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| The first itinerary |
| to sightseeing Schio begins at the heart of Schio's historical centre, in Piazza Alessandro Rossi which is dominated by the massive classical-style Cathedral of S. Pietro erected on Gorzone hill. The original eighteenth-century construction by Miazzi was rendered monumental by Carlo Barrera who, following drawings by Diedo, added the Corinthian pronaos and the side belfries (1820); however the final arrangement of this large building is owed to Antonio Caregaro Negrin, who added the aisles, improved the scenographic flight of steps culminating in two hanging gardens by Meduna and the eclectic style of the parish priest's house. Since 1945, this square has been the site of the famous Monument to the Weaver (1879) by Giulio Monteverde, which was commissioned by Alessandro Rossi to decorate the main square of the New Workers' Neighbourhood. Going down Via Cavour, we can admire the neo-classical Palazzo Maddalena (1879) by Folladore. Further along, on the right, we can see the classical-style Church of S. Giacomo with its annexed fifteenth-century colonnade, formerly part of the Battuti hospital complex. The eighteenth-century Palazzo Boschetti is on the opposite side. The conspicuous floral-style Palazzo Tamburini (1871) by Caregaro Negrin stands in Via Porta di Sotto. Going back up Via Del Ferro we turn into Via Fusinato, characterised by the Temple of the Holy Family (1850) by Bartolomeo Folladore, modelled on the Pantheon in Rome. The Canossiane Sisters' Institute (1864) is annexed to the church. Via Carducci begins to the left of the Cathedral, and is introduced by the neo-classical Palazzo Da Schio (1875) by the architect Barichella, and also Palazzo Gasparini with its refined sober eclectic style. The former Baratto hospital (now the Municipal Library), at the end of the road, has a beautiful seventeenth-century façade, central three-light opening and quadrilobate windows based on the Venetian style. |
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In Via Baratto, the monumental complex of S. Francesco stands out among the greenery just past the former neo-Palladian 'A. Rossi' Medical Surgery (1896) by Gaetano Rezzara.
The church, founded in the fifteenth century by the Minor Observant Friars, features an asymmetrical façade with an elegant portico raised on slim columns. The famous altarpiece by Francesco Verla dedicated to the nuptials of S. Caterina of Alessandria (1512) is kept here. The lofty Romanesque-Gothic belfry is rather characteristic. The secluded sanctuary of the Holy Trinity containing the remains of the fallen in the two world wars stands on the opposite side. From the Church of S. Francesco, the scenic route filled with historical and artistic souvenirs winds through the Valletta and the public park called Grumi dei Frati and passes the small sixteenth-century Church of S. Maria in Valle; then it goes around the Maltraversi castle hill, where all that remains of the Medieval castle is the tower with its embattlements and the nearby Church of S. Maria della Neve, which has been deconsecrated for some time now.
The route then continues past the small sixteenth-century structure of the Church of S. Rocco with its lofty neo-Gothic belfry by the architect Antonio Caregaro Negrin, and finally reaches the monastery of the Capuchin friars with the small annexed Church of S. Nicolò consacrated in 1600.
To finish this itinerary back in Piazza Alessandro Rossi, we go along Via Castello where Casa dei Fusinieri and the ogival façade of Osteria al Cappello are worth stopping for. Route: Piazza A. Rossi, Via Cavour, Via Porta di Sotto, Via Del Ferro, Via Fusinato, Via Carducci, Via Baratto, Via SS.Trinità, Valletta, Grumi dei Frati, Scalette di S. Maria, Colle del Castello, Largo S. Rocco, Via Fra' Matteo, Via Castello, Piazza A. Rossi. |
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| The second itinerary |
starts in Piazza Alessandro Rossi, continues along Via Garibaldi and then Via Pasubio, where the line of closely packed eighteenth and nineteenth-century buildings characterised by their small elegant wrought iron balconies is broken by the Church of the Incoronata (1716), adorned with statues from the Marinali workshop. The Palazzo Toaldi Capra nearby, now owned by the municipality, had its fifteenth-century structure redefined during the Baroque period. The façade is ennobled by the bust of Niccolò Tron, and the main hall is decorated with frescoes.
We then continue along the side of the Conte Wool Mill, from where we can appreciate the 'A. Rossi' Nursery School, the Francesco Rossi Wool Mill complex and the Jacquard Garden; these monuments are included in the Industrial Archaeology Open-air Museum itineraries which are dealt with elsewhere. Once back in Via Garibaldi we continue on to Via Pasini where we can see the conspicuous neo-Gothic style Palazzo Carraro, the house where Alessandro Rossi was born, the majestic Palazzo Garbin (1799), now the Town Hall, with its sober neo-classical lines by Barrera and an elegant façade overlooking Piazza Statuto. The same architect designed the Palladian-style Palazzo Fogazzaro (1810) with its airy hexastyle colonnade and shelters. |
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The art nouveau façade of Casa Tommasi shows up beautifully on the opposite side and the nearby Palazzina Pozzer is distinguished by its refined floral motifs, while the facing Palazzo Maraschin-Rossi, presently the Schio Municipal Technical Office, takes us back to the neo-classical canons thanks to the work carried out by Caregaro Negrin in 1877. At the end of Via Pasini we find the Augustinian Nuns' Convent and the Church of S. Antonio Abate (1879) in the Lombard-Byzantine style by Caregaro Negrin, which together with the monument to Alessandro Rossi (1902) by Monteverde on the opposite side introduce the New Workers' Neighbourhood. We then turn left and go to the end of Via Baccarini, and left again into Via Battaglion Val Leogra which is characterised by some art nouveau buildings such as: Palazzina Anselmi, the adjacent Casa Scolaro with its singular structure and ornamental decoration, and Palazzina Petranzan (1915) by the engineer Gelmetti. The road follows on to Palazzo Saccardo which re-elaborates classical forms in a modern way. From here, we can reach the Monument to the Pasini Brothers (1906) by Carlo Lorenzetti. This itinerary finishes in Piazza Alessandro Rossi. Route: Piazza A. Rossi, Via Garibaldi, Via Pasubio, Via Pasini, Via Baccarini, Via Battaglion Val Leogra, Piazza A. Rossi |
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| Other Places of Interest in the Leogra Valley |
Tretto Plateau, Mount Summano, Mount Novegno
The Tretto Plateau is a charming hilly area steeped in history where one can fully appreciate the uncontaminated environment, and the rural setting which is gradually disappearing. Excursions can be made along the many marked-out trails, in particular the Nature Trail beginning in Bosco di Tretto. Leaving Schio we go towards S. Rocco, with its neo-classical parish church rebuilt between 1766 and 1797. From here, we can either go up to visit the Sanctuary of S. Maria on Mount Summano, or continue towards Bosco di Tretto which lies in the centre of the plateau. |
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On the way down we head towards S. Ulderico and then return to Schio, otherwise we can continue towards Cerbaro, the point of departure for Mount Novegno (where important remains of the First World War are to be found) and Santacaterina, from where we can either carry on towards Vallortigara or return to Schio. Route: Schio, S. Rocco, Mount Summano, Bosco di Tretto, S. Ulderico, Cerbaro, Mount Novegno, Santacaterina, Vallortigara, Schio. |
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S. Martino
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| We start off from Piazza Salvo d'Acquisto and follow Via Leonardo da Vinci; about 2,500 metres further on we reach the small 11th-century Church of S. Martino with its Romanesque belfry. |
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The interior is adorned with fourteenth and fifteenth-century frescoes. Route: Piazza Salvo d'Acquisto, Via Leonardo da Vinci, S. Martino |
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| The Massif of Pasubio |
| From Schio, we take the road to Torrebelvicino and Valli del Pasubio going further into the valley formed by the Leogra. After S. Antonio del Pasubio we reach Ponte Verde, base for the routes leading up to the crests of Pasubio. We can take the road on the right leading to Colle di Xomo (1056 m.), point of departure for the Tunnel Route, the gateway to Pasubio and the Angelo Papa Refuge. Otherwise we continue along Trunk road No. 46, and after visiting the S. Marco Alpine Botanical Garden at Malga Prà (1050 m.), we reach the Pian delle Fugazze Pass (1162 m.) which connects Schio with Rovereto. From here we go left and continue on to pay a visit to the Pasubio Ossuary Sacellum (1926), containing the remains of the Italian and Austrian soldiers who fell during the Great War, and then the Military Museum nearby. |
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Alternatively, from Pian delle Fugazze we can follow the Route of the Heroes which passes Malga Val di Fieno (1513 m.) and goes through the Havet Tunnel. On the other side of the tunnel we come out into the Canale Valley where the scenery is filled with precipices, gullies, sheer rock walls and spurs, and accompanies us all the way to the Angelo Papa Refuge (1934 m.) and the gateway to Pasubio. Other places to visit around the Massif of Pasubio are: the Soglio Rosso (1571 m.), Mount Forni Alti (2026 m.); Corno di Pasubio (2100 m. approx.), Dente Austriaco (2206 m.), Dente Italiano (2200 m. approx.) and Cima Palon (2235 m.).
Route Schio, Torrebelvicino, Valli del Pasubio, S. Antonio del Pasubio, Ponte Verde, Colle di Xomo, Pian delle Fugazze. |
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HOTEL NUOVO MIRAMONTI
Via Marconi, 3 - 36015 SCHIO (Vi) Italia
tel. 0445.529900 - fax 0445.528134 - email: info@hotelmiramonti.com
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