authentic culture
Local traditions and culture
The Carnival of Malo, the soul of the city
The Carnival of Malo is the oldest and most famous in the Vicenza area: its documented origins date back to 1867, while the first official parade of allegorical floats was held in 1924, when an enormous papier-mâché gramophone appeared in the streets. For over a century, generations of local artisans have gathered on winter evenings to secretly build the floats, giving life to a true school of papier-mâché.
The symbol mask, "El Ciaci", born from a competition in 1974, still accompanies the parades today, while the "La Pessa" trophy awards the most beloved float by the public every year: a collective ritual that renews civic pride.
The foothill region of work:
industrial archaeology in Schio and Valdagno
A few kilometers from Malo are two historic capitals of the Italian wool industry: Schio and Valdagno. Schio, thanks to entrepreneur Alessandro Rossi, is today one of the most important centers of industrial archaeology in Italy, with the extraordinary Fabbrica Alta (designed in 1861 by Belgian architect Auguste Vivroux), the Francesco Rossi Wool Mill and the famous Jacquard Garden, a nineteenth-century park-monument.
In Valdagno, the Marzotto family instead created the "Social City", a model neighborhood designed for workers. A unique industrial archaeology heritage, which tells how the arrival of the mechanical loom transformed a peasant world into one of the most industrious areas of Veneto.
A unique mosaic of land, history and crafts
Within a few dozen kilometers lies a rare mosaic: papier-mâché and literature, historic looms and Palladian villas, mountain trails and laid tables.
A perfect synthesis of what makes the Veneto foothill region one of the most surprising destinations for those seeking slow, authentic tourism rooted in its history.
Flavors and traditions at the table
Completing the picture is the straightforward and generous cuisine of the Vicenza tradition. The signature dish is baccalà alla vicentina, actually prepared with stockfish (whose discovery in Italy dates back to the shipwreck of Venetian merchant Pietro Querini in Norway in 1432) and slow-cooked with milk, onions, anchovies and Grana Padano cheese, served with polenta.
Alongside it, the Sopressa Vicentina DOP, a soft cured meat with a sweet and delicate flavor; bigoli with duck, mountain cheeses and Asiago DOP.
To accompany everything, the wines from the nearby hills of Breganze and Gambellara. Village festivals, patron saint celebrations and markets then enliven the hamlets during the colder months, transforming every visit into an opportunity to discover authentic flavors and stories.