Fastro
A town divided between two Italian municipalities
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about Fastro, a geographic area divided between the Italian municipalities of Arsiè and Valbrenta. It is located on a terrace that overlooks the eastern slope of the Brenta Canal, and to reach the bottom of the canal you can take the winding road of the "Scale di Primolano". The town is made up of several hamlets, such as Pusterno and Solivo, which differ in their exposure to the sun and the surrounding nature. Fastro Bassanese, on the other hand, is the only hamlet located in the municipality of Valbrenta.
The history of the town
The name Fastro derives from "fagus", which means beech tree, and its presence is mentioned in a document from 1184. In 1848, Fastro was the scene of a clash between a Croatian vanguard and a group of Bassanesi "crusaders" during the First War of Independence. The invaders were repulsed, but the rectory with the parish archive was destroyed during the conflict. This event prompted General Giovanni Durando to move the troops to Bassano del Grappa, convinced that the Austrian army would invade the Veneto through the Brenta Canal; the Austrians, however, moved along the Piave, breaking through the battle of Cornuda.
Monuments and places of interest
The church of Sant'Antonio, originally owned by the parish of Arsiè, was built in 1730 after the inhabitants of Fastro decided not to attend the oratory of San Vito and Roveri anymore. In 1748, the village obtained its own priest and in 1779 the church was declared a parish by Bishop Nicolò Antonio Giustinian. The building has been renovated several times throughout history, suffering damage during World War I and the Croatian attack of 1848. Among the works preserved in the church of Sant'Antonio, you can admire a canvas depicting St. Roch healing the plague-stricken, painted by an anonymous Venetian artist in the second half of the XIX century.
Curiosities
Fastro is located in a very suggestive mountainous area, between the col dei Barc and the col della Spina. To reach the town, you can take the road of the "Scale di Primolano", which offers a panoramic view of the Brenta Canal. Furthermore, at a short distance, you can visit other interesting tourist destinations such as the historic center of Bassano del Grappa and Lake Corlo.
In short, Fastro is a small jewel of Veneto that combines natural beauty and history. If you are in the area, do not hesitate to visit this picturesque geographic area divided between the Italian municipalities of Arsiè and Valbrenta.
