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 Unanimously
considered ñthe pearl of Treviso Provinceî, Asolo is one of the most
appreciated tourist destinations in the Veneto region, and certainly
one of the most reminiscent in all of Italy. The beautiful villas,
well-maintained and skilfully-restored, the gardens, abundant with
Mediterranean plants and flowers, the landscape, so spectucular in
its natural setting, are the essence of Asolo's magical atmosphere.
Asolo is and extraordinary historical town, of paleo-veneti origin
which greatly developed in Roman times. It is mentioned by Plinius
as one of the first fortified towns (oppidum) in the 10th region.
Its present aspect dates back to the Renaissance; an unequalled
compendium of culture, art and landscape. Among its famous dwellers
were Eleonora Duse, Browning, the musician Malipiero and the English
traveller Freya Stark, in whose garden the remains of a Roman
theatre were found.
 One
should visit the Castle of the Queen Cornaro, a historic figure who
characterized the Venetian Renaissance and who set up her court here;
the cyclop fortress, which, according to certain studies, dates back
to pre-Roman ages; the Cathedral, the S. Luigi Convent, the Town's
Museum, the frescoed 15th century S. Caterina's church; the S.
Anna's Convent, with an interesting cemetery overlooking the hills.
Also worth a visit are the palaces designed by Massari: Palazzo
Fietta-Serena, the Council Palace, the Rectory and, just outside the
walls, the 13th century S. Gottardo church, the 16th century Ca' Zen
with the Massari's side-building, and VIlla Rubini-De Lord, called
"Galero".
Also beautiful are theEleonora Duse's palace, the so-called
Longobard House (16th century) and the central Piazza Maggiore,
where there is a fountain fed by the Roman Aqueduct and the
scenographic façade of Villa Pasini. It is possible to visitt the
gallery of the Roman aqueduct. It is also interesting to see the
remains of the frescoes which used to decorated all the façades.
Asolo was in fact, like Treviso, a painted town.
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