Nova Bassano was established by Italian immigrants around 1890. Among them was Padre Pedro Antônio Colbachini, a Catholic priest member of the Scalabrini congregation, who is regarded together with his companions as the founder of the town. In those days, the town had been called Bassano in memory of the North Italian town of Bassano del Grappa from which the immigrant were coming. In 1939, during the Second World War, it was renamed Silva Pais, but in 1947, with the unanimous assent of the population, it was named Nova Bassano in tribute to the first immigrants. Until 1898 the town was part of the municipality of Lagoa Vermelha. Through successive administrative reforms it formed part of the municipalities of Veranópolis and Nova Prata. By virtue of State Law n° 4730 23 May 1964 Nova Bassano became a municipality of its own.
The municipality enjoys one of the highest Human Development Index of the state and of Brazil, i.e. 0.844, placing it on the 39th rank of the 3.527 municipalities of the country. Nova Bassano's economy is strong and is characterized by its diversification, extending to agriculture, wine production, industry, food industry and commerce. The metal industry is particularly present in the municipality because several companies have established there.
Education and culture
Nova Bassano's school capacity exceeds 1.200 students, the Colbachini College being the major educative institution of the municipality. Furthermore, there are computer schools, a Municipal Library and a Cultural Society.
Tourism and attractions
The locality's interest is enhanced by the vicinity of the Serra Gaúcha mountain. Nova Bassano hosts many plants native of the region, including 100 species of recognized native trees. The main tourist sights of the municipality are:
the public municipal museum exhibiting historic artifacts in particular relating to the Italian early settlement.
the huge Church Chiesa Matriz Sagrado Coração de Jesus, where the first mass of the region was celebrated at Christmas 1895, with a sideBell tower of 30 meters supporting a clock watch built in 1938.
the Rodeios park.
the chapel and cross of the mount Paréu, the highest peak of the region.
Nova Bassano is linked through highways RS 324 e BR/RS 470. Nearby airports include Caxias do Sul at 73 km and the Passo Fundoairport at 81 km.
Climate
Nova Bassano's climate is of the humid subtropical type. The mean temperature is 18 °C and varies between 5 °C and 35 °C. Mean rainfalls amount to 1650 mm.
Government
The first elections took place on 10 January 1965. Since then, the population of Nova Bassano has elected the following mayors:
Notable persons
Don Laurindo Guizzardi: Catholic bishop, author of the book Nova Bassano: das origens ao raiar do século XX;
Padre Pedro Antônio Colbachini: he was the first priest to migrate to Nova Bassano from Bassano del Grappa. Padre Colbachini was a member of the Scalabrini congregation.
