Valdobbiadene, when the host is not there

In the hilly area that precedes the Treviso Prealps, in the middle of the slopes on which terraces dotted with rows of vines are artfully created, stands Valdobbiadene, a town of more than 10,000 inhabitants in the province of Treviso, 40 km northeast of the capital and two steps from the Piave. It is an inhabited center since the Paleolithic, then expanded in Roman times, which from the Middle Ages founded its economy, as well as on the silk industry, still active today in a contained form, especially on the wine sector, establishing itself as the main reference among the Prosecco Hills for the production and marketing of Prosecco Superiore Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG wine, sought after internationally. The village lies on the hills, almost following their profile, surrounded by vineyards which in some places lap the town in a perfect combination of urban fabric and agriculture. Among the places to visit in the center, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta stands out, with the imposing bell tower, dating back to 1200 and rebuilt in the late 1700s in a neoclassical style, and the Church of Santo Stefano Protomartire in the Santo Stefano hamlet to the east of the town. . And right along the country districts between the latter center and Valdobbiadene there is something unusual, the Osteria Senza Oste. It is a late 19th century stone farmhouse surrounded by greenery, located along a small road which, climbing up the terraces of the rear hill, leads to the vineyards located at various levels. Inside the house are displayed and available the delights of the territory, wines, meats, cheeses, bread and typical sweets. The visitor has to do is take the cutting board, slice the salami, make the sandwich, fill the glass and sit at the wooden tables, equipped with chairs and benches, placed along the path or between the rows on the terraces. There is no host to serve or ask for the bill, each product has a price tag and the guest pays what he or she consumed by making the receipt according to conscience at a cash register. Behind this place there is a history of hospitality founded on the trust of others, desired by the owner, owner of a sausage factory, who in 2005 began welcoming friends and passers-by. It is a bucolic and enchanting place where you can relax while eating and enjoying a breathtaking view of the surrounding hills, a meeting point where, behind a picnic spirit, food becomes a reason for union and exchange between different people and cultures , transforming itself into an ambassador of the territory in the world, a place of worship, an unmissable destination of taste for the many tourists who come from all over to visit the beauties of this area.