TAPPA 12 CISMON DEL GRAPPA Km 23,2 +80 –200 E

This is our last stage in the Alps, the Lower Valsugana, walking next to the River Brenta which becomes broader and broader as we walk. We now reach the splendid town of Bassano del Grappa, “gate” to the Po Valley of the Venetia. Primolano is a locality in the municipality of Cismon, it is famous for its Venetian fortifications of the so-called “Scala”, which marked the border of the Venetian Republic. Cismon del Grappa is among the localities involved in the events that between the 11th and the 13th century, were dominated by the powerful family of the Ezzelini. The placename of Cismon is listed among the possessions of this house, written after their defeat occurred in 1260.

1 Cismon del Grappa—Bassano

2 After a visit to the military fortifications, especially those of Covolo di Buttistone, we leave Cismon del Grappa: we cross the river by the suspension bridge and resume our walk, not longer on the cycling lane, but along the local road, and in 4 km we will arrive at the locality of Costa, under its fantastic cliff used for training by rock climbers.

3 Our route gently slopes along the right bank of the river, passing through and by a great number of tiny villages, set along the river. The landscape continues to amaze the walker with its beauty, being a deep gorge sunken into high and very green mountains. We pass through Valgardena, Giara Modon, San Gaetano and after a stretch of fine rapids, we arrive at Mori, with its gigantic dolomia stone quarries

4

and soon after we come to a canoeing establishment, with the town of on one side and Carpané opposite;

5 villages and towns are now much more numerous and more individual, such as Oliero with its caves. We arrive at St Nazario, the main centre of the municipality, and soon after we enter in the municipality of , and here the valley broadens

6 We carry on along the Provincial Highway, or along the bank of the Brenta, between the mountains and the river, whereas on the opposite bank the town of spreads itself on a broad plain; we arrive at Campese, we turn left Via Tenente Cavalli, then Via Brenta and we follow the river up to Bassano. We are now in the municipality of Bassano del Grappa; the plain opens up before us and we shall walk on this plain for several hundred Km: this is The Padana Valley, of the River Po. We now enter Bassano del Grappa by crossing the river on its famous Bridge of Bassano.

7 Bassano del Grappa

8