazzo Sturm to the Civic Museum one of the oldest museums in the Veneto region My stay there was longer than expected because of the large collection of Antonio Canova sculptures and Giambattista Tiepolo paintings You’ll want to reserve 90 minutes to two hours to take it all in Fans of Ernest Hemingway’s “Across the River and into the Trees” or “A Farewell to Arms” might recognize descriptions of Bassano del Grappa He was stationed here during World War I and included the town and events he witnessed in some of his novels the Hemingway Museum of the Great War in the Villa Ca Erizzo Luca which was an American Red Cross station during the war holds a collection of his letters and interviews about his time in the area “A Farewell to Arms” is one of my all-time favorite books so the museum gives me a good excuse to return to Bassano del Grappa Note that it’s closed on Mondays and sometimes for special events which have thwarted my attempts to visit so far simply walking around Bassano del Grappa and taking in the fresh mountain air is a pleasure unto itself The pastel-colored buildings lining the piazzas feel different and more alpine than in Vicenza even though it’s nearby and I’m a sucker for the shop names painted directly onto the buildings — perfect for Instagram Bassano del Grappa is an easy day trip from Vicenza about five or six hours is plenty of time to enjoy this town to the fullest it’s nice to visit a place that’s unburdened by it there’s no line for gelato and snagging the best seat to sip grappa with a view is easy lights were going up and stalls were being built for the Christmas market Bassano del Grappa is a stop on MODÀ’s summer tour fresh from their performance on stage at the 73rd edition of the Sanremo Festival The band led by Kekko Silvestre will perform with live orchestra on 22 June (9.30 pm) at the Parco Ragazzi del ’99 The return to the stage of the Ariston Theatre with the song Lasciami (Leave me) the subsequent tour in theatres and the summer tour with orchestra are an opportunity to celebrate MODÀ’s 20 years of history (2003 – 2023) and the many achievements of Francesco “Kekko” Silvestre (vocals) Stefano Forcella (bass) and Claudio Dirani (drums) 15 platinum-certified singles and 6 gold-certified ones and to all this is added a long list of sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout Italy 2023 also marks the 10th anniversary of the release of GIOIA a 5 times platinum-certified album that marked a major turning point in the group’s history Ceramics workshop with Sara Dall’Antonia An afternoon of Marcadoc – The hills of Venice deals with tourist cultural and food and wine information of the Marca Trevigiana and the Veneto Can you tell us a bit about the new space?  The Civic Museum of Bassano del Grappa is hosting from November 16 curated by Philippe Ribeyrolles and Barbara Guidi produced in collaboration with Silvana Editoriale and the Estate Brassaï Succession On display are nearly two hundred vintage prints documents and objects that belonged to the photographer to present a never-before-seen look at the photographic work of Brassaï (Gyula Halász; Brașov with a special focus on the famous images devoted to Paris and his life.Hungarian by birth but Parisian by adoption Brassaï is one of the great exponents of twentieth-century photography Brassaï chose to devote himself primarily to photography around 1929 thus only after his final move to the French capital is Brassaï’s inspirational muse: from the working-class neighborhoods to the city’s iconic monuments from the world of fashion to portraits of his artist and intellectual friends “Photography is for Brassaï a mental act,” explains Barbara Guidi director of the Civic Museums of Bassano del Grappa “It is not only a way of looking at the world Brassaï ’inhabits the world.’ It is with this spirit that he tackles the diurnal but especially nocturnal urban landscape of Paris becoming a pioneer of photography ’in the absence of light,’ a practice then considered technically arduous and with which he marks an indelible page in the history of this art: as Diane Arbus said to her students ’in Brassaï there is the very substance of darkness.” Also extraordinary is the collection of images portraying the protagonists of those memorable years: writers without forgetting the most humble figures these subjects create a choral fresco of extraordinary poetry Brassaï did not limit himself to immortalizing landscapes or architectural vistas but pushed into more intimate and intimate settings places where society met and indulged in entertainment His proximity to the Surrealist movement and his friendship with prominent artists and writers such as Dalí and Picasso opened wide the doors of intellectual circles allowing him to participate in the unique cultural fervor that animated Paris in that unrepeatable period A multifaceted genius: he tried his hand at drawing but also at writing; but Brassaï found in photography the perfect medium with which to confront reality the lens is a filter that gives him the ability to purify the world around him of conventions and customs transforming even the most banal object into something surprising: “If everything can become banal everything can become wonderful again: what is the banal if not the wonderful impoverished by habit?” the artist claimed such as the Paris by Night series and the photographs that inspired Surrealism and those from the Graffiti series that foreshadowed the poetics of Informal and Art Brut documents and objects belonging to theartist will be articulated in an exhibition of ten thematic sections that will immerse the public in the sophisticated and mysterious atmospheres of the French capital in the first half of the 20th century a destination for artists and intellectuals The Eye of Paris offers a unique opportunity to learn as much about the masterful work of one of the most important artists of the last century as it does to take a real journey through time and space immersing oneself in the most authentic atmospheres of Paris in the first half of the twentieth century,” says Giada Pontarollo Bassano del Grappa’s Councillor for Culture “After its debut in the prestigious venue of Palazzo Reale in Milan but completely redesigned in its itinerary and narrative and with the presence of previously unseen works the exhibition now finds in our Civic Museum already a point of reference for important photographic exhibitions of international importance the favorite place to allow the general public to approach and delve into a new important chapter in the history of photography through the work of one of its greatest protagonists.” The exhibition will also be accompanied by the publication of the same name in Italian and English edited by Philippe Ribeyrolles scholar as well as grandson of the great photographer and by a rich educational offer designed for all types of visitors Among the scheduled activities is a special workshop organized in collaboration with the Liceo Artistico “Michele Fanoli” of Cittadella divided into four appointments led by Professor Dario Antonini which will allow the public to try their hand at the art of printing on photographic paper in the darkroom and freely visit the exhibition Brassaï At the end of the activity each participant will be able to take home the image made as a memento of the exhibition Reservations will be available starting in December “We are presenting in the exhibition spaces of the Civic Museum the work of one of the greatest photographers of all time,” says Nicola Ignazio Finco “who knew how to tell the story of Paris in the first half of the 20th century like few others delivering us images that still today constitute indispensable visual documents for those who want to know and study the French capital in the years between the two world wars retain intact all the force and immediacy of true documents of lived and deeply participated life.” For info: www.museibassano.it CONTEMPORARY ART MAGAZINE SINCE 1980 More... the ones dedicated to strictly contemporary art) and collector patrons which is the most effective one to make emerging artistic research germinate by attracting support and visibility can the transits from one circuit to another be considered the crucial moments of an initiatory path towards success which among young artists will reward those who are most skilled in choosing the right strategies it is known that considerable capital circulates the concentration of which creates inevitable monopolies that jeopardize the survival of small research galleries for which the risk of not meeting the market in the medium term is increasingly unsustainable without which Italy would probably be just a receptor of trends developed elsewhere have their opportunity for maximum visibility in the Emergent or New Entries sections of the fairs where they are often invited by the curators themselves President THE BANK ETS Foundation – Institute for Studies on Contemporary Painting gallery owners and their artists begin to be monitored by the international public of collectors attentive to their subsequent moves to enter the system at least as much as to the quality of the artistic proposal and its peculiarity for a small business such as a gallery that does scouting this observation phase (increasingly demanding as the peak seems to get closer) cannot last too long under penalty of bankruptcy or a retreat to less authentic proposals The widespread suffering of this type of gallery many of which fail to reach the milestone of ten years of activity while maintaining the integrity of their approach also makes the artists associated with them extremely vulnerable who risk finding themselves at any moment again in the search for a channel structured from a commercial point of view perhaps in an age group that almost precludes them from accessing support initiatives for “young” artists It is clear that in a system organized in this way especially in a country like Italy where public funding for artistic research is increasingly undersized the prevalence of the investment logic seriously jeopardizes the vitality of what could be invaluable resources for our visual culture view of the headquarters in Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza) The activity of THE BANKETS Foundation – Institute for Studies on Contemporary Painting in Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza) a research and specialist center dedicated exclusively to contemporary painting stands in sharp contrast to this in many ways ruthless mechanism It was established in 2023 by the collector Antonio Menon who is supported by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi The Foundation is a non-profit institution born as an emanation of the art collection of the same name set up inside a former branch of Banca Commerciale Italiana transformed in 2019 into a private museum following a philological intervention of industrial archaeology are now home to the Foundation and the newly established Museum of Contemporary Painting which will be supported by a specialist library The primary objectives of the institution are the dissemination of pictorial culture through constant scouting in research galleries and Academies to intercept the first frontier of painting at its birth acquired its most important corpus starting from 2012: it currently consists of over 1200 works representing approximately 360 artists and is continually expanding Winning artworks of THE BANK Foundation Prize for Contemporary Painting 2024: Chiara Calore What makes it exceptional compared to similar collections (already uncommon if financed by a single private individual) is the particular form of patronage it expresses: rejecting the prevailing logic of investment according to which the decisive element is the prediction of which names could see the value of their works increase in a more or less rapid time it is instead based on a direct relationship with the artists that takes no account of their strategic positioning The works of painters who are not known personally and whose studios have not been frequented are rarely acquired and the acquisition of the work is only one step of a long-term project aimed at facilitating their path which includes the creation of documentary archives on the artists present in the collection and their promotion in Italy and abroad through a network of trusted galleries and institutions This approach is so far removed from the rationale with which most of the collections from the last twenty years have been composed (in which the relationship with the work seems secondary to the calculation of context and perspectives) that it seems almost utopian at first glance if one did not consider that the great twentieth-century collecting was based precisely on these values the imprint of the collection could also be defined as humanistic due to the centrality of the human being understood in his multifaceted complexity as the driving force of the research of the artists represented with a marked predilection for portraiture far more prevalent than landscapes and still lifes This orientation is evident in the recent acquisitions linked to the second edition of THE BANK Foundation Prize for contemporary painting which saw Chiara Calore (Galleria Giovanni Bonelli) Alessandro Giannì (Nicola Pedana Arte Contemporanea) and Davide Quartucci (Boccanera Gallery) win in a triple ex aequo The Foundation’s programming of activities will continue from 24 October to 7 November 2024 with the exhibition “Federico Guida curated by Mimmo di Marzio and set up inside the Church (former convent of San Potito in Naples) on the occasion of the fourth edition of Art Days – Napoli Campania at the Foundation’s headquarters in Bassano del Grappa a solo exhibition by Sergio Padovani spread over the two floors of the building and curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi will conclude the artist’s tour started at the beginning of 2024 at the Museums of San Salvatore in Lauro in Rome and continued with stops in Modena (Complesso di San Paolo) and Paris (Galerie Schwab Beaubourg) with a new selection of works relating to the “Pandemonio” project created from 2018 to 2024 a Salon d’Automne that will take inspiration from the concept of the Parisian event of the same name to present works by the youngest Italian artists in a very wide group show with the hope that its effectiveness will be as decisive in consolidating their careers as the historic French salon was in bringing out key figures of contemporary art such as Matisse www.fondazionethebank.org Graduated in art history at DAMS in Bologna she specialized in Siena with Enrico Crispolti Curious and attentive to the becoming of the contemporary she believes in the power of art to make life more interesting and she loves to explore its latest trends through dialogue with artists She considers writing a form of reasoning and analysis that reconstructs the connection between the artist’s creative path and the surrounding context Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" ASSOCIAZIONE JULIET – via Battisti 19/a – 34015 Muggia (TS) Juliet art magazine è pubblicata a cura dell’Associazione Juliet - direttore responsabile Alessio Curto autorizzazione del Tribunale di Trieste registro informatico C.F./P.IVA 00699740320 | c/c postale 12103347 | SWIFT UNCRIT M10MC | IBAN IT75C0200802242000005111867 | UNICREDIT Banca Trieste helps steer travellers away from tourist traps by highlighting unusual places to eat has been converted by Valeria Carfora and her husband into a charming and unexpected B&B (doubles from €95) Its bedrooms are named after school subjects – maths science – and the whole place is furnished with period desks The breakfast room has a huge blackboard showing the Italian alphabet in curly script: under it we take our time over homemade pastries and fruit plus cheese and yoghurt from the lush Asiago plateau A timeline of satchels – from wooden to leather to mid-century nylon – hang on pegs beneath old school photos A 1940s report book donated by a woman in the village shows she had good marks for sewing but “must do better” in arithmetic and “fascist cultural subjects” with views over the belltower towards Venice La Scuola is the sort of bolthole that’s hard to find even with online resources (it’s not on booking sites) But our trip to Vicenza province is one unlooked-for delight after another thanks to a startup that makes the unexpected its business an app-based guide – launched on 3 August – to places to stay eat and visit away from tourists traps and Instagram likes They call themselves the antidote to overtourism using local experts to showcase lesser-known gems and stop visitors all crowding the same places (Elisabetta’s favourite statistic is that 70% of tourists to Italy visit just 1% of sights.) Venice and the couple’s home territories in Vicenza and Puglia GPS tours tailored to individual interests – and even the weather An unexpected delight nearby is the Busato print shop runs the workshop started by his grandfather making prints from artists’ etchings and engravings “I’m happiest when my hands are dirty,” he smiles it goes through the venerable printing press to make us a limited print of an etching of the city’s Piazza dei Signori with an English-speaking guide if required where genial tattooed chef Daniele Renzi prides himself on unpretentious zero-kilometre delicacies Antipasti include a cold soup of morlacco cheese with spring herbs salad of raperonzolo leaves with their tasty white root attached before we share a soothing dish of risi e bisi Vicenza province stretches north into the Alps and more unexpected sights with its red-brown covered bridge over the powerful Brenta River – designed in 1569 by our old friend Palladio – is stupidly picturesque with riverside buildings reflected in green water with bars and cafes all overflowing with chatter thanks maybe to Bassano being home to Italy’s (and therefore the world’s) oldest grappa maker Marco Martino of herbalist Inedito Lab in BassanoDistilleria Nardini has been at the bridge’s eastern end since 1779 when the first of that family descended from the mountains with his mobile still A museum of distilling downstairs tells its history of floods a plaque on the barrel-lined bar says Quei che alla vita tiene beva giusto e beve bene an 18th-century equivalent of “please drink responsibly” we settle for one chilled glass each of pleasantly bitter Mezzoemezzo aperitif which is like a smart Holland & Barrett except that the remedies Bars and cafes in Bassano are all overflowing with chatter, thanks maybe to it being home to Italy’s oldest grappa makerFew tourists would think to visit an insurance office, but Costenaro Assicurazioni in Bassano has a wholly unexpected feature Boss Ivano Costenaro is a complete ceramics buff: the top floor of the building is a museum of hundreds of works by prominent contemporary ceramicists (free guided tours Saturday 11am) and figurative panels by the filing cabinets Our taste for this art now piqued, we head south to Nove, a town on the Brenta River with a 300-year history of clay expertise. Today it’s a hotbed of contemporary ceramic art, with open studios in September, and renowned artists to visit, including Robi Renzi Free weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns Ceramicist Robi Renzi in his studio in Nove, Vicenza provinceInspiring in a different way is Conca d’Oro farm a social enterprise near Bassano that offers work and dignity to special-needs adults “Trainees” also serve in the onsite restaurant and shop Simple housemade maccheroni with chilli and romanesco is one of the best dishes on a trip of generally excellent meals the chunky slurry from the bottom of a fermenting vat has naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria that make it an excellent antioxidant for the wines Touring this and other wineries around the village of Gambellara makes an enjoyable We diligently taste and compare many natural wines and learn next day that no additives means no hangover Which is just as well as there are lots more places on the app we want to check out La Capr’Allegra (the happy goat) is a restaurant-with-rooms (from €90) high on the Asiago plateau Meals are local and delicious (lots of cheese) and there’s a riding school and goat farm on site High on a hill, ultra-modern Volcanalia was set up by Rossella Mastrotto with an all-female team a fizz with a delicious bitter note and Patapum a slightly sparkling “amber” wine great with pork or fish a new pool and homemade lunches on a south-facing terrace The trip was provided by Unexpected Italy, with accommodation by Palazzo Valmarana Braga, Locanda la Scuola, and Le 33 The recognition of “Venetian City of Culture” established by the Regional Law of 30 June 2021 or unions of municipalities in the territory In previous years the title was awarded to the municipalities of Cittadella Pieve di Soligo and San Giovanni in Lupatoto Thanks to the regional co-financing of 100 thousand euros coordinated by the Municipality of Bassano which will involve over 30 cultural entities including museums and public and private associations A special examination commission is set up to evaluate the candidacies Below is the motivation that led to the recognition of Bassano: “The project presented by the Municipality of Bassano del Grappa summarizes a multi-year path dedicated to the tangible and intangible cultural heritage engaging all the components of the city society the creation of lasting value for the community giving life to a network of collaborations based on the sharing of heritage principles and experiences recognized as integral parts of the collective identity” The 28th edition of the Corsa Internazionale Oderzo wearing the pink jersey of the race overall leader holds his bike up as he celebrates after winning the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa bows to fans as he celebrates winning the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa celebrates winning the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa pedals during the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa waves to fans as he celebrates winning the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa Two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar all but secured the Giro d’Italia on Saturday on his debut in the Italian grand tour Pocagar once again destroyed his rivals in the mountains to claim a sixth stage win out of 20 and extend his already considerable advantage to nearly 10 minutes overall He has only Sunday’s mainly ceremonial ride in Rome to confirm the triumph “I have never been in Rome before but I’m going to enjoy it for sure,” Pogacar said with a smile The Slovenian cycling star has dominated the Giro in style He was all smiles as he soloed to victory following an attack on Monte Grappa stretched out his arms and bowed as he crossed the line Pogacar finished the 184-kilometer (114-mile) leg from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa 2 minutes 7 seconds ahead of Valentin Paret-Peintre and Daniel Martinez That saw him extend his overall winning advantage to 9:56 over Martinez and 10:24 over third-placed Geraint Thomas Pogacar is attempting to the Giro-Tour double this year a feat that hasn’t been achieved since 1998 by Marco Pantani a lot of things to do all day … today was just another test before summer to see how it is,” Pogacar said “I wanted to finish the Giro with good mentality I will enjoy after the Giro and then good preparation.” Pogacar raised his pink bicycle above his head in celebration so dominant has Pogacar been in his first Giro He had said he wanted to win the penultimate stage and there was a feeling of inevitability when he set off less than a third of the way into the second ascent of the first-category climb to Monte Grappa There were 5.4 kilometers of the brutal climb remaining and Pogacar was 49 seconds behind leader Giulio Pellizzari who has emerged as a potential future star at this race despite being the youngest in the Giro Pogacar caught Pellizzari within 800 meters and cheered on by huge crowds and miles ahead of everyone else he crested Monte Grappa with a lead of 1:35 before stretching that on the mostly downhill finish The race will transfer to Rome for the largely processional 125-kilometer (78-mile) final leg through the streets of the capital Bassano opens and closes the European thermal season from its beautiful grassy slopes. A warm climate and convivial Italian atmosphere sees pilots from northern climes flock here every spring and autumn. If conditions are on, a drive one valley north to Feltre opens up even more XC potential big open launches and the historic town of Bassano del Grappa to immerse yourself in when not flying round off a fantastic flying experience and a must-visit venue on any pilot’s European tour just a couple of kilometres from the first foothills of the main Alpine chain The flying takes place on the southern facing edge of the Alps from several take-offs within easy drive of town Most pilots base themselves in the villages of Semonzo or Borso del Grappa a good road takes you to the three main take-offs within 15-20 minutes Landing in the grounds of the very accommodating Garden Relais Hotel is easily reachable from all launches XC routes head east and west along the front ridge The heat low of the Alps turns the wind west in the afternoon making an eastward return journey easy later in the day head out into the plains and look down on stunning Italian architecture as you climb out over the towns Bassano is connected to the main Italian rail network so getting home is easy even if you bomb out and the locals are used to pilots anyway so hitching is possible Shuttles run to the launches from the Garden Relais car park and go when full look on the noticeboard for their up-to-date phone numbers and ring or WhatsApp them Most of the drivers speak a mix of Italian/German/English Visiting pilots are also encouraged to buy a green smoke flare for a few euros from the same places These should be used if you land in a tree (or other unexpected place) to show that you are ok and DO NOT need a helicopter rescue Otherwise a helicopter rescue will be mounted and you will be charged a minimum of €500 it's for you' - Pogacar picks up bottle 'No need for that' – Pogacar snaps at fan for pushing him Vicenza will host the event Three Masterpieces in Vicenza a project conceived by the City of Vicenza in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo and curated by Guido Beltramini a symbol of the city and UNESCO heritage site since 1994 is transformed into a stage for a dialogue between three masters from different eras On display are studies and drawings by Leonardo da Vinci (Anchiano the altarpiece L’alluvione del Colmeda by Jacopo da Bassano (Bassano del Grappa and a never-before-seen site-specific installation by Gianandrea Gazzola (Verona Like last year’s exhibition Three Masterpieces in Vicenza Van Dyck and Sassolino was dedicated to a reflection on the experience of time so this year curator Beltramini has constructed a dialogue across the centuries between three artists on the concept of nature declined in an essential and precious element at the basis of human life:water Leonardo considers Nature to be the “good mother of all things,” never creating anything that is not necessary in the least number of steps and with the least expenditure “Make your ingenuity in the likeness of the mirror,” Leonardo writes.The artist as a “mirror of nature” seems a definition built around the work of Gianandrea Gazzola known for conceiving a machine to make the winds write entitled The scribe: the wind of the Mediterranean in 2018 and one that draws from the electrical activity of the roots of a centuries-old olive tree the energy that traces a grapheme in real time Sub Limine The same conception and connection between art and nature can be found in works such as 2013’s Lo Stilo/Stylus and 2018’s Infinitum an international contemporary art event that takes place in the meadows and forests of the Val di Sella to which the artist is particularly attached Gazzola transfers sound waves from air to water in a large square pool and The liquid figures generated by the waves are based on the same harmonic relationships of Palladian architecture as theorized by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius: the exhibition will display precisely the precious edition of the Vitruvian treatise On Architecture now among the treasures of the Bertoliana Library in Vicenza Gazzola’s work thus enters into dialogue both with the architecture that contains it and its constructive principles and with three extraordinary drawings by Leonardo da Vinci now preserved at the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan In these pages Leonardo notes personal reflections interwoven with scientific schemes “They are personal and secret pages,” notes Guido Beltramini “annotated with the characteristic inverted calligraphy In these sheets Leonardo reflects as much on the mechanisms of vision as on the rectilinear and tortuous trajectories followed by images and smells to reach our senses and become perceptible: he imagines the air around us traversed by the trails of species by infinitesimal elements emitted by bodies A visionary idea that resonates with Gazzola’s ’visual waves’.” Nature is as good a mother as she is a cruel stepmother This is reminiscent of the third masterpiece that concludes the exhibition: the work by Jacopo da Ponte created for the altar of the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Feltre commissioned from the artist following the July 27 1564 cloudburst that devastated the area and led to the overflow of the river the apparition of the Madonna and Child between Saints Crescentius and Anthony of Padua above storm clouds in the lower part the effects of the flooding are depicted in all its stark realism and Palladio himself designed a machine to govern the waters and “win Nature in those things in which we are vanquished ”The printed text with the Tre discorsi sopra il modo d’alzare acque da’ luoghi bassi in which Palladio’s machine is represented another volume preserved in the Bertoliana Library in Vicenza will be exhibited next to the Bassanesque painting All Basilica ticket holders will have access to the exhibition The Fall of the Rebel Angels Francesco Bertos at the Gallerie d’Italia - Vicenza with a reduced admission ticket where free entry is provided for residents of Vicenza and its province between Dec The event is conceived and promoted by the City of Vicenza with the co-organization of Intesa Sanpaolo The project is curated by Musei Civici Vicenza Fondazione Teatro Comunale Città di Vicenza and Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio in collaboration with Arte Sella and the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana “With the exhibition of these prestigious works we are offering Vicenza residents and tourists a valuable new cultural experience within the symbol of the city we wanted admission to the exhibition to be completely free for residents of Vicenza and its province: a gift that is also the return to the citizens of a collective good this year we decided to extend the exhibition until March 9 with the aim of giving as many visitors as possible the chance to admire these works and to reflect on a deeply topical issue: water Thanks to this event and the other important initiatives that the city is about to launch particularly during the Christmas holidays will truly be an unforgettable experience,” commented Vicenza Mayor Giacomo Possamai “It is vital for the Gallerie d’Italia to maintain a deep dialogue with its city and to carry out new initiatives together with the institutions Proposing at Palazzo Leoni Montanari an exhibition dedicated to one of the masterpieces of the collections it owns is inextricably linked to the planning of the exhibition hosted again this Christmas in the extraordinary spaces of the Basilica Palladiana The renewed presence alongside the Municipality of Vicenza the synergy between places of identity value and the participation of one of our prestigious interlocutors I believe are further confirmations of the Bank’s attention to the city by providing expertise relationships and venues that help enrich its cultural offerings,” said Michele Coppola Culture and Historical Assets of Intesa Sanpaolo and General Manager Gallerie d’Italia Didonè Comacchio Architects takes over the project of a new private residence situated on the outskirts of Bassano del Grappa, Italy against the backdrop of the Grappa hills and on a gently sloping terrain the home boasts a unique integration with its surroundings with a portion of the building thoughtfully embedded into the ground creating an interplay of different perspectives and elevations within the garden The design team gives meticulous attention to the development of the floor plan aiming to provide varying degrees of privacy and maximize the views of the existing natural landscape The design elegantly attends to the specific needs of the clients At the heart of the residence lies a versatile space serving as a sanctuary for a collector’s vehicle and a rotating display for captivating artworks The project by Didonè Comacchio Architects showcases a harmonious fusion of architecture and nature resulting in a unique architecture that seamlessly integrates with its surroundings the private residence situated on the outskirts of Bassano del Grappa house MD showcases an interplay of several materials a portion of the building is thoughtfully embedded into the ground the design blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces the development maximizes the views of the existing natural landscape name: House MD designer: Didonè Comacchio Architects | @didonecomacchio photography: Alberto Sinigaglia | @albsinigaglia designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Martínez and Thomas battle for second place while Tiberi looks to hold white jersey on May 25 2024 stage from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa 184km long with two ascents of Monte Grappa This weekend 12 months ago, it felt as though half of Slovenia had decamped to the slopes of Monte Lussari in support of Primož Roglič. On that occasion, they travelled to the final weekend of the Giro d’Italia in hope as much as in expectation they will mass on Monte Grappa already secure in the knowledge that they are bearing witness to a coronation namely that it’s always best to avert your gaze and avoid looking directly into the sun Pogačar will attack on Monte Grappa on stage 20 given that the category 1 ascent is tackled twice before the drop to the finish in Bassano del Grappa “Let’s see if I have good legs,” Pogačar said in Sappada on Friday evening Pogačar pointed clearly to his intentions for Monte Grappa in the manner of Babe Ruth calling his shot at Wrigley Field in the 1932 World Series and we will try to go for it,” he said almost everything Pogačar has tried has come off at least since the sprinters’ teams swept up his surprise late attack at Fossano on stage 3 His UAE Team Emirates squad granted the breakaway ample leeway on the road to Sappada on Friday but they will not pass on the opportunity to tee Pogačar up for his sixth stage victory of this Giro would equal the feats of Eddy Merckx and Learco Guerra Tomorrow is the last chance for the climbers and I think it’s going to be a hard race,” said Pogačar the man at the helm of the team most likely to make it a hard race for all concerned Friuli’s proximity to Slovenian meant that Pogačar saw plenty of familiar faces from his native Komenda on the road to Sappada on Friday but there seems little doubt that the slopes will be awash with Slovenian flags “Today I think 90% of my hometown was on the road There were so many Slovenian flags and the Pogi Team there also so it was just brilliant,” Pogačar said “And tomorrow is also going to be super nice.” Behind the seemingly inevitable final instalment in Pogacar’s exhibition Geraint Thomas (Ineos) will seek to add his catalogue of Grand Tour places of honour in Bassano del Grappa but he will have designs on trying to nudge his old teammate Daniel Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) out of second place given that he trails the Colombian by just 22 seconds Thomas and Martínez have been well-matched throughout this Giro Martínez’s greater explosiveness has given him an edge on occasion most notably when he moved ahead of Thomas on GC at Monte Pana but Thomas might hope the rigours of a day with 4,200m of total climbing might yet play to his powers of endurance “One more big day,” was Thomas’ succinct assessment Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R) lies fourth at 9:47 the Australian will likely set out looking over his shoulder at Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) rather than with the aim of attacking to dislodge Martínez or Thomas from the podium And while Tiberi has spoken optimistically of targeting O’Connor’s fourth place the Italian won’t risk too much given that he’s defending a prize of his own His lead in the best young rider classification stands at 41 seconds over Thymen Arensman though the Dutchman’s challenge for the maglia bianca will surely depend on how Ineos deploy him in Thomas’ service (Image credit: RCS Sport)(Image credit: RCS Sport)(Image credit: RCS Sport)The penultimate stage of the Giro takes place entirely in the Veneto covering 184km between Alpago and Bassano del Grappa This area around Treviso and Vicenza is one of the great heartlands of Italian bike racing and of the bicycle industry at large and the early portion of the stage takes in one of the holy sites as the gruppo tackles the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio near Conegliano The centrepiece of Saturday’s stage is which is tackled twice via the same Semonzo del Grappa approach that featured in the mountain time trial ten years ago when Nairo Quintana all but sealed the overall victory Monte Grappa holds a sombre resonance due to the three battles fought between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire on the mountainside at horrific human cost during World War I The memorial at the summit houses the remains of 22,950 soldiers of whom fewer than 3,000 have been identified Although there are no fewer than ten roads up Monte Grappa the Giro has visited the climb only sparingly beginning with Emilio Casalini’s victory in 1968 Vincenzo Nibali won over the climb into Asolo in 2010 while Quintana’s victory of a decade ago was the Giro’s last visit to the summit The category 1 ascent is 18.1km in length at an average gradient of 8.1% and with precious little respite save for a brief descent around the midway point and another just before the final approach to the summit but the most demanding part comes in the final 3km Adding to the difficulty of Saturday’s stage is the fact that there is little respite between the twin ascents The route drops to Semonzo del Grappa after the first climb and then immediately swings back into the second shot of Monte Grappa  After reaching the summit for the second time there are still 30km left to the finish in Bassano del Grappa There’s a strong chance the first man to the top will be the first across the line on Bassano del Grappa’s Viale delle Fosse The headline act of the 2024 Giro d’Italia is a double ascent of the mighty Monte Grappa it’s a climb steeped in both pain and glory With a MRW subscription you’ll get access to: To manage an existing Cyclist magazine subscription, please visit Manage your account or visit our subscription FAQ page. To subscribe, or for other enquiries, please contact us Sign up to the Cyclist newsletter to receive curated emails direct to your inbox Sign up to our newsletter Log in to access Cyclist Rides using your email pertaining to your subscription Don't forget a subscription to Cyclist includes: Log in to post comments and use Ask Cyclist our AI platform that answers your questions based on our articles Register to comment on our latest articles Occasional emails from selected third-party sponsors and advertisers Please enter your username or email address to reset your password I’d be 30 years younger and have Matteo de Falco’s job I am several years beyond three-quarters of a century old and settled for one great afternoon of fishing with Matteo on a beautiful stretch of the Brenta River that flows through the enchanting hillside city of Bassano del Grappa Matteo met me in front of Bassano’s medieval castle which is attached to the equally ancient hotel that Dottie and I stayed in for the weekend Dottie opted to browse the town’s museums and shops while Matteo and I did our browsing a few miles upstream on the river that meanders past the city and eventually flows into the Adriatic near Venice His father is an avid angler as was his grandfather Matteo spent much of his childhood finding new ways to fish oceans Today he spends most of his time producing and directing TV shows about fishing while also guiding He began his career as a fishing guide and became so accomplished that a television producer hired him to make fishing documentaries for TV If there was a way to subscribe here in the U.S. A few days before meeting me to fish the Brenta River Matteo was filming a ocean fly-fishing episode off the coast of Spain followed by one on sea bass angling in the Venice Lagoon When in Italy he often stays around the northeastern waters and loves the Brenta river with all his heart Just a few minutes north of Bassano Del Grappa the Brenta meanders through the wooded foothills directly below the steep cliffs marking the start of the Dolomite Mountains the river is flanked by public hiking trails and shaded by a dense line of trees cold and free-flowing over a bed of small to medium-sized stones but there were plenty of areas that looked likely to hold trout the marble trout or “trota marmorata” in Italian the marble is unique to this part of Italy known to approach four feet in length and weigh 60 pounds The water in which I was about to cast a fly didn’t look like it could hold a fish that big but Matteo showed me photos of marble trout he’d caught there that proved his point neither of us were able to entice one of the monsters to take our flies I did manage to catch and release a nice marble/brown hybrid and a grayling The Brenta is also home to some very large rainbow trout as I discovered when one snatched my dry fly off the surface and performed an amazing imitation of a wild Pacific-Coast steelhead jumping several times before winning the battle by breaking my leader but Matteo assured me the marbles were even bigger I plan to catch one of them the next time we return to Italy Even without the cooperation of the big marbles I had a delightful afternoon of fishing with a knowledgeable and congenial guide the post-fishing dinner and warm hospitality of the Italians we met — all part of our Italy experience My initial contact with Matteo was made possible by Erik Sanders Matteo can also be reached through the Italian Fishing Guides Association Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker the imposing Mars and Venus from the Possagno Gipsoteca the Sleeping Endymion from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ravenna or the Dancer with her finger on her chin from the Pinacoteca Agnelli to the many works that allow us to reconstruct the context in which Canova lived and worked These include Batoni’s Portrait of Senator Abbondio Rezzonico Mengs’s Portrait of Clement XIII and Gérard’s Portrait of Emperor Napoleon I paintings by Tiepolo and Moretto da Brescia that belonged to Canova Ludovico Carracci and Guido Reni that he brought back to Italy in 1815 thanks to a diplomatic mission More than 140 works in all will be on display from important public and private Italian and European collections theAlbertina and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna the Musée National du Château de Fontainebleau or the Daniel Katz Gallery in London will accompany visitors first inside the creative universe of the master then in the footsteps of the traveler" Canova from Italy to the great courts of Europe The exhibition will also evoke the events of some important commissions the Funeral Monument for Horace Nelson and that for Pope Clement XIII the equestrian monument to Ferdinand IV of Bourbon and that for Napoleon; it will recount the relationships with patrons from Pope Pius VII to Francis I of Austria from Josephine de Beauharnais to Pauline Bonaparte it will evoke the relationships Canova had with artists An exceptional event is the arrival in Bassano del Grappa of the great marble rediscovered only recently after nearly two centuries in which traces of it had been lost and never before displayed in an exhibition: the lying Magdalene Made shortly before his death for Robert Jenckins second Earl of Liverpool and England’s prime minister the reclining figure has been recognized after many years of oblivion There will be three chapters in which the exhibition signed by Studio Antonio Ravalli Architetti as part of a larger project to upgrade the entire Bassano Civic Museum will be developed: “The ’Man and the Artist,” “Canova and Europe,” and “Canova in History,” the latter dedicated to the relationship the sculptor had with Napoleon and the Bonapartes and the trips he made to London and Paris in 1815 to judge the Parthenon marbles and recover the works of art that the French had taken from the peninsula He was in fact entrusted by Ercole Consalvi with the task of recovering the works stolen by the French following the Treaty of Tolentino in 1797 The latter undertaking finds particular prominence in the exhibition and reminds us once again of the importance of the figure of Canova for Italian art Despite the fierce opposition he encountered and the many anxieties that the mission to Paris procured for his mild temperament Canova was able to seize the positive conjuncture at the international level and play by cunning and diplomacy Canova sought the support of Hamilton undersecretary to the British Foreign Secretary of Wellington the great British commander who had defeated Napoleon at Waterloo and of the Austrian chancellor Prince of Metternich; and with a squad of Austrian and Prussian soldiers he raided the Louvre detaching from the walls and recovering from the rooms a good part of the works claimed by the Papal States a convoy of forty-one wagons drawn by two hundred horses with 249 works left Paris to reach various destinations in Italy The wagons were welcomed by the festive local populations Also on display in Bassano to witness this moment are the ancient plaster cast of the Laocoon loaned by the Vatican Museums and Agostino Carracci’sAssumption of the Virgin and La Carraccina who had also managed to obtain a contribution from British diplomats to finance the transportation costs Some of Canova’s famous marbles preserved there had been officially loaned to the exhibition by the State Hermitage Museum in St from the National Museum in Kiev was to arrive Peace At the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict the renunciation of such loans was inevitable and convinced Can Tadej Pogačar take his sixth stage win of the race Welcome to our coverage of stage 20 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia As the penultimate stage of the race and the final before tomorrow's sprint stage into Rome this marks the last opportunity for the climbers to win a stage and the GC contenders to take time in the overall standings At 184km in length and with two ascents of the mythical Monte Grappa this stage is one of the toughest of the race Starting in Alpago and finishing with a descent into Bassano del Grappa could we see some time gaps open up that could prove to be decisive in the battle for the podium and the Maglia Bianca Follow along throughout the stage as we bring you live updates from the penultimate stage and if you would like to get in touch, then you can reach out to us on X - @CyclingWeekly The riders are underway for the neutral start in Alpago They will be hoping to get going as soon as possible as the rain is falling in the region of Veneto The organisers have delayed the start by a few minutes as the average speed over the last few stages have exceeded their predicted schedules.  184km to go: The official start has been given and the penultimate stage of this year's Giro d'Italia is underway 180km to go: EF Education-EasyPost seem keen to get up the road with Georg Steinhauser who is wearing the Maglia Azzurra on behalf of Tadej Pogačar has been involved in every attack off the front so far Could he take his second stage win of the race after his victory on stage 17 174km to go: Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan) and Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ) have a small gap over the peloton but it does not feel like the breakaway has fully formed just yet UAE Team Emirates are keen to control things at the front of the peloton as they have been throughout this year's race Here's how the general classification looks at the start of today's stage: Will we see any shift in the top-10 on the penultimate stage 166km to go: Ballerini and Germani have around half a minute over the peloton The attacks are not over in the peloton yet as Steinhauser is continuing to persist with attempts to go clear off the front Polti-Kometa are also keen to send a rider up the road and get their sponsors some more exposure at the head of the race 157km to go: A ten-man chasing group has formed off the front of the peloton and are attempting to chase down the two men at the head of the race The group consists of Nicola Conci and Jimmy Janssens (Alpecin-Deceuninck) Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) Alessandro Tonelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) and Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-Kometa) 154km to go: The breakaway are up and over the first categorised climb of the day At 1.2km in length with an average gradient of 12.3% the Muro di Ca' del Poggio will feel like little more than a bump in the road when compared with what is to come on today's stage It certainly did not pose any problems to those at the head of the race but its narrow and steep road is acting as a bit of a bottleneck in the peloton behind 145km to go: The chasing group is still around half a minute behind Ballerini and Germani at front and it is only a matter of time before they bridge the gap The peloton seem content with the composition ahead as they have allowed their advantage to go out to just under four minutes UAE Team Emirates are continuing to control the gap in the main bunch but the pace does not appear to be too high at the moment 140km to go: The chasers have now caught Ballerini and Germani making it a twelve-man group at the head of the race The breakaway's gap now sits at over four minutes to the peloton The winner and runner-up of yesterday's stage, Andrea Vendrame and Pelayo Sánchez are in the breakaway once again on today's stage.  Despite having just come up short on stage 19 Sánchez does already have a stage win to his name at this year's Giro d'Italia having beaten Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) in a two-man sprint to the line in Rapolano Terme on stage 6 Could either of them take another stage win in Bassano del Grappa or will we see a different face on the podium at the end of the day 120km to go: The breakaway is working well together at the head of the race Their gap to the peloton has stabilised and UAE Team Emirates are not allowing them anything more than four minutes Tadej Pogačar is clearly keen on taking the stage win and his team are once again putting in the work at the front of the main group 115km to go: Tadej Pogačar is back in the cars and has been seen gesticulating at his team car and the medical car The Slovenian is clearly unhappy about something The situation in the peloton seems fairly relaxed though as his team are still controlling things at the front of the bunch 108km to go: Davide Ballerini takes maximum points at the intermediate sprint in Possagno ahead Edward Theuns Andrea Pietrobon finishes in third place to give him the outright lead in the intermediate sprints competition after being level on points with Julian Alaphilippe at the start of the stage 106km to go: The sunshine has been out for some time now after rainy start to the stage and the riders are beginning to get rid of their wet weather clothing They are also using this opportunity to take some nutrition on board as they near the halfway point in the stage 102km to go: The cause of the aforementioned mini-drama between Tadej Pogačar and his team car has now been revealed the Slovenian's team were struggling to find any sunscreen in the car which forced the Maglia Rosa to go to the medical car instead The sun has been out in full force and the race leader clearly wants to avoid getting burnt 98km to go: A small crash in the peloton for the stage 1 winner Jhonatan Narváez (Ineos Grenadiers) The Ecuadorian seemed to be the only rider that went down and he was immediately back on his bike 95km to go: The breakaway are now onto the slopes of the Monte Grappa for the first ascent of the climb At 18.1km in length with an average gradient of 8.1% this climb will be a test for all of the riders in the race and they will have to take it on twice 93km to go: The breakaway has fractured on the lower slopes of the Monte Grappa Mulubrhan and Sánchez have established themselves as a three-man group at the head of the race Tonelli and Fernández still chasing on behind 91km to go: Mikkel Bjerg is setting the pace on the front of the peloton for UAE Team Emirates Bora Hansgrohe and Ineos Grenadiers have placed themselves up towards the front of the main group as they look to keep Daniel Felipe Martínez and Geraint Thomas in good position 89km to go: Pietrobon and Germani are the first riders from the breakaway to be caught by the peloton UAE Team Emirates are setting an infernal pace in the bunch and they have already brought the gap to the breakaway down to just over three minutes Tonelli and Fernández have bridged the gap to the three riders at the front and have rejoined the head of the race Ballerini is the next rider to be caught by the peloton 87km to go: The riders have reached the halfway point on the first ascent of the Monte Grappa The group is strung out at the back of the peloton as UAE Team Emirates continue to set a hard tempo with Vegard Stake Laengen 83km to go: Janssens and Sánchez have dropped the rest of the breakaway and are now together at the head of the race with 5km to go on the climb as their gap goes under two minutes 82km to go: Tonelli has clawed his way back up to the two-man breakaway who began the stage in ninth place in the general classification has been distanced from the main group under the pace of UAE Team Emirates 80km to go: The breakaway's gap has been brought down to just over a minute with around 2km to go on the climb Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) has attacked off the front of the peloton and he is now chasing down the breakaway The 20-year-old Italian rider will be looking to take points in the mountains classification and perhaps contest the stage win 78km to go: Pellizzari has caught and passed the breakaway to take the maximum points over the top of the Monte Grappa They will work together on the descent to extend their gap on the peloton which currently sits at a minute over the main bunch 71km to go: Janssens has been dropped by the other breakaway riders on the descent The two VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè riders are working well with Sánchez but their gap to the peloton is still falling 68km to go: Pellizzari has attacked on a small rise in the middle of the descent with Janssens still within sight of the front of the race 66km to go: Vendrame is the next rider from the breakaway to be caught by the peloton The gap to those at the front has gone out slightly as it is up to just under a minute and a half 49km to go: The breakaway has over two and a half minutes on the peloton after the descent They have just passed through the Intergiro sprint in Semonzo del Grappa 48km to go: Tonelli has been dropped from the front group as they hit the slopes of the Monte Grappa for the second time Pellizzari is continuing to press on at the front with Sánchez in his wheel 46km to go: Janssens has been caught by UAE Team Emirates as Vegard Stake Laengen continues to set the tempo Nairo Quintana (Movistar) has been dropped by the peloton under the pace of Tadej Pogačar's team 46km to go: Pellizzari has dropped Sánchez and is now pushing on with around 15km to go on the climb The young Italian currently has around two and a half minutes of an advantage over the peloton We will now have to see whether he can reach the summit ahead of the main bunch 44km to go: Tonelli has now been caught by the peloton The Dane received a thumbs up from Pogačar after his job was done and he went backwards 43km to go: Sánchez has now been caught by the peloton leaving Pellizzari as the sole rider ahead of the peloton Felix Großschartner has now come to the front of the main group to set the pace for UAE Team Emirates 41km to go: Großschartner has finished his turn and it is now up to Domen Novak and Rafał Majka are the only two men left for Tadej Pogačar in the peloton with Majka poised in the wheel as the last man before the seemingly inevitable attack from the race leader The gap to Pellizzari is currently under two minutes with around 10km to go on the climb 37km to go: Novak has now finished his turn on the front as the gap to Pellizzari has now dropped to under a minute and a half Majka is now taking over as he attempts to set up Pogačar's attack 36km to go: A small gap has opened up in the group of GC favourites with Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) distanced under the pace of Majka An attack from Pogačar seems imminent 36km to go: Pogačar attacks and goes off in search of Pellizzari The Italian's gap currently sits at around half a minute 35km to go: Pogačar has now caught Pellizzari with just under 5km to go on the climb They have now reached a small plateau section and the Slovenian seems keen to work with the Italian in order build a gap on those behind for the descent 34km to go: Pogačar has now dropped Pellizzari as the road goes uphill again he has around a minute on the rest of the GC contenders It's set to be another dominant by the UAE Team Emirates rider 33km to go: Einer Rubio (Movistar) is hanging in there with Daniel Felipe Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) in the chasing group the Colombian rider is set to move himself up in the general classification 30km to go: Pogačar has reached the summit of the final climb and is now onto the descent He has nearly a two minute gap on the group of Martínez 23km to go: The confident descenders are really coming to the fore on this descent to the finish Tiberi clearly looks more comfortable than Martínez in the chasing group The gaps seems to have stabilised to those behind Pogačar now 19km to go: The group containing Thomas and O'Connor have made their way back on to the back of the Martínez group as the Colombian puts in a dig on a short uphill  section on the descent 16km to go: Rubio and Tiberi have now caught Martínez on the descent The trio are back together with Thomas and O'Connor continuing to chase them behind There is currently around ten seconds of a gap between the two groups 11km to go: Thomas and O'Connor have joined the group of Martínez and are now on the final section of the descent to the finish 10km to go: Pogačar has effectively sealed his sixth stage win of the race and if the gaps stay as they are now then he will the Giro d'Italia by more than ten minutes 5km to go: Pogačar gives a smile to the camera He will ride into centre of Rome as the winner of the Giro d'Italia tomorrow and maybe he'll even try to win the stage Tadej Pogačar wins stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia and seals the overall victory with an imperious solo win Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 2020 - In a year in which organized events are scarce some of the most virtuous and experienced organizers manage to believe in it until the end and provide entertainment opportunities in full compliance with current regulations A non-competitive event with closed roads for the joy of those who love to pedal without cars The departure is scheduled for around 19:00 pm on Saturday 12 September from the historic centre of Bassano in Piazza Libertà from where the “Campesana” will be travelled at a controlled speed up to Valstagna and from there the SP73 “Strada Campesana e Valvecchia” will be closed up to the crossroads with the SP76 in Foza (VI) For info and registration: www.montegrappabikeday.it/mgbn/ Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © Cyclinside - all rights reserved - Reproduction of photographs and texts for more than 10 percent is prohibited It is mandatory to indicate the link to the page © Cyclinside - all rights reserved - Reproduction of photographs and texts for more than 10 percent is prohibited If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement On May 30th Bassano del Grappa will host Stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia - a gigantic "cronoscalata individuale" (Individual Mountain Time Trial) to the summit of Monte Grappa Bassano del Grappa was founded by a Roman named Bassianus in the 2nd century "del Grappa" was only added to the name following World War One after military "victories" above on Monte Grappa Napoleon Bonaparte spent months here in 1796 after defeating the Austrians at the "Battle of Bassano." Ernest Hemingway convalesced in Bassano in 1917 while serving as an ambulance driver during World War 1 the basis for his classic novel "A Farewell to Arms." And finally your reviewer (me) was in Bassano del Grappa last weekend for the 1st annual Monte Grappa Bike Day It may surprise you but the origin of the name Monte Grappa is unclear and does not appear to be related to the alcoholic drink grappa One theory has it derived from an ancient word for "crag." In any case Author Daniel Friebe has appropriately compared it to Mont Ventoux in that the mountain dominates the horizon from miles away Monte Grappa has only appeared four times in the Giro Italia Emilio Casalini won the first ever stage here climbing the north side on the main Cadorna road and 1982 (Natale) climbed the south side of the Cadorna road to victory The 2014 Giro will climb via a much tougher (shorter) route: "la strada Generale Giardino," previously used once in 2010 when Ivan Basso took victory Don't let the relatively low altitude of the summit fool you: This is a very It begins a full vertical kilometre lower than Bormio - Stelvio's start Just under 20 kilometres in length with almost 1600 metres of climb Monte Grappa is indeed in the same difficulty league as both Stelvio the total vertical is often underestimated as there are two small descents thus a few metres need to be climbed twice The 1st Annual Monte Grappa Bike Day was a non-competitive event open to all The road was closed to motor traffic from 9:00 to 14:00 I was joined by more and more cyclists at every intersection "Chiacchierare" means "to chat" and the early hair-pinned slopes were noisy with cheerful Italians there is a short descent before approaching Campo Croce - which will be the intermediate time check I hope the Giro has as good music here as my event did the Italian line collapsed during the battle of Caporetto The Austrians advanced 100 kilometres to the doorstep of Venice and seeming victory The flooding of the Piave river stopped their advance and the focus of the war turned to Monte Grappa as a key part of the line across the river Three major battles were fought up the mountain with the Italians halting the Austrian offensive in high altitude fighting The Austrians would retreat soon after the 3rd battle and the war would be over two weeks later Monte Grappa (and the Alpini soldiers) hold an honoured place in Italian history - salvaging pride (and glory?) from a terrible war started by the Italian leadership as a cynical land-grab the road is much more interesting - and at times very steep - including a 14% ramp I did respect the purist approach of seemingly only including numbered signs for 180 degree tornante I would spend endless hours at the coffee shop guzzling espresso with i ragazzi debating whether some of these great curves deserved a hairpin sign Fans have already chalked in pink "Cadel" on the road And do you see the taped off section in the photo below That is one of at least five prime "viewing locations" already reserved by cycling clubs a full week before the Giro stage are policed by the famous Alpini wearing their feathered hats I introduced myself as a tourist to a friendly Alpini and told him I liked his hat (I might have said I liked his hair - my Italian is not great) The last three kilometres are pretty tough Several people passed me here and said "duro," so I assume this means "nice kit." Nearing the summit, I could see endless ruins and old roads, mainly remnants of the WW1 battles here. But there was also some fighting on Monte Grappa in the second World War. Partisan and resistant movements used Monte Grappa as a base in the late stages of the war, and many were killed when the Nazis surrounded and climbed the mountain in the autumn of 1944. At the last signed hairpin (28) it is easy to miss an incredible monument to the partisans/resistance I had seen the entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle III (the timid and weak Italian King for almost 50 years) five kilometres of military tunnels were built just below the summit significantly improving the Italian defences The "summit" where the race will finish and where all amateur cyclists congregate is not quite the high point of the mountain There are old barracks and military building a little further along that are closed off directly above the finish is the monumental "sacrario militare del monte Grappa." This truly impressive ossuary has the remains of approximately twenty-three thousand soldiers I didn't understand why none of the other cyclists seemed much interested but I cycled up and proceeded to take some photos And from far side (taken the day after): I descended the far north side (the first Giro climb in '68) and climbed back to the summit making for a very tough day for my old legs But here is a handy tip for mediocre cyclists suffering on a long day: To avoid a complete bonk (fringale / hunger knock) I stopped at a little café at the base of the climb and proceeded to eat and drink like a pig The north side is longer and thus less steep but don't let an elevation profile fool you While the south (Giro) side has views of the Veneto plains far below the north side has views of big mountains (Dolomites) Of course, for my second summit of the day I deserved a gelato with my second beer. The Stage 19 Giro d'Italia cronoscalata individuale will be fascinating But as much as I enjoyed seeing Cadel's name painted on the road I can't see anyone but a little scalatore winning here Fashion mogul auctions his time to raise funds for sagging 12th-century wooden structure in his home town Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Italian fashion mogul Renzo Rosso, who owns the Diesel clothes empire, is offering fans the chance to lunch with him for upwards of €1,000 (£840), to raise money to save a crumbling medieval bridge in his home town of Bassano del Grappa. The Ponte Degli Alpini has spanned the Brenta River near Vicenza since the 12th century, but in 1569 was transformed into the wooden structure that stands today. Now, the bridge is set to join the Coliseum and the Spanish Steps as the latest part of Italy’s crumbling cultural heritage to look to the private sector for its salvation. Without drastic restoration work it might not survive for much longer, experts say. Serious damage sustained during the Second World War was repaired, and further restoration work was carried out 20 years ago. Since then, however, some central sections of the bridge have sagged, and tests have shown that some of the wood has rotted badly. The restoration will cost the little town €500,000, but the cash-strapped council has so far been able to raise only around €300,000. Bassano del Grappa thinks help might be at hand, though, in the form of Mr Rosso, who has been resident in the north-eastern Italian town for the past 40 years. Inspired by the activities of locals who have made their own small contributions to the cause by organising charity concerts and dinners, Mr Rosso, whose house overlooks the bridge, said he felt obliged to help out. Dispensing with false modesty, Italy’s denim king is making himself available as a celebrity lunch guest to groups or individuals prepared to pay upwards of €1,000 a head for three hours of his time and business advice. Given that Mr Rosso is worth €3bn, according to this month’s Forbes magazine, some people have muttered that he might as well pay for the bridge’s entire restoration with the change in his back pocket. But Mr Rosso has already headed off such suggestions, telling Corriere della Sera that “it would be wrong if just one person put things right by putting his hand his wallet. Instead I want to collaborate with the city, working alongside those who are rising to meet this challenge.” Stefano Cimatti, the mayor of Bassano del Grappa, told The Independent it was up to locals to do their bit for their own antiquities. “There are far too many beautiful things in Italy – the state can’t look after them all. But I’m confident we’ll raise the money we need. We’ve even had contributions from Japan.” For his part, Mr Rosso can also be said to have opened up his wallet already. In nearby Venice, he stumped up €5m in 2012 to help restore the lagoon city’s famous Rialto Bridge. In return for his largesse, the crossing over the Grand Canal will carry large amounts of Diesel advertising for the duration of the restoration project. The business daily Il Sole 24 Ore declared in 2010 that the solution to the huge problems facing Pompeii was a private sponsor, which would be allowed to place its logos at the entrance. “Precisely because it belongs to all humanity, its management should be taken away from a state that has shown itself incapable of protecting it,” the newspaper said. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies W Italia Libera e Redenta – Long live Italy As much an acronym for patriotism as it is a synonym for the art of Italian frame building Wilier didn’t always have this slogan The frames were first launched with the telling scripture: ‘Dal Molin – Bassano del Grappa’ times were changing – especially in Italy The brand took a positive spin on the country’s liberation adopting the above slogan and even starting the first Wilier Triestina top-tier team that competed in the 1946 post-war edition of the Giro d’Italia comprised exclusively of Italian riders from the local area In commemoration of the Yugoslav partisans’ expulsion from Trieste the crest of the controversy-ridden border town that had been occupied by varying powers was added to the jersey and the steel frames of the team received a copper-coloured chrome finish Ever since – and much like the rest of Italy – the population between Trieste and Vicenza is still as mad about bikes as they are about significant moments in their history so it isn’t surprising that these frame builders continue to embrace their roots while still adopting technological advances The international flair of the Wilier brand is reflected in the nuances of its pronunciation but while it’s often dominated with a more French-sounding twang it’s actually a distinctly Italian name accentuating its origins in Bassano del Grappa their innovation studio stands next to oily lathes and high modulus carbon frames from China line up alongside hand-brazed steel frames from Italy Despite the traditional background chorus of hammer on metal you also have meticulously measured time trial machines created with CAD-determined aerodynamically optimised tubing to the left of you Upon entering the futuristic-looking building we’re immediately offered a coffee while the mother of Michele Through the glass wall behind the reception desk you can dimly make out suited-and-booted men just a few kilometres from Bassano del Grappa Around 40 high-end bikes emerge from the assembly hall each day The brand’s more entry-level models are imported from China and Taiwan for distribution by the brand In a vast on-site warehouse of bike parts and frames snippets of conversations echo around the high shelving units with talk of Campagnolo Super Record and carbon bars briefly interrupted by talk of nieces and nephews That Ramato colourway from the post-war frames is omnipresent these days whether you’re opening one of the packages for delivery or browsing the company’s in-house museum The carbon frame of the newly launched Cento10 Air is giving a new lease of life to the inimitable finish a proud display of how historical awareness can be merged with the ultra-new technology Despite forgoing the brand’s distinctive finish their Cento1 Hybrid is proof that the brand aren’t scared of the future by adopting the Ebikemotion system and motor this lightweight e-road bike was screaming at us to get out for a ride in the vicinity of the brand’s HQ But in order to truly grasp the concept of Wilier Triestina we realised it would take more than just a visit to the HQ ducking into some of the many cafes that lie between the vast plains of Veneto and Monte Grappa where cycling history is poured generously into wine glasses and espresso cups and water instead of spirits – although having to reject the frenetic gestures to try the local wine and grappa verges on sacrilegious we embark on the climb of Monte Grappa from Semonzo where we’re greeted with a breath-taking panorama once we’ve left the woods behind us It’s the sort of view that sets your heart racing– one of those ecstatic ‘why we ride’ moments that doesn’t need for a throat-burning drink to raise your spirit it’s one that gradually ramps up towards the top so save yourself for the upper part if you’re after the Strava segment At the top of Monte Grappa the huge monument to World War I is only accessible by foot so we reverently observe the view and scan the horizon we can see the peaks of the Dolomites and just about make out Venice in the distance on the right the sight of the 28 hairpins we’ve just ridden now fade out of sight It strikes us that Wilier’s spirit seems more embedded in the ascent of the legendary Monte Grappa than it does in the glass façade of their HQ A sort of consensus that the old times are worth valuing while still embracing innovation and progress where the past meets the future in order to enrich the ‘right now’ The history of Wilier Triestina isn’t a dusty edition of indistinct tales but a genuine experience that can be traced on the roads of Veneto and the climb of Monte Grappa GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine is published in a digital app format in both English and German. Download the app for iOS or Android to read all articles on your tablet or smartphone Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more We use the providers & cookies in this category for targeting our readers (e.g These cookies are used by third-party vendors or publishers to display personalized ads and/or measure the success of ads They do this by tracking visitors across websites On Saturday 17 July the curtain rises on the 41st edition of Operaestate Festival the rich summer program promoted by the City of Bassano del Grappa with the support of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities the Stage Cities and the companies belonging to the Friends of the Festival inaugurated by the great Italian dance that inhabits historical places and the music that goes to inhabit the splendid natural scenery of Monte Grappa A triple appointment for the opening weekend which summarizes the festival between excellence and enhancement of the territory To inaugurate this edition of the Festival on Saturday 17 July at 21.20 at the Teatro al Castello "T who in Stories stage an anthology of four choreographies signed by two curious thirty-year-olds and in the phase of creative maturity: Diego Tortelli resident choreographer also sought abroad as a freelance for years leading dancer of the company already awarded with the Danza & Danza prize for choreography The Prelude evening by Diego Tortelli opens a creation for 5 performers built around some of the most intense poems and songs by the Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave one of the greatest exponents of Post Punk In this choreography Tortelli questions his own belief the belief in the fragility and strength of the body signing a profane prayer in the form of a love letter Another Story by Diego Tortelli reflects on how a simple gesture like a hug has become the most hidden desire: the choreography thus becomes a solitary and shared embrace Alpha Grace by Philippe Kratz looks at the past and at empathy as a perception of oneself on a common level with others: in dance empathy is celebrated as a state that allows us to truly understand the other to learn to experience his own emotions and thus know their value Saturday 17 in Seren del Grappa and Sunday 18 July in Solagna in Col Moschin appointment with the music of Terre Graffiate the festival that brings classical and jazz to the places of the Great War Saturday 17 appointment with the Quantum Clarinet Trio an ensemble awarded at the international Fischoff Chamber Music Competition 2020 (USA) born at the Mozarteum in Salzburg in 2013 from the meeting of three young musicians of different nationalities a trio characterized by strong experimentation in a perfect balance between jazz and world jazz psychedelic atmospheres and minimalism; a trio made up of Elias Nardi bassist and double bass player among the most sought after by the greats of Italian music (from Guccini to Conte Sunday continues with dance: at 11 am (and repeated at 4 pm 5 pm and 6 pm) in the splendid spaces of the Botanical Garden of Padua an original creation will be staged that marks the continuation of the collaboration between Operaestate and the University signed by the promising under-30 dancers Vittoria Caneva is an individual and shared site-specific performance spectators and artists live in the same place: a kind invitation to welcome and explore a complex environment to enter into dialogue with it by activating all the senses and to enjoy an intimate and underground experience An opening weekend in the name of surprises and emotions for a post-forty year 1 that will lead to the discovery of the new ecologies of the present The next week will continue with the appointment on Tuesday 20 July at 21.20 in the Garden of the Academic Theater of Castelfranco Veneto with the show Les Adieux accompanied by the musician Alberto Mesirca An event included in the rich program of Operaestate Festival in collaboration with the Municipality of Castelfranco Veneto and with the supporting companies of the Friends of the festival together with the guitarist Alberto Mesirca builds a romantic-themed recital (and set in the years of literary Romanticism) on the story of Pietro Pagello (1807-1898) a doctor born in Castelfranco Veneto and died in Belluno who was famous throughout Europe for the love affair with the writer George Sand where George Sand (pseudonym of Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin who chose a male name to be able to publish his literary works) was staying in the company of Alfred De Musset when the illustrious couple of writers had fled Paris to celebrate their love against a romantic and poetic backdrop Pagello had been called to De Musset's bedside as a treating physician at the Hotel Danieli and there he had an affair with the French writer De Musset then returned to the French capital where he wrote of her story in his Confessions of a Son of the Century also wrote about it in the satirical Lui et elle but in a short time the writer got tired of him and the doctor returned to Italy where he practiced the profession until a very late age doing everything to erase Sand's presence in life beloved by the festival audience for his eloquence and the ironic and acute gaze he brings to each of his narratives storyteller Luca Scarlini is also a teacher at the Brera Academy and in other Italian and foreign institutions; as well as collaborator of numerous theaters and festivals in Italy and abroad graduated from the Conservatory of Castelfranco Veneto performed throughout Europe and awarded internationally (including a nomination for the Grammy Awards in 2021) which draws suggestions from more or less famous writers to recreate the atmosphere of the European nineteenth century In case of rain the show will be staged at the Academic Theater Tickets online and all the Operaestate Festival program on the site www.operaestate.it Resta aggiornato su eventi ed esposizioni d'Arte e Design organizzati in Italia Accetto l'informativa sulla privacy e di ricevere le newsletter Place: Bassano del Grappa e altri comuni del Veneto More info on this website: https://www.operaestate.it/it/ Scarica ItinerApp Monte Grappa’s tourist office has issued a reminder to pilots flying Bassano in Italy that they need a special Monte Grappa ‘Flycard’ pass to access the take-offs and landings and is issued after pilot documents have been checked and a fee paid The funds raised go towards maintaining the take offs and landings The whole system is online – pilots can fill in details and upload a photo before they travel The pass will then be ready for them when they arrive The fly card can also be purchased in Semonzo at the tourist office, the Montegrappa Air Park and at the landing zone in Garden Realis in various versions whose costs are below: More details from the Vivereil Grappa website More on Monte Grappa • Got news? Send it to us at news@xccontent.local Subscribe to the world’s favourite hang gliding and paragliding magazine