Castelfranco Veneto (Casteo in Veneto dialect) is between three main cities of the Veneto region, Treviso, Padova, and Vicenza, and is a walled city, with its medieval castle still in near-perfect condition.
Castelfranco was the birthplace of the high-renaissance painter Giorgione and the town's cathedral preserves the painter’s well-known Castelfranco altarpiece ("Madonna on the throne with Saint Liberalis and Saint Francis").
The political crises in Treviso and Padova at the end of the 12th century drove Treviso to build a fortification to counterattacks from Padova. The chosen location was a strategic position in Castelfranco Veneto: in front of where Via Postumia and Via Aurelia intersected and also in between several other fortified structures. In order to entice people to live in the castle, Treviso's government excused those living there from having to pay taxes, the reason why it was called Castelfranco (franco signifying "free" in Italian). The city is also home to an important music conservatory dedicated to the musician and composer Agostino Steffani. The auditorium and academic theatre of the conservatory are jewels of 18th century architecture that were planned by the architect Francesco Maria Preti. The heart of Castelfranco Veneto is enclosed by its medieval wall, one of the best-preserved in Italy. You will be able to feel the atmosphere of this city's rich past just walking through the centre.
See the local tourist board for more information.
- Casa Giorgione Museum. Tu-Sa, 10:00-12:30, 15:00-18:30; Su, 10:00-19:00. To glimpse Giorgione's work, you can visit the painter's birthplace, now a museum. It holds the Frieze of Liberal and Mechanical Arts, the only fresco attributed to the artist. €5.
- Cathedral. Daily, 09:00-12:00, 15:00-18:00. Castelfranco Veneto was the birthplace of the painter Giorgione, and the cathedral (1723) contains one of his finest works, the Madonna with St. Francis and Liberalis (1504), but more commonly called Pala del Giorgione. In the background, the towers of the old town may be seen. The cathedral itself was designed by Francesco Maria Preti and built over an ancient Romanesque church. Other art pieces include seven fragments of frescoes by Paolo Veronese. Free.
Casa Giorgione Museum. Tu-Sa, 10:00-12:30, 15:00-18:30; Su, 10:00-19:00. To glimpse Giorgione's work, you can visit the painter's birthplace, now a museum. It holds the Frieze of Liberal and Mechanical Arts, the only fresco attributed to the artist. €5.
Cathedral. Daily, 09:00-12:00, 15:00-18:00. Castelfranco Veneto was the birthplace of the painter Giorgione, and the cathedral (1723) contains one of his finest works, the Madonna with St. Francis and Liberalis (1504), but more commonly called Pala del Giorgione. In the background, the towers of the old town may be seen. The cathedral itself was designed by Francesco Maria Preti and built over an ancient Romanesque church. Other art pieces include seven fragments of frescoes by Paolo Veronese. Free.
- Ai Do Mori, Vicolo Montebelluna, 24, +39 0423 495725.
- All'Antico Girone, Via F.M.Preti, 36, +39 0423 737568.
- All'Antica Torre, Piazza XXIV Maggio, 2/4, +39 0423 495445.
- Alle Mura, Via F.M. Preti, 69, +39 0423 498098.
- Anna Smania, Via Damini, 34, +39 0423 495173.
- Barbesin, Via Circonvallazione est-Salvarosa, +39 0423 490446.
- Dolce Garbo, Borgo Padova, 77, +39 0423 720593.
- Il Galeone d'Oro, Piazza Giorgione, 74, +39 0423 722472.
- La Grannde Muraglia, Via S. Pio X, 66, +39 0423 496900.
- La Tavolaccia, Via Rizzetti, 18, +39 0423 498282.
- Nani Ferro, Borgo Padova, 103, +39 0423 491270.
- Rino Rior, Via Montebelluna, 27 Salvarosa, +39 0423 490462.
- Roma, Via Filzi, 37, +39 0423 490099.
- Tamburello, Via Pozzi, 5, San Floriano, +39 0423 487101.
Ai Do Mori, Vicolo Montebelluna, 24, +39 0423 495725.
All'Antico Girone, Via F.M.Preti, 36, +39 0423 737568.
All'Antica Torre, Piazza XXIV Maggio, 2/4, +39 0423 495445.
Alle Mura, Via F.M. Preti, 69, +39 0423 498098.
Anna Smania, Via Damini, 34, +39 0423 495173.
Barbesin, Via Circonvallazione est-Salvarosa, +39 0423 490446.
Dolce Garbo, Borgo Padova, 77, +39 0423 720593.
Il Galeone d'Oro, Piazza Giorgione, 74, +39 0423 722472.
La Grannde Muraglia, Via S. Pio X, 66, +39 0423 496900.
La Tavolaccia, Via Rizzetti, 18, +39 0423 498282.
Nani Ferro, Borgo Padova, 103, +39 0423 491270.
Rino Rior, Via Montebelluna, 27 Salvarosa, +39 0423 490462.
Roma, Via Filzi, 37, +39 0423 490099.
Tamburello, Via Pozzi, 5, San Floriano, +39 0423 487101.