Bassano del Grappa - Italy

The drive through the Brenner Pass was enough for the day, and was a longer slower trip than we had anticipated, so we went straight to our Park4Night location on the outskirts of Bassano del Grappa. For 10 euro we had a pleasant overnight stay at  Agricamp Conca D'Oro. This is a non-profit organisation that "trains young people with mental disabilities". It appeared to be a small farm, and we were parked across from the asparagus field, so we could see how they grew and managed the white asparagus that is in season. We were the only visitors that night but there were homes close by and all felt very safe, though as we sat outside having our early cafe we did feel a tad conspicuous in our jimjams as everyone drove by for work.

Once organised we drove to the old part of town. My driving has improved immensely and I'm back in step with a manual and the roads and traffic. So feeling very confident UNTIL we turned into the parking location and discovered I had to manoeuvre through a narrow stone portico. I thought not, and was arranging for heather to assist me in reversing out,  all the while Italian drivers in their tiny cars just zipped around me. An older Italian man offered assistance (in Italian), until I got the gist that he thought I should just drive through. So we folded in the side mirrors and slowly crept through, me completely blind with no rear or side vision and having to fully trust heathers guidance.

But we eventually managed to park and then I looked up to the stunning view of the old city wall, cyprus tress, and rolling green hills in the back drop.

The town was busy with a market, older people were particularly friendly, stopping to chat in Italian, and even to direct me where to stand to take the best photo. It was all so gorgeous. Thanks Deb for suggesting this location, we never managed to find the Renaissance garden we came to view, but it didn't matter, as it was all just so wonderful. 

We went to view a tiny museum in the basement of a tavern ( Museo deli Alpini), that had a great display of the memoirs of local soldiers commemorating the Italian alpine elite troops. Included old photos of the 30 locals who were hung in trees by the Germans later in the war. A sobering reminder of the battles that occurred in the region - where bullet holes still appear in the old walls.

And we had a lovely lunch, sharing a white asparagus and spring herb salad and salted cod with polenta. Along with a glass of red reccomended by the barman.