Possagno: Tempio Canoviano and Gipsoteca

Possagno is a village below Monte Grappa, twenty minutes from Asolo, and it is where Antonio Canova was born in 1757 and is buried.

Two buildings make it worth the drive. The Tempio on the hillside above is Canova's own design -- a Greek Doric portico, a Roman rotunda and a Christian apse assembled into one building by a sculptor working out what a church should be.

Below it, the Gipsoteca holds the plaster models from his studio: the full-size originals from which the marbles were carved, with the metal reference pins still in them. In 1957 Carlo Scarpa added a wing for them that is among the finest museum interiors in Italy.

Plaster is far more fragile than marble and these are the artist's own working originals. Do not touch anything, and keep bags clear -- the models stand at floor level without barriers in places, which is part of Scarpa's design and requires visitors to behave accordingly.

The Tempio is an active parish church as well as Canova's tomb. Visit quietly and stay out of services.

No flash in the Gipsoteca.

Possagno is a small village with limited parking. It absorbs visitors easily out of season and less easily on summer weekends.

The Gipsoteca and Canova's house share one ticket, generally around ten euros. They close on Mondays and have seasonal hours.

The Tempio is a parish church, free, and open on its own schedule -- usually daylight hours, with a break at midday.

Possagno is about 20 minutes from Asolo and 30 from Bassano del Grappa. A car is effectively necessary.

Allow two hours for the museum and the Tempio together.

The Gipsoteca is accessible, including Scarpa's wing. The Tempio is not -- it sits at the top of a long flight of steps up the hillside, though there is a road round.

It combines well with Asolo and with the Monte Grappa memorial.