Thiene’s Underground Icehouses: A Vicenza' Historic Walking Tour

Before electric refrigerators, Italian cities had underground chambers for storing ice. Discover the historic icehouses, fountains and waterways of Vicenza province on a guided urban walk.

On 31 October 2026, Thiene, in the province of Vicenza, offers a three hour guided walking tour dedicated to the history of water and refrigeration. The 2.6 km itinerary explores public fountains, ancient wells, the municipal underground icehouse and the historic water features of Castello di Thiene, including its own icehouse.

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Know before you go

Before Refrigeration ↓ · The City's Hidden Water History ↓ · Plan Your Visit ↓

Before Refrigeration: How Did People Keep Food Cold?

Long before electric refrigerators, underground icehouses allowed households and estates to store ice collected during winter and use it to cool food and drinks throughout the warmer months. These chambers relied on thick masonry, underground construction and insulation to preserve the ice. They were an important part of food storage and domestic life, particularly in wealthy European residences. Thiene preserves two remarkable examples of this history: a municipal underground icehouse and another associated with Castello di Thiene, one of the historic residences of the Vicenza area.

The City's Hidden Water History

The guided walk is part of Italy's 23rd National Urban Trekking Day, dedicated in 2026 to the theme of essential resources. The itinerary begins at Thiene's Town Hall and follows the city's historic relationship with water, from the Fountain of Bacchus and Temperance to the Fountain of the Ox, the Buzzi Fountain and Piazza Chilesotti. Along the way, participants discover the history of the municipal aqueduct, historic wells and public fountains, before exploring the stories of the underground municipal icehouse and Castello di Thiene. At the castle, the historic roggia, an artificial water channel, supplied the gardens. The itinerary also introduces the old stone wellhead, the castle icehouse and the former pond. For travellers exploring lesser known Italian heritage near Vicenza, this walking experience offers an unusual perspective on architecture, food history and urban life before electricity.

Plan Your Visit

Date: Saturday, 31 October 2026

Departure times: 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM

Duration: Approximately 3 hours

Distance: Approximately 2.6 km

Difficulty: Easy

Meeting point: Thiene Town Hall, Piazza Arturo Ferrarin 1, Thiene, Vicenza, Italy

Price: Confirm with the organiser.

Information & Reservations

Comune di Thiene, Tourism Office

Phone: +39 0445 804753, Email: turismo@comune.thiene.vi.it

Guided tour organiser: Viandanti DiVersi

Phone: +39 351 3239735, Email: viandantidiversi@gmail.com

Important: The published itinerary includes the municipal and castle icehouses among the historical sites covered. Access inside the underground chambers should be confirmed directly with the organiser before booking.

Explore more hidden history and unusual things to do in Vicenza.

Sources

Castello di Thiene · XXIII° Giornata Nazionale del Trekking
Trekking Urbano · Thiene
National Trust · The Icehouse at Knole