Rubbio
Discovering Rubbio: an overview of the locality
Rubbio is a hamlet located in the province of Vicenza, at 1057 metres above sea level, divided between the municipalities of Bassano del Grappa and Lusiana Conco. The village is perched on the hills that border the southeast of the Plateau of the Seven Municipalities and offers a spectacular view of the Italian mountains and even the Venice lagoon on clear days. Thanks to its favourable location, Rubbio is home to one of the main radio transmission centres in Northeast Italy.
In addition to being a summer resort, Rubbio is also highly appreciated as a winter holiday destination. The practice of free flight is widespread here, and the village is often the site of takeoffs for the Montegrappa Trophy competitions. Moreover, there are numerous trails that cross the area, connecting the Plateau of the Seven Municipalities with the Brenta Canal.
The history of Rubbio
The name Rubbio first appears in documents from 1407 as a district of Valrovina. However, since ancient times, part of the locality fell within the territory of Conco, and this situation has remained until today, so the village is still divided between the municipalities of Lusiana Conco and Bassano del Grappa.
Both Conco and Valrovina were part of the Federation of the Seven Municipalities (the former as an "Annexed District", the latter as a "United District"), so Rubbio could also enjoy the same privileges granted to the villages of the Asiago Plateau.
Physical geography of Rubbio
From the panoramic position of the locality, it is possible to gaze towards Monte Grappa, the Pale di San Martino, the Lagorai, the Apennines, the Julian Alps, Istria, and even the Venice lagoon on clear days. Rubbio is located on the Bassano side of the territory, which also includes forests and pastures. It is bounded to the south by Valrovina, to the east by Campese, to the southwest for a short stretch by the Municipality of Marostica, to the north by the suppressed Municipality of Campolongo sul Brenta (now Valbrenta), and to the west by the old Municipality of Conco.
The north-western end of the Rubbio neighbourhood and hamlet coincides with the triple point Bassano - Conco - Campolongo (now Bassano - Lusiana Conco - Valbrenta) at an altitude of 1276 metres above sea level, near the locality of Ronco del Confin on Monte Malcroba. This is the highest point of the municipal territory of the city of Bassano del Grappa and is only a few hundred metres from another triple point (now double due to the merger of some municipalities), the boundary between Lusiana Conco - Valbrenta.
Origin of the name Rubbio
Although there is a Cimbrian form of the name Rubbio, it is believed that the toponym has Roman origins, deriving from the personal name Rubbius.
In conclusion, Rubbio is a charming locality loved by nature and sports enthusiasts, but also by those who want to enjoy a quiet and relaxing holiday. Rubbio is also a perfect destination for those who want to visit historical and cultural sites in the area. The locality is easily accessible and undoubtedly deserves to be included in the list of places to visit in the province of Vicenza.
