Bassano del Grappa
Monday 12th October 2015
Somewhat reluctantly left Venice around lunchtime, and got the train to Bassano del Grappa - home of the Nardini distillery, and the birthplace of grappa.
Italy October 2015
John's Pictures

08:32:48
Enjoyed the view of the rialto over breakfast once again.

11:31:02
In Cantina do Mori on Saturday I'd asked if they had torbolino - they said they'd have it the day after tomorrow. So I thought an early pre-lunch snifter would make a fitting goodbye to Venice before I got the train to Bassano.

11:35:45
See you next time, Cantina do Mori!

14:39:41
My hotel room in Bassano del Grappa was, of course, a bit of a come down after my splendid lodgings in Venice. It did at least have this rather attractive old number sign.

14:41:34
Views of the mountains from Bassano del Grappa.

14:41:41

14:41:47

14:42:27
Wandering around Bassano.

14:50:46

14:50:53

14:55:28
The Nardini distillery, the main purpose of my visit.

14:57:57
Alas there had been a fire on Bassano's famous bridge a couple of days before, but it was still walkable and refurbishment work was already under way.

14:58:41
The view from the bridge, on which I have to admit I was slightly apprehensive about lingering too long.

14:59:54
Over the other side of the bridge.

15:01:25
Caffe Ponto Vecchio, on the other side of the bridge, sounded like it might have been a good place to come for cocktails. Unfortunately though it was closed today.

15:01:38
Was particularly interested in their non-alcoholic Negroni, having tried to make one of these myself at home, and not having been very successful.

15:03:51
The famous bridge. Apparently designed by Palladio - I hadn't realised he did wood as well as stone.

15:08:52

15:09:06
There are in fact several grappa distilleries in Basssano - here's Cavalin, one of the others.

15:16:23

15:29:32

15:30:33
Amusingly named perfume shop if you happen to work with computers.

17:03:42
The window of the Nardini distillery.

17:06:02
Inside the bar at Nardini.

17:06:09
My Mezzo e Mezzo aperitivo.

17:07:24
The view from the little sitting room at the back of the bar.

17:07:31

17:07:51
The sitting room.

17:23:08
My second aperitivo - their Bitter.

17:27:31
Another grappa distillery - Poli - they also had a little museum attached.

17:28:23
Paraphernalia used in making Grappa traditionally.

17:29:08

17:29:21

17:55:30
The little wine bar I popped into, and had a chat with the owner and one of the regulars.

18:00:05

18:00:51

18:04:42

18:05:03

18:05:59

18:08:57
I found it mildly incongruous seeing British cheeses in this rather remote corner of Italy.

18:31:29
I was probably stretching the notion of aperitivo by this point, but nonetheless decided to have a Negroni in this rather fashionable cocktail bar with seats on one of Bassano's squares.

19:03:04

19:11:07
The place where I went for dinner - Pizzeria Bella Capri - was a tad, well, spartan.

19:37:03
The food was, however, very good. A particular type of home made pasta whose name I forget, with porcini. Whilst I assume the porcini were probably from a jar (especially given the price of this dish) the pasta was excellent - a bit ike udon noodles.

19:59:15
Also this was a real experience - I couldn't resist ordering the "Bastardo e Raddichio" pizza. Bastardo is apparently a local cheese, I think made using a mixture of cow and goat milk. It was quite sweet and rather pungent, and the bitterness of the raddichio was an excellent counterpary.