Pianezze: Churches, Villas and Cherry Culture

Pianezze lies along the foothills of the Asiago Plateau. The themes that shape the town as a travel destination range from sacred art and villa architecture to cherry growing and trails through the landscape. The town’s history can be traced through specific churches, oratories and villas; at the same time, seasonal cherry traditions and named trails make its connection to the surrounding area visible.

Landscape, Cherry Culture and Trails

The municipality of Pianezze extends across both hilly and flat terrain. Gentle hills along the Cherry Route become a natural spectacle during the cherry blossom season in April. Two seasonal highlights can guide your choice of travel dates: in April, the blossoms shape the landscape; from mid-May, cherries are showcased at numerous roadside stands and traditional festivals. Pianezze also grows IGP cherries, grapevines and olives as highly specialized crops.

The Sentiero dei Ciliegi leads from Pianezze to Marostica; you can then walk the route back to Pianezze. If you include this route in your plans, you can make Marostica your destination and plan for the return to Pianezze. Pianezze is also a stop on the “Strada della Ciliegia.”

Churches and Sacred Art

The parish church of San Lorenzo was completely rebuilt between 1753 and 1754. The church contains a fresco cycle by Giuseppe Graziani (1699–1760), a painter from Padua. The building’s history and its artwork offer different points of reference: the reconstruction dates to the mid-18th century, while Graziani’s dates of life place the artist in context.

The church of San Nicolò was restored in 1981 by the Alpini Association of Pianezze. Its fresco is by an unknown artist. In the upper section are the Madonna and Child and possibly the House of Nazareth or the church of San Nicolò; below are Saints Nicholas and Oswald. The upper motif remains uncertain, while the two saints are clearly identified.

The Oratorio dei SS. Filippo e Giacomo was first mentioned in 1262. It preserves a fresco fragment of the Virgin and Child from the second half of the 15th century or the beginning of the 16th century. The oratory’s first mention and the later dating of the fragment refer to different historical points of reference. The Oratorio di San Leonardo contains an oil painting from around 1700 depicting Saint Leonard; the artist is unknown. The oratories thus feature both a dated fresco fragment and a painting of unknown authorship.

Villas and Historic Architecture

Villa Maroso is a square building dating from the 16th century. On the piano nobile, or main floor, columns remain that once supported the architrave of a loggia, which was later enclosed. In the courtyard, the villa also preserves an original well with a brick surround made of terracotta and original hydraulic and mechanical mechanisms. The building thus brings together a detail from the former loggia and the surviving well in the courtyard.

Casa Rigo has a central tower section, two side wings and a cornice decorated with terracotta. The tower section was formerly used as a dovecote. This description links the building’s layout to a former use of the tower.

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