my first few days in Italy?? I can spend 3 or 4 nights in Bassano del Grappa before heading to Venice.
With jet-lag in mind I want to visit:
Asolo and on to Villa Barbaro
Marostica and possibly Nove
Castelfranco
Padua - Chapel & Basilica
Vicenza - Villa Rotunda & Teatro Olimpico

I've read here not to visit Padua & Vicenza in the same day, although it seems doable since they're 20 miles apart, and I don't want to spend a full day in either.

What do you see as a good order to visit these towns in the timeframe.
Thank you.

Plan to use bus and train.

hello janemc, just saw your post. It is late here and I am going to go to bed but tomorrow I will respond to you. Veneto is beautiful, you will be in a wonderful region.

keeping this for my records,loveitaly I will be taking your advise also,thanks

I'm not LoveItaly, but I can recommend the following Web site about the Villa Barbaro:

http://www.cisapalladio.org/veneto/s...7&lingua=e

And it is not easy to get from Bassano del Grappa to Maser. I went on a bus on Sunday, got there hours before the villa opened, and had to ask a tour group to take me back to Bassano because there was no bus to do so.

This is the page for the Villa Rotonda:

http://www.cisapalladio.org/veneto/s...7&lingua=e

You can take a bus from in front of the station that drops you a short distance from the villa.

On another subject: Admission to the Cappella degli Scorvegni is very strictly regulated. There is a Web site, and you should probably reserve. Be aware that most visits are limited to 15 minutes; I believe there is a special promotion for visits of 30 minutes, but only in the evenings.

Eloise, thanks for the websites, very useful. Now I will think out loud and welcome comments.

It appears that 4 nights is essential to see everything I've listed.

Day 1 - Arrive and tour Bassano del Grappa
Day 2 - Bus 7 Km to Marostica, taxi 3.8 Km to Nove, train from Bassano to Padua, catch late viewing at Scorvegni
Day 3 - Bike to Asolo and Maser, l9 Km one way, a walk in the park for me
Day 4 - Train to Vicenza, train to Castelfranco, train to Bassano

Hello janemc, it looks like you have the information you need to enjoy beautiful Veneto.

janemc, I have not been to Bassano, I hope you will post your impressiom of this town. A friend from Veneto called me last night and I teased him that I had not been to Bassano, so next visit to Veneto I will.

Asolo, Castelfranceo, Padua are all so interesting and beautiful. I don't bike but it seems that you have the information that you need to enjoy the area of Veneto that you want to visit. Enjoy every moment, I am sure you will.

Janemc - If I were you I might rearrange day 2 & 4 for ease of public transport.

Vicenza is quicker by bus than train from Bassano, I think. The bus goes via Marostica - so they would combine well. (You could detour to Nove en route either way ...)

And Padova and Castelfranco combine easily by train ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Janemc: It looks to me like you have it all figured out. The bicycle will be a terrific way to get you out of the transportation muddle that I got myself into for Villa Barbaro! Do try to go on a day when the interior with the Veronese frescoes can be viewed.

Thanks Steve. Your right. I rearranged day two to be Castelfranco & Padua.
I did not know about the bus to Marostica and Vicenza, I had only noticed that it is one long train ride to Vicenza. These little things mean a lot.

Eloise - The site you gave me for Villa Barbaro only says they are open on Tues. Sat. & Sun., no mention of specific days for viewing the interior that I can find. Can you shed some light on this? Hmmm, I guess I can look for an e-mail address. Thanks.

Janemc: As I understand it, the days and times given are when the interior is open to the public. I know I was admitted to the interior on a Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

If I recall correctly, the Villa Barbaro is being lived in, at least for part of the year; I do not think that the people living there would want to add an e-mail address to what is probably already a fair intrusion on their privacy.

Gee Eloise, I had no idea it is privately owned. Guess I won't invite myself in for coffee!!