The best road cycling routes around Pianezze

Located in the heart of Marostica, Piazza degli Scacchi represents one of the most evocative views in the Veneto region. Also known as Piazza Castello, it owes its fame to the monumental white and pink marble chessboard embedded in the pavement, framed by the imposing city walls and the Lower Castle. This space becomes the protagonist every two years, in September, of the famous Human Chess Game, a historical reenactment in costume that transforms the square into an open-air theatre. Legend tells of a chivalrous challenge in 1454 held for the hand of the noble Lionora, replacing a bloody duel with a contest of wits. Beyond folklore, the square is the beating heart of city life, dominated by the scenic view of the walls that climb up to the Upper Castle.

A beautiful villa and a very rewarding visit, which requires at least 2 hours if done properly: via QR code you can listen to the audio guide that illustrates the various spaces in a concise but interesting and engaging way. Villa Godi is the first villa designed by Andrea Palladio in 1537, and built between 1538 and 1542 on the hill of Lonedo in Lugo di Vicenza: the architect, although he had not yet defined his classical style principles, conceived this beautiful residence by combining sober elegance with the functionality of daily life. Over the centuries, the villa was owned by various families, hence the compound name: the Godi who commissioned it, the Piovene and the Valmarana; in 1962 it was purchased in a state of decay by the Milanese Malinverni family, who restored it and whose descendants live there today. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The complex includes richly frescoed rooms, with original furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries, the 16th-century large kitchen, the magnificent English and Italian gardens, the hanging garden, the secret garden, the barchessa (which houses the excellent Torchio Antico restaurant), the dovecote, the lemon house, and the romantic 19th-century park with centuries-old trees. Also present and included in the entrance ticket are two small museums: the notable fossil museum, with a majestic, fully and perfectly preserved palm specimen, which at 9 meters is the largest in Europe; the museum on the First World War, focused on the English command that was hosted by the villa in 1918 to coordinate Anglo-Saxon troops on the Asiago Plateau. Info: https://www.villagodi.com

Villa Piovene (1541) stands just above the contemporary and more renowned Villa Godi (1540), on the same hill of Lonedo... and it's no coincidence! It was indeed commissioned by the Piovenes in open and declared competition with the Godi residence: the two noble families from Vicenza, at the time the most important in the area, were in continuous and increasingly bitter rivalry to divide the large estates of the district. With evident Palladian inspiration, it dominates the hill with its elegance and symmetry: a scenic front staircase, framed by statues and an Italian garden arranged on four terraces, descends from the villa to the sumptuous eighteenth-century wrought iron gate. Villa Piovene Porto Godi (this is the full name) is open in the afternoon from March to September, for a fee (4.5€): the interiors are off-limits as it is a private residence, but you can visit the front garden with its beautiful staircase, the chapel, and the large, silent park with centuries-old trees. https://villapiovene.weebly.com https://loveneto.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/un-cancello-su-lugo/

Piazza degli scacchi very beautiful

The Castle is definitely worth seeing

The third tallest bell tower in the Veneto region and the fourteenth tallest in Italy, it was built after the collapse of the previous tower in 1838 and inaugurated in 1893. Standing 90 meters tall, it houses a remarkable set of 16 bells. From the easily accessible belfry, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the Veneto plain, the local hills, and the surrounding mountains (Little Dolomites, Asiago Plateau, and Monte Grappa). Visits can be made by calling +39 378 091 9676. It is also open during Breganze's main events.

We recommend booking your visit: https://museomotolaverda.com/ Via Roma 82, 36042 Breganze (VI) 348 1746459 museo.motolaverda@gmail.com

The Museum is located a few meters from the old factory and is managed by a social promotion association led by Werner Ricciolini, a great enthusiast and enthusiast of the brand. Housed in a charming vintage setting, it houses over 100 motorcycles built between 1948 and 2000 in two large rooms, spanning more than half a century of history, told through motorcycles, photographs, artifacts, testimonials, and documentation.