What to Do Beyond Fieracavalli Verona: A Horse Lover’s Guide to Vicenza

FIND YOUR STORY

A · Thirty Two Marble Horse Stalls and a Night in an Italian Castle ↓

B · Ride from Pluto to the Sun on horseback in Vicenza’s mountains ↓

C · Italy’s First Olympic Gold Was Won by a Rider from Vicenza ↓

D · What Does Polo Have to Do With Vicenza? Meet Costanza Marchiorello ↓

E · The Italian Saddle Makers Behind International Equestrian Sport ↓

F · A Riding Lesson, a Country Stay and Two Days in Vicenza ↓

G · Where to Try Reining in Vicenza ↓

H · A Horse Museum With Six Hundred Objects ↓

I · A Carriage Ride Through Marostica’s Countryside ↓

J · A Pony Club, a First Riding Lesson and a Ranch for the Children ↓

K · A Horsemanship Ranch in the Little Dolomites ↓

L · Horseback Through the Hills of Vicenza’s Pedemontana ↓

M · A Day on Horseback With a Traditional Italian Lunch ↓

N · Ethological Horse Riding in the Little Dolomites ↓

O · A Horse Hidden in a Tiepolo, Inside a Villa Once Used for Silk ↓

P · Canova’s Colossal Horse Returns to Vicenza ↓

Q · Plan Your Time at Fieracavalli Verona and Vicenza ↓

R · What Horse Lovers Ask About Vicenza ↓

A · Thirty Two Marble Horse Stalls and a Night in an Italian Castle ↓

Castello di Thiene · Thiene, Vicenza

Castello di Thiene stands as a testament to understated, enduring elegance.

The monumental stables, commissioned by Scipione Porto at the dawn of the eighteenth century, were masterfully designed by architect Francesco Muttoni. This architectural marvel features thirty-two magnificent horse stalls, divided by columns of rare red Asiago marble and adorned with exquisite sculptures from the renowned workshop of Orazio Marinali.Such timeless grandeur caught the eye of Hollywood, serving as a backdrop for the 2004 film The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons. Today, the estate offers the privilege of staying overnight in a genuine Italian castle, one that remains, with quiet distinction, in the hands of its original lineage, the Thiene family. [2, 3, 5]

The FIERACAVALLI weekend ( 7 AND 8 NOVEMBER 2026) at Castello Thiene in Vicenza: On both evenings, more than 1,500 candles will illuminate the castle's historic rooms, kitchens and stables during special guided visits. Saturday tours begin at 18:00, 19:15 and 20:30. Sunday tours begin at 17:30 and 18:45. Advance booking is recommended. [4]

Discover the castle's night experiences on Via Vicenza 

B · Ride from Pluto to the Sun on horseback in Vicenza’s mountains ↓

Sentiero dei Pianeti · Asiago, Vicenza

For an eight kilometre ride through a scale model of the Solar System on the Asiago Plateau, passing the planets before reaching the Astrophysical Observatory. The trail permits horseback access; riders arrange their horses and guided excursions separately.

Discover the Planet Trail horseback experience on Via Vicenza

C · Italy’s First Olympic Gold Was Won by a Rider from Vicenza ↓

Giangiorgio Trissino · Vicenza · Paris 1900

On 2 June 1900, at the Paris Olympic Games, a 22 year old cavalry officer from Vicenza made Italian sporting history.

Count Giangiorgio Trissino, riding a horse named Oreste, cleared 1.85 metres in the equestrian high jump, sharing first place with French rider Dominique Gardères. It was the first Olympic gold medal ever won by Italy. Three days earlier, Trissino had already taken silver in the equestrian long jump. [6]

Born in Vicenza in 1877, he belonged to the aristocratic Trissino family, whose name remains part of the province's history. The champion later combined his equestrian career with cinema, acting in and directing films, several set in the world of horses.

For visitors arriving from France, there is a particularly fine detail: the first Italian Olympic gold was shared with a Frenchman.

D · What Does Polo Have to Do With Vicenza? Meet Costanza Marchiorello ↓

Costanza Marchiorello · Bassano del Grappa and Rosà, Vicenza

Argentina, Chantilly and a family polo club in the province of Vicenza.

Costanza Marchiorello, former captain of Italy's women's national polo team, was part of the Italian side that won the first Women's European Polo Championship in Chantilly, France, in 2017.

Her story runs between Argentina, where she learnt to play, the Italian polo circuit and Vicenza (Bassano del Grappa), where she has worked in the family business. The family also established Veneto Polo Club in Rosà, a municipality in the province of Vicenza. [7, 8]

INFO

The Veneto Polo Club is a private sports club located within a historic family estate owned by the Marchiorello family.

Polo Academy & Training: The club focuses heavily on training, offering dedicated facilities where players can practice daily during the active polo

• 📍 Address: Rosà (Vicenza), Italy (fields and stables are located in the countryside surrounding Rosà)
• 📞 Phone: +39 0321 518825 (historical secretary office)
• ✉️ Email: renato.bolongaro@studiosilvani.com or borcam@iol.it

Note: Since it is a private club, for real-time match info you can also contact the regional federation at veneto@fise.it.

 

E · The Italian Saddle Makers Behind International Equestrian Sport ↓

Prestige Italia · Trissino, Vicenza

Your saddle may already know Vicenza.

Founded in 1974 in Quargnenta, in the province of Vicenza, Prestige Italia is now headquartered in Trissino and exports to 56 countries. Its two principal brands represent different equestrian traditions: Prestige follows the Anglo German school of riding, while Renaissance is associated with the French approach. [9]

In Japan, Prestige lists an authorised retailer in Tokyo. Its European dealer network includes businesses in Norway, Sweden and Finland, while the company's Icelandic range includes saddles developed for the particular conformation and gaits of Icelandic horses, including the tölt. [10, 11, 12, 13]

Behind a name familiar at international show jumping and dressage events is a manufacturing story rooted in Vicenza's countryside.

F · A Riding Lesson, a Country Stay and Two Days in Vicenza ↓

Centro Ippico West Point + Agrialloggi La Moneghina · Grumolo delle Abbadesse, Vicenza

This understated escape seamlessly pairs countryside leisure with equestrian pursuit. The experience is orchestrated through two neighboring estates in the Vicenza countryside. At West Point, the focus is on the art of Western riding, offering everything from foundational instruction to competitive training, alongside scenic trekking and a dedicated pony club for younger heirs. A short distance away lies La Moneghina, an estate featuring two independent farmhouse apartments. They elegantly propose curated stays directly combined with riding sessions at the nearby equestrian center. It forms a perfectly paced Italian itinerary: a day spent in the saddle, an evening unwinding amidst the rolling Venetian landscape, and ample time to discover Vicenza’s timeless

 Centro Ippico West Point

• Address: Via Monache 11, 36040 Grumolo delle Abbadesse (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 0444 581797 / Mobile: +39 339 4140942

La Moneghina  

• Address: Via Monache 7, 36040 Grumolo delle Abbadesse (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 328 0383636
• Email: info@lamoneghina.it

G · Where to Try Reining in Vicenza ↓

Ongaresca Reining Horses · Costabissara, Vicenza

For riders interested in the technical side of Western equitation, particularly the sliding stop, spins and controlled manoeuvres of reining.

Ongaresca Reining Horses is an established equestrian centre in Costabissara, recognised in the Vicenza listings of the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation. Its competitive credentials are concrete: the centre hosted the Veneto Reining Start Regional Championship on 26 and 27 September 2026. [16]

Contact the centre directly about current lessons, training programmes and the possibility of visiting during a competition.

Ongaresca Reining Horses

• Address: Via Monte Cimone 10, 36030 Costabissara (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 347 3247171
• Email: scuderia@ongaresca.com

H · A Horse Museum With Six Hundred Objects ↓

Museo del Cavallo e degli Attrezzi Rurali · Schio, Vicenza

Six hundred objects devoted to horses and the agricultural world, including 86 prints illustrating equine breeds, 22 books on horses and 118 explanatory panels.

The collection is documented by Italy's Ministry of Culture and is located in Schio, in the province of Vicenza. [17]

Visiting information: The current ministerial listing records closure on every day of the week. A visit therefore requires direct confirmation with the museum before making travel arrangements.

Address: Via delle Fornaci, Schio, Vicenza.

Contact: +39 328 8039444.

I · A Carriage Ride Through Marostica’s Countryside ↓

La Fattoria di Via Canale · Marsan, Marostica, Vicenza

For the friend who loves horses almost as much as a good country lunch.

In the warmer months, La Fattoria di Via Canale organises carriage rides through the countryside of Marostica, a medieval town in the province of Vicenza.

The local tourism office describes routes of different lengths, including longer outings connected with the discovery of the area's traditional food products. [18]

It is an appealing alternative for couples, families and friends who prefer to admire the countryside from a carriage.

When: During the warmer season, subject to the farm's programme.

Address: Via Canale 16, Marsan, Marostica.

Contact: +39 340 1129085.

J · A Pony Club, a First Riding Lesson and a Ranch for the Children ↓

Three different introductions to the equestrian world in Vicenza.

Scuola Vicentina di Equitazione · Vicenza

For pony school, riding lessons and an established equestrian centre only seven kilometres from Piazza dei Signori, in Vicenza's historic centre. The school is affiliated with FISE. [19]

Scuola Vicentina di Equitazione

• Address: Strada Ospedaletto 135, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
• Phone: +39 331 9066503
• Email: info@sveasd.it 

Rossato Ranch · Torri di Quartesolo

For children who want to learn how to look after a horse as well as ride one. Rossato Ranch's programmes include grooming, stable activities, introductory riding and farm experiences, with seasonal camps for children aged 5 to 14. [20]

Rossato Ranch

• Address: Via Marconi 85, 36040 Torri di Quartesolo (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 338 6325911
• Email: stefanorossato67@libero.it

Yama Ranch · Montegaldella

For guided horseback rides through the countryside between the Berici and Euganean hills, together with recreational activities for children and opportunities to get acquainted with horses. [21]

 Yama Ranch

• Address: Via Roma 20, 36040 Montegaldella (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 347 6715679
• Email: yamaranch@gmail.com 

K · A Horsemanship Ranch in the Little Dolomites ↓

Wade Horseman Ranch · Recoaro Terme, Vicenza

For riders who want to go further into groundwork, horse behaviour and training.

Located in the Little Dolomites area of Recoaro Terme, Wade Horseman Ranch is listed by the International Horseman Academy as a recognised training centre, with Giulia Vallortigara as its contact. [22]

This is a specialist address for people interested in the relationship between horse and rider. Contact the ranch to enquire about the present teaching programme and visitor participation.

Wade Horseman Ranch

• Address: Via Recoaro Mille 56, 36076 Recoaro Terme (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 346 6085805
• Email: wadehorsemanranch.recoaromille@gmail.com 

L · Horseback Through the Hills of Vicenza’s Pedemontana ↓

Arriba Ranch · Fara Vicentino, Vicenza

For guided riding through the hills of Fara Vicentino and the countryside of Vicenza's Pedemontana.

Active since 2003, Arriba Ranch offers riding lessons for adults and children, guided rides and equestrian activities. Its location gives riders access to the rural landscape around Fara Vicentino, Breganze and the foothills of the Asiago Plateau. [23]

An attractive choice for travellers who favour small country roads, local vineyards and a day away from the exhibition halls.

Arriba Ranch

• Address: Via Valle Zaccona 14, 36030 Fara Vicentino (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 333 3539717
• Email: info@arribaranch.com 

M · A Day on Horseback With a Traditional Italian Lunch ↓

Le Piccole Dolomiti Centro Equestre · Brogliano, Vicenza

For experienced riders who would happily trade a restaurant reservation for an entire day in the saddle, provided lunch is worth the journey.

This organised experience begins with horse preparation and a riding assessment before a guided excursion through the woods, meadows and old paths of the Little Dolomites. Lunch takes place at a local farm and features traditional dishes and regional products. [24]

The published experience is designed for experienced riders, with a minimum age of 14, a maximum rider weight of 80 kg and groups of four or five participants. Booking is required, with weather conditions determining whether the ride can take place.

Published activity language: Italian. International visitors should enquire about language arrangements before booking.

Le Piccole Dolomiti Centro Equestre

• Address: Via Nardi 2, Località Quargnenta, 36070 Brogliano (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 345 1392931
• Email: lepiccoledolomiti@gmail.com 

N · Ethological Horse Riding in the Little Dolomites ↓

Le Piccole Dolomiti Centro Equestre · Brogliano, Vicenza

For learning to recognise a horse's signals, practise communication from the ground and gradually apply what you have learnt during a guided ride.

This separate experience is organised by the same centre in Brogliano. It introduces visitors to equine behaviour and handling before the riding component, making it particularly interesting for beginners, families and people curious about horsemanship. [25]

The published programme accepts participants from age 10, subject to its requirements, and is available by reservation throughout the year.

Le Piccole Dolomiti Centro Equestre

• Address: Via Nardi 2, Località Quargnenta, 36070 Brogliano (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 345 1392931
• Email: lepiccoledolomiti@gmail.com 

O · A Horse Hidden in a Tiepolo, Inside a Villa Once Used for Silk ↓

Villa Cordellina Lombardi · Montecchio Maggiore, Vicenza

For the horse in one of Giambattista Tiepolo's great eighteenth century frescoes, and a villa with an unexpected chapter in the history of Italian silk.

In The Continence of Alexander, also known as The Family of Darius Before Alexander, a horse appears on the left of the monumental composition. Tiepolo painted the fresco for Villa Cordellina between 1743 and 1744, and preparatory drawings associated with the work are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. [26]

The villa was designed by Giorgio Massari, with the involvement of Francesco Muttoni. During its later history, it was also used for the selection of silkworms. [27]

Look for the horse while exploring the frescoed hall, then take in the Palladian character of the villa and its gardens.

Address: Via Lovara 36, Montecchio Maggiore.

 Villa Cordellina Lombardi

• Address: Via Lovara 36, 36075 Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 0444 908160
• Email: villa.cordellina@provincia.vicenza.it

P · Canova’s Colossal Horse Returns to Vicenza ↓

 

Four metres of horse, half a century in pieces, and an extraordinary return to the museum. This  breathtaking masterpiece stands as a true titan of neoclassical art. Antonio Canova sculpted his monumental plaster Cavallo colossale between 1819 and 1821, an absolute giant of a work originally intended for an equestrian monument to Ferdinand I of Bourbon, King of Naples, and deeply tied to an earlier, grand artistic narrative celebrating Napoleon.The colossal sculpture miraculously survived the 1945 bombing of Bassano del Grappa, only to be dismantled in 1969, its vast fragments preserved in storage for over half a century. Following a monumental restoration supported by Intesa Sanpaolo's Restituzioni programme, this imposing piece returned to Bassano del Grappa on 27 October 2026. The definitive date to remember is 12 December 2026, when this magnificent giant will finally go on public display in Vicenza in its permanent, grand setting at the Museo Civico in Bassano del Grappa. Connoisseurs attending Fieracavalli in early November should undoubtedly arrange a return visit from December to witness the sheer scale of the completed installation.

Museo Civico di Bassano del Grappa

• Address: Piazza Garibaldi 34, 36061 Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza), Italy
• Phone: +39 0424 519901
• Email: info@museobassano.it 

 

Q · Plan Your Time at Fieracavalli Verona and Vicenza ↓

Fieracavalli 2026

The 128th edition of Fieracavalli takes place at Veronafiere from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 November 2026.

For an afternoon devoted to art and horses

Visit Villa Cordellina Lombardi in Montecchio Maggiore for its Tiepolo frescoes, then spend the rest of your afternoon in Vicenza's historic centre.

For a country weekend

Arrange a riding lesson at West Point and stay at La Moneghina in Grumolo delle Abbadesse, with time for Vicenza's restaurants and architecture.

For a particularly memorable Saturday or Sunday evening

Choose Castello di Thiene's candlelit visit on 7 or 8 November 2026. Its illuminated historic stables are a fitting way to continue a day spent at Fieracavalli.

For a longer equestrian holiday

Explore the Pedemontana and Little Dolomites riding options, or plan a separate trip to the Asiago Plateau for its equestrian trails and mountain scenery.

Riding excursions require advance contact with the organisers. Experience language, rider ability, seasonal conditions, age and weight requirements vary.

R · What Horse Lovers Ask About Vicenza ↓

Where can I go horse riding in Vicenza, Italy?

Vicenza offers several options for visitors, including Western riding at West Point, reining at Ongaresca, guided countryside rides at Yama Ranch and Arriba Ranch, and mountain excursions organised by Le Piccole Dolomiti Centro Equestre.

Where can I try reining while visiting Fieracavalli Verona?

Ongaresca Reining Horses in Costabissara specialises in Western performance disciplines and has hosted regional reining competitions. Contact the centre directly for lessons and training arrangements.

Can I stay in an Italian castle during my Fieracavalli trip?

Castello di Thiene, in the province of Vicenza, offers accommodation in its historic private residence. Its monumental stables are also open as part of the castle visitor experience. Availability and accommodation arrangements are handled by the property.

Are there horse riding experiences for children in Vicenza?

Scuola Vicentina di Equitazione, Rossato Ranch, West Point and Yama Ranch are among the centres offering pony, introductory riding or other equestrian activities for children. Age requirements depend on the programme.

Why is Vicenza interesting to French equestrian travellers?

The connection includes Giangiorgio Trissino's shared Olympic gold with French rider Dominique Gardères in Paris in 1900, Costanza Marchiorello's European polo gold at Chantilly in 2017, and Renaissance saddles manufactured by Vicenza based Prestige Italia for the French equestrian tradition.

What connects Vicenza with equestrian enthusiasts in Japan and Northern Europe?

Prestige Italia, founded and headquartered in the province of Vicenza, lists an authorised retailer in Tokyo and European dealers including Norway and Finland. The company also produces saddles developed for Icelandic horses.

What can a horse lover do in Vicenza without riding?

Visit Castello di Thiene's historic stables, see Tiepolo's horse at Villa Cordellina Lombardi, explore the equestrian story of Italy's first Olympic gold medal, and plan a visit to Canova's restored Cavallo colossale in Bassano del Grappa from 12 December 2026.