Italy’s largest optical telescope, a gilded Moon and 15 more reasons to visit Vicenza

FIND YOUR STORY

A · Italy’s largest optical telescope is in Vicenza ↓

B · Find the gilded Moon above the main square ↓

C · Learn to read a star by its rainbow ↓

D · Walk under the full Moon listening to sounds from space ↓

E · Build your own rocket and watch it fly ↓

F · Watch shooting stars from a Tiepolo garden ↓

G · See Saturn’s rings with your own eyes ↓

H · Discover 78,000 photographs of the universe ↓

I · Travel from Pluto to the Sun on horseback ↓

J · Spend a night starbathing at an Italian villa ↓

K · Bring your telescope to a free mountain astronomy station ↓

L · Sleep at 1,658 metres after a night of stargazing ↓

M · Explore black holes from 45 reclining seats ↓

N · Visit a 50 tonne dome built for Europe’s largest telescope ↓

O · Chase Italy’s shooting stars by e bike or on foot ↓

P · Meet Margherita Hack’s giant spectrograph ↓

Q · See Halley’s Comet without waiting until 2061 ↓

R · Addresses, contacts and bookings ↓

S · Stargazing in Vicenza FAQ ↓

A · Italy’s largest optical telescope is in Vicenza ↓

CIMA EKAR · ASIAGO PLATEAU, VICENZA

For the 1.82 metre Copernico, Italy’s largest optical telescope operating on Italian soil, a scientific landmark at 1,376 metres above sea level. Inaugurated in 1973, it continues to study stars, galaxies and other celestial objects. This is a working research facility, with public access arranged only through authorised programmes. [1]

Discover Vicenza’s Mountain of Records

B · Find the gilded Moon above the main square ↓

TORRE BISSARA · VICENZA CITY

For a extraordinary detail hiding above Vicenza’s Piazza dei Signori: a 72 centimetre gilded sphere that displays the phases of the Moon against a cobalt blue, star decorated clock face. The lunar mechanism was reconstructed in 2002, following historical research into an astronomical feature documented as early as 1597. Look up at the tower from the square; the clock is visible from outside. [2]

C · Learn to read a star by its rainbow ↓

ASIAGO ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY · PENNAR

For I colori delle stelle, a spectroscopy workshop where special glasses separate light into coloured patterns, revealing how astronomers discover the chemical composition of distant stars. The experience takes place at the historic observatory where Margherita Hack worked with stellar spectra. [3]

D · Walk under the full Moon listening to sounds from space ↓

MONTE NOVEGNO · SCHIO, VICENZA

For a full moon walk with wireless headphones, recordings collected by spacecraft and scientific instruments, and a mountain dinner afterwards. Biosphaera’s I suoni della Luna Piena has brought this unusual astronomy format to Monte Novegno, with the Piccole Dolomiti above and the lights of Vicenza far below. New editions depend on the organiser’s programme. [4]

Discover the Full Moon Soundwalk

E · Build your own rocket and watch it fly ↓

ASTRORAZZI · ASIAGO ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY

For children aged 6 to 14 who would like to build a model rocket, take part in a supervised launch and watch it return by parachute. Organised with BT Research, Astrorazzi is a hands on experience at Vicenza’s historic mountain observatory, with launches subject to suitable weather. [5]

F · Watch shooting stars from a Tiepolo garden ↓

VILLA VALMARANA AI NANI · VICENZA CITY

For Italy’s traditional night of wishes, San Lorenzo, celebrated among eighteenth century gardens, Tiepolo frescoes and historic woodland. The villa’s special evening in August 2026 included extraordinary access to a normally closed underground cistern. Watch for future openings before planning a night beneath the Perseids. [6]

G · See Saturn’s rings with your own eyes ↓

MARSEC · MARANA DI CRESPADORO, VICENZA

For Il Signore degli Anelli, an astronomy evening devoted entirely to Saturn. MarSEC combines a presentation about the planet with observation through a real telescope when weather permits, offering visitors the chance to see its rings directly. The programme ran on selected October 2026 dates. [7]

H · Discover 78,000 photographs of the universe ↓

MUSEUM OF ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS · ASIAGO PLATEAU

For one of Italy’s remarkable astronomical archives, preserving more than 78,000 photographic glass plates made before digital imaging became standard. The historic collection documents decades of observations, including work connected with the Galileo, Schmidt and Copernico telescopes. Museum collections can be visited by reservation; access to the complete archive is separate from the public exhibition. [8]

Explore the astronomical archive

I · Travel from Pluto to the Sun on horseback ↓

SENTIERO DEI PIANETI · ASIAGO PLATEAU, VICENZA

For an eight kilometre representation of the Solar System, built at a scale of one to one billion. The route from Asiago towards the observatory is officially accessible on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback, passing through meadows and mountain villages with the planets appearing along the way. Horse riding arrangements must be organised separately. [9]

J · Spend a night starbathing at an Italian villa ↓

HOTEL VILLA MICHELANGELO · ARCUGNANO, VICENZA

For an eighteenth century country villa surrounded by five hectares of gardens, ancient trees and olive groves in the Berici Hills. Come for dinner, stay overnight and spend time outside beneath the stars, with a panoramic terrace and a history of aristocratic country life just a short drive from central Vicenza. Starbathing is self guided rather than a formal astronomy session. [10]

Discover Villa Michelangelo Starbathing

K · Bring your telescope to a free mountain astronomy station ↓

MUSEO DELL’ACQUA · KABERLABA, VICENZA

For a free outdoor observation area created through the European Skyscape project, with reclining wooden chairs, telescope supports and electrical connections for astronomy equipment. Bring your own telescope or simply settle into a chair beneath the mountain sky. The outdoor observation area is accessible independently throughout the year, subject to local conditions. [11]

Discover the Skyscape Observation Area

L · Sleep at 1,658 metres after a night of stargazing ↓

RIFUGIO LARICI DA ALESSIO · VICENZA MOUNTAINS

For winter astronomy excursions across snow covered pastures, guided telescope observations and dinner back at a traditional mountain refuge. Rifugio Larici offers rooms with private bathrooms, allowing an occasional telescope evening to become an overnight escape at 1,658 metres. Astronomy walks take place only on selected dates. [12]

Discover Rifugio Larici Telescope Nights

M · Explore black holes from 45 reclining seats ↓

MARSEC PLANETARIUM · CRESPADORO, VICENZA

For a 7.5 metre digital dome, Dolby Surround 5.1 audio and 45 reclining seats facing the projected universe. MarSEC programmes live guided skies and astronomical films, including Supermassive Black Holes and Out There: The Quest for Extrasolar Worlds. The selected film and time depend on the current calendar. [13]

N · Visit a 50 tonne dome built for Europe’s largest telescope ↓

GALILEO TELESCOPE · PENNAR, VICENZA

For the extraordinary rotating dome designed by architect Daniele Calabi to house the 1.22 metre Galileo telescope, the largest in Europe when inaugurated in 1942. The 50 tonne structure was completed after Calabi had been forced into exile by Italy’s racial laws. The observatory’s public programmes include guided visits to the historic telescope, subject to maintenance. [14]

Discover the Galileo Observatory

O · Chase Italy’s shooting stars by e bike or on foot ↓

PIANA DI MARCESINA · ENEGO, VICENZA

For August’s Perseid meteor shower across the open mountain landscapes of Marcesina. Rifugio Valmaron has organised guided night e bike rides for San Lorenzo, while local guides also offer astronomy walks on selected dates. A summer evening here can combine mountain scenery, a guided outdoor experience and meteor watching. [15]

P · Meet Margherita Hack’s giant spectrograph ↓

MUSEUM OF ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS · VICENZA MOUNTAINS

For the historic Prism Spectrograph A, the approximately 650 kilogram scientific instrument associated with Margherita Hack’s work at the Galileo telescope. Between 1951 and 1954 she recorded more than 180 stellar spectra, including observations of 55 Cygni and Zeta Tauri. The museum preserves instruments from the observatory’s scientific history and welcomes visitors by advance reservation. [16]

Via Osservatorio, 8
36012 Asiago, Vicenza, Italy

Telephone for local visitor information: +39 0424 462221

Museum reservations: museo.astronomia@unipd.it

Q · See Halley’s Comet without waiting until 2061 ↓

ORIONIDS METEOR SHOWER · VICENZA MOUNTAINS

For the Orionids, the annual October meteor shower created by particles left behind by Halley’s Comet. The comet itself is expected to return in 2061, but its meteors can be observed every year. Vicenza’s open mountain landscapes around Larici, Val Formica and Marcesina provide possible viewing locations, with conditions determined by moonlight, weather and safe access. [17]

Discover the Orionids and Halley’s Comet

S · Stargazing in Vicenza FAQ ↓

Where can I find unusual stargazing experiences in Italy?

Vicenza offers a combination of mountain stargazing, working astronomical observatories, a public planetarium, equipped observation areas, annual meteor showers and astronomy themed outdoor activities. These experiences are distributed between its UNESCO historic city, the Berici Hills and the Asiago Plateau in northern Italy.

Is Italy’s largest optical telescope in Vicenza?

Yes. The Copernico telescope at Cima Ekar, in the province of Vicenza, has a 1.82 metre primary mirror and is the largest optical telescope operating on Italian soil. It has been used for scientific research since 1973. [1]

Where can I see Saturn through a telescope in northern Italy?

MarSEC in Marana di Crespadoro, Vicenza province, organises planet observation evenings, including sessions devoted to Saturn. Visitors can observe the planet when atmospheric and weather conditions allow. [7]

Can children build and launch a rocket in Italy?

Astrorazzi, at the Asiago Astrophysical Observatory in Vicenza province, allows children aged 6 to 14 to build a model rocket and participate in a supervised launch with BT Research. The workshop operates on announced dates. [5]

Where can I go stargazing in Italy without booking a guided tour?

The European Skyscape observation area outside the Museo dell’Acqua, on Vicenza’s Asiago Plateau, provides reclining chairs and telescope supports for independent visitors. The outdoor area can be used without reserving a guided astronomy session. [11]

Can I combine a European city break with stargazing in the mountains?

Vicenza offers that combination within one destination: the city has UNESCO architecture, museums, historic gardens and a working lunar clock, while the mountain areas of its province offer observatories, night walks, astronomy programmes and countryside accommodation.

When are the best months for meteor watching in Vicenza?

August is associated with the Perseid meteor shower and Italy’s traditional San Lorenzo celebrations, while October brings the Orionids from Halley’s Comet. Visibility varies with moonlight, the weather and the location chosen for observation.

Are all 17 experiences available throughout the year?

The list includes permanent landmarks, research facilities, museums, self guided outdoor locations, accommodation and special events. Some can be visited independently, others require advance reservations or specific event dates. Check the individual experience before travelling.