Santorso
Santorso lies in the Alto Vicentino, at the foot of Monte Summano, not far from Schio
Updated 12 July 2026 · Sources: https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/villa-e-parco-rossi · https://www.comune.santorso.vi.it/Vivere-il-comune/Luoghi/Villa-Rossi · https://www.museialtovicentino.it/en/museum/park-and-villa-rossi/
The story
The story of Santorso
The Vicenza Foothills
Santorso belongs to the Alto Vicentino, the foothill area north of Vicenza that develops at the base of the Prealps, closely linked to nearby Schio. The landscape alternates cultivated plain with the mountain slope of the Summano, offering a varied environment of settlements, countryside and nature.
Villa Rossi: The History
In 1865 the industrialist Alessandro Rossi purchased the old sixteenth-century Villa Bonifacio-Velo, with its adjoining Santo Spirito church, on the slopes of Monte Summano. He entrusted the building's transformation to architect Antonio Caregaro Negrin, who between 1865 and 1884 converted it into an elegant neoclassical villa surrounded by an extensive landscape park.
The Romantic Park
Parco Rossi is divided by a public road into two sections, known as delle Rive and del Laghetto, connected by an underpass ending in three arches supported by sturdy pillars decorated with medallions representing agriculture and industry. It is regarded as one of the principal examples of a landscape park in northern Italy.
From Villa to Public Heritage
On Alessandro Rossi's death in 1898, the villa was designated by his will to become an orphanage, a function it retained for a long period while remaining linked to charitable institutions. Only in 2002 did the municipalities of Santorso and Schio acquire ownership, beginning a process of cultural enhancement of the complex.
Monte Summano
Monte Summano dominates Santorso's landscape and serves as a landmark for those seeking trails and hikes in the Alto Vicentino. The mountain's wooded, panoramic slopes attract walks that start from the valley floor and offer views over the Vicenza plain.
Schio and the Wool Industry
Alessandro Rossi, the driving force behind Villa and Parco Rossi, was also the founder of the Lanificio Rossi, which made Schio one of the leading centres of the nineteenth-century Italian wool industry. The connection between Santorso and neighbouring Schio, still evident today, has its roots in this period of industrial development.
Experiences not to miss
- Visitare Villa Rossi e passeggiare nel Parco Rossi
- Visit Villa Rossi and walk through Parco Rossi
To see
What to see in Santorso
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Santorso
Jobs · JobFlow
