Castelfranco Veneto is a small historic walled town in the Veneto region of northern Italy, in the province of Treviso. The town is situated between Treviso and Vicenza, and is on a regional railway line between Venice and Bassano del Grappa.
The town has a small historic core which is surrounded by high defensive walls. It’s an attractive place and has a few sights which tourists can visit. The site was developed and fortified by Treviso in 1195.
The walled part of Castelfranco Veneto is very small, containing just a few streets.
What to see:
THE DUOMO
The town’s cathedral, the Duomo, sits behind a row of statues opposite the town hall. The present-day Duomo is a large eighteenth-century building, designed by Francesco Maria Preti. The church’s greatest treasure, though, is older than the building. This is the town’s prize attraction: an altarpiece by Giorgione, who was born here and whose statue stands outside the walled town overlooking a piazza named in his honour. The painting (Pala di Giorgione) is displayed in a side-chapel on the right and dates to arround 1503-1504. You should also visit the vestry (sagrestia) on the left of the nave, to admire a collection of local paintings including some lovely pieces of fresco by Paolo Veronese, which were removed from a country villa.
HOUSE OF GIORGIONE
Next door to the Duomo is the so-called Casa del Giorgione (House of Giorgione). Although it was once claimed that the artist was born in the building, there is no supporting evidence. However, the house has been restored and opened to the public. Down the street opposite the Duomo is another of the town’s interesting buildings, the Teatro Accademico, which was also designed by Preti in the eighteenth century.
