Bassano del Grappa renews bid for Italian Capital of Culture 2029

Bassano del Grappa renews bid for Italian Capital of Culture 2029

Bassano del Grappa has relaunched its candidacy, emphasizing history, innovation and community engagement. The bid rests on recognized assets — the Palladian bridge and the world’s largest collection of works by Antonio Canova — and on the Civic Museums, active since 1828, which preserve masterpieces from Guariento to Artemisia Gentileschi.

The municipal vision, described as a “Urban Renaissance”, seeks to turn Bassano into a contemporary laboratory: heritage regeneration, youth policies, environmental sustainability and soft mobility are central. The process involves the city administration, cultural institutions and a network of 14 municipalities across the Pedemontana Veneta area.

Recent years have strengthened Bassano’s cultural appeal: the Segantini exhibition drew over 108,000 visitors, the Operaestate Festival Veneto remains a multidisciplinary reference, and the Civic Library exceeds 100,000 annual visits.

• Planned projects: Cantiere 35 for under-35s, restoration of Palazzo Pretorio and conversion of Palazzo Bonaguro into a cultural hub.
• 2026 highlights: an Olivetti exhibition at Palazzo Sturm and a Sebastião Salgado retrospective at the Civic Museum; the return of the restored “Colossal Horse”.
• Territorial focus: promotion of cycle tourism, local food and urban reforestation within a shared Area Brand.

The route to 2029 includes thematic working groups, public consultations and a shared dossier, aiming to position culture as a driver of the area’s social and economic development.