Conegliano, Treviso
Via Sottocroda – Susegana, Treviso
(IT) Via Strada di Collalto – Susegana, Treviso
The area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene has various remains from the Middle Ages, including a number of castles, either completely restored or only partly preserved, which bring to mind past times of knights and their ladies. We begin in Conegliano, where the Castle overlooks the centre from the top of a small hill. Of the original building, previous to the 12th century and of which we can still see various images in paintings of the time, only the bell tower, part of the old cathedral and the remains of an exterior wall still survive. To admire the most fascinating castle in the area we have to transfer to that of San Salvatore at Susegana, where the Collalto family, of ancient Longobard stock, still owns its 13th century home, a highly atmospheric location which is also the venue for the annual Festival of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore: Vino in Villa. Also belonging to the same family is the nearby Castello di Collalto, now unfortunately in ruins.
An unfortunate fate also befell the Castle of Vidor, which was destroyed in 1550. This fortress and its downfall are, however, commemorated every year in the folkloric competition known as the “Palio”, which is also a good opportunity to visit the ancient Abbey of Santa Bona.
At Cison di Valmarino, on the other hand, Castelbrando has been recently restored and transformed into a charming hotel; even if it changed style over the course of the centuries, going from being a fortress to a castle to a Renaissance residence, its origins date back to the beginning of the last millennium. This tripinto the Middle Ages ends at Vittorio Veneto, where there are two castles, proving the existence in the past of two centres that gave rise to what is today a single little town: Serravalle and Ceneda. In the former, the ancient stronghold of one of the most powerful noble families in the area, the Da Caminos, one can see the ruins of the extremely old Castrum, constructed in the 12th century over a fortress of the Roman era. At Ceneda, on the other hand, the Castle of San Martino has been the Bishop’s residence for centuries.