ITALY | Vicenza, Italy Travel Guide
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
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Nardini
Ponte Vecchio 2
Vicenza
Venoto
0424-227741
Type: Sightseeing
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Vicenza
Venoto
0424-227741
Type: Sightseeing
Comments ( 0 )
Rating (0 Votes)
There is often little distinction in people’s minds between the bridge and the grappa – for both the Ponte degli Alpini and the Nardini distillery on the bridge’s edge have come to be synonymous with Bassano. It all began back in 1779 when Bortolo Nardini, now somewhat of a local legend, came from the Trentino Valley to establish his distilling business in Bassano.
He more than succeeded in his quest and over the years, grappa became the drink of choice for locals and anyone passing through town. The Nardini grapperia served not only as the social heart of town but also as an important gathering place for political groups. Grappa gained particular popularity during the World Wars among soldiers who crossed the strategically important Ponte degli Alpini.
Centuries later, after passing into the hands of children and grandchildren many times over, the aquavitae (aqua di vita) as it’s called, is still being produced and sold in the small grapperia adjacent to the Ponte Vecchio and in the bar near Piazzale Giardino. Although they employ more advanced techniques now in their production process, the product is the same as indicated by Nardini’s unchanged label.
If you pass by Nardini in the late morning or afternoon, join locals congregating out front and on the bridge for the reddish drink. Mezzo mezzo (half and half), as they call it, is a bitter blend of two of Nardini’s products and if grappa is too strong for your taste, try this.
If it’s not too busy when you pay a visit to the distillery, request a tour of the rooms below the grapperia where grappa is stored in large barrels and bottles behind lock and key. You’ll enjoy the view of the bridge and the river from down here and, on the stairway down, take notice of the lines indicating where high river levels flooded their cellar over the years.
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