The Radicchio Road
Route details Departure pointTreviso Arrival pointCastelfranco Veneto

From Treviso's centre, enclosed in its brilliant sixteenth-century defensive system, you will follow the River Sile and cross Quinto di Treviso, once an important milling post, to the natural oasis of Mulino Cervara, the first stop on our tour. The Natural Park of the River Sile's cultural nature trail crosses this vast wetland.

Resuming the journey, you will follow a pretty route that unfolds among meadows and poplar plantations and reach Morgano and Badoere where you may admire a unique rotunda formed by two semicircular colonnades which act as a permanent marketplace for exchanging and selling agricultural products and a centre of craft services.

Continuing the journey you will reach Levada, a village in the Piombino Dese area, where the sixteenth-century Villa Marcello, rebuilt in the eighteenth century, stands. This villa is one of the best-preserved examples of Venetian villas and a symbol of the revival of Palladio-style art. The surrounding area is of great naturalistic interest since the river Sile originates from a multitude of small springs.

The route moves northwards once more. This stretch of country road exhibits interesting examples of the ancient Padua system, where the plots are divided by rows of mulberry trees, still bearing screws in parts. In autumn, chicory colours the fields and vegetable gardens until Fanzolo where Villa Emo stands. Andrea Palladio built this huge complex in 1560, blending the aristocratic body beautifully with the rustic barns and outbuildings. At Castello di Godego, you will reach the "prai", a vast area of great scenic and environmental interest still characterised by vast meadows bordered by ditches, which, due to its environmental features, is part of the Natura 2000 network.

The last stop of our journey is Castelfranco, a beautiful walled city with battlements. Inside the village, you will visit the Casa Pellizzari or the house of Giorgione and the Duomo which is a real treasure trove of works of art. In addition to its famous altar piece, the "Pala del Giorgione, the church contains works by Palma il Giovane, Paolo Piazza, Giovanni Battista Ponchini and Giuseppe Bernardi, also known as Torretta, and Jacopo da Bassano

To be the authentic Radicchio Rosso (Italian chicory) di Treviso PGI it must come from the typical area between the provinces of Treviso, Padua and Venice and must be obtained according to the traditional forcing and blanching technique. Its appearance is a typical spear shape, with regular and compact buds that tend to close at the tip. The leaf is an intense red colour with a white main rib.

Its unmistakable shape makes it extremely regal in appearance, unique in flavour with its mature taste, pleasantly bitter and crunchy. Perfect when prepared raw and exceptional in its variations; from appetizers, to first courses, to main courses, and finally as a side dish or as a base for delicious desserts.

Villa Emo is one of the most famous Palladian Venetian villas. Commissioned by the Venetian aristocrat Leonardo Emo, and built by Palladio between 1557-1560, it is the highest example of a villa-farm, a perfect embodiment of the close continuity existing between the noble residence and the surrounding countryside.