# Palladian villas and the Prosecco hills

> 3-day road trip of about 106 km (66 mi) with 8 stops, from Vicenza to Conegliano. About 1 h 28 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b1-prosecco-palladio/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 106 km (66 mi) with 8 stops, from Vicenza to Conegliano. About 1 h 28 min of driving in total. Vicenza and Palladio’s villas, the covered bridge of Bassano, hill-town Asolo and the steep vineyards of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 106 km (66 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 28 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Vicenza → Conegliano |
| Countries | Italy |
| Updated | September 17, 2026 |

## Route description

Vicenza is Palladio’s city: see the Basilica Palladiana and the Teatro Olimpico in the centre, then drive a few minutes south to Villa La Rotonda. Check its opening days before planning around it, as they are limited.

The SS248 runs along the foot of the Alps to Bassano del Grappa, where the covered wooden Ponte degli Alpini crosses the Brenta and grappa has been distilled for centuries. Asolo, a little further on, is a small walled hill town with views over the plain.

Below Asolo, Villa Barbaro at Maser pairs Palladio’s architecture with Veronese’s frescoes. From Valdobbiadene the Strada del Prosecco winds east through the UNESCO-listed hills; the lanes around Cartizze are narrow and steep, so larger vehicles should keep to the main roads.

Stop at the old Molinetto della Croda mill near Refrontolo, then end in Conegliano under its castle. Harvest time in September and early October is the liveliest season; many producers welcome visitors by appointment.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Vicenza** (Italy)
2. **Villa La Rotonda** (Vicenza, Italy): Palladio’s perfectly symmetrical villa on a hill just outside Vicenza, copied across Europe and America. Opening days are limited; the gardens open more often than the interior.
3. **Bassano del Grappa** (Italy)
4. **Asolo** (Italy)
5. **Villa Barbaro** (Maser, Italy): A Palladian villa at the foot of the hills with rooms frescoed by Veronese in playful trompe l’oeil. The estate still makes wine.
6. **Cartizze and the Prosecco hills** (Valdobbiadene, Italy): Steep, vine-striped ‘hogback’ hills between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, a UNESCO landscape. The Cartizze slope is the most prized; small roads are narrow for motorhomes.
7. **Molinetto della Croda** (Refrontolo, Italy): A 17th-century watermill built into the rock beside a small waterfall, in the middle of the Prosecco hills. A quick, pretty stop with a car park nearby.
8. **Conegliano** (Italy)