Cison di Valmarino
Cison di Valmarino is one of the best-known villages of the Alta Marca Trevigiana, part of the Borghi più belli d'Italia network a...
Updated 12 July 2026
The story
The story of Cison di Valmarino
One of Italy's most beautiful villages
Cison di Valmarino belongs to the Borghi più belli d'Italia network, a recognition that certifies the quality of its setting and the coherence of its historic fabric. The village sits in a hilly basin of the Alta Marca Trevigiana, between the Valmareno valley and the first pre-Alpine slopes, a position that has made it for centuries a crossroads between the Treviso plain and the Alpine valleys.
Castelbrando, the castle on the hill
On the slopes of the hill above the village stands Castelbrando, also known as Castello Brandolini, first fortified in the tenth century against Hungarian raids. In 1436 the Republic of Venice granted it to the Brandolini family, who held it until 1959. After a long restoration, the castle today houses a hotel and spa, but it remains above all the historic and scenic symbol of Cison, visible from every point in the valley.
Piazza Roma and the historic centre
The heart of the village is Piazza Roma, overlooked by the church of Santa Maria Assunta, which holds statues of notable historic and artistic value, Palazzo Barbi, now the town hall, and Teatro la Loggia, once the seat of the local court and today an exhibition space that also houses a museum of vintage radios. It is a compact, well-preserved centre, typical of the historic towns of the Alta Marca.
Artigianato Vivo, the festival of crafts
Since 1980, in mid-August, Cison di Valmarino has hosted Artigianato Vivo, one of Italy's most important craft fairs, bringing together ceramicists, glassmakers and workers in metal, wood and leather along the streets of the historic centre. It is the event that draws the largest number of visitors each year and has made Cison's name known well beyond the borders of the Marca Trevigiana.
The water trails
A signposted trail, the Vie dell'acqua, follows the valley of the Rujo stream past old washhouses, channels and mills, retracing the craft traditions built around the use of water power that shaped the village for centuries. It is a simple route, suited to those wanting to pair a visit to the historic centre with a walk through the surrounding landscape.
Among the Prosecco hills
Cison di Valmarino sits at the edge of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The farming landscape around the village, with vineyards alternating with woods and small hamlets, makes Cison a natural stop for anyone travelling the hill roads of this part of the Marca Trevigiana.
Experiences not to miss
- Visitare Castelbrando e ammirare il panorama sulla valle dal colle fortificato
- Visit Castelbrando and take in the view over the valley from the fortified hill
To see
What to see in Cison di Valmarino
Routes · Trovido Route
