Situated between the provinces of Vicenza, Padova and Treviso on the Brenta River, Bassano del Grappa already existed in ancient Roman times, and the town goes back to the second century B.C. Its name derives from Bassius, a Roman colonel who was the owner of a large agricultural estate. Not much remains from the previous dominations under the Longobards (568-774) and the Franks (774-888). However, the first village with the name "Bassano" dates to 1150.

Early on, the province of Vicenza was aware of the strategic importance of this outpost and wanted to assert its dominance with a pact of obedience in 1175. Successively the history of Bassano ran parallel to that of the Ezzelini family, with whose power derived from the riches of the Bishop of Vicenza favored the first town magistrates on one hand, and on the other limited the power of the same city. Only with the death of Ezzelino III, and with the annexation of Padua that Bassano gained its first independence.

In 1388 the city came under the control of the Visconti family until June 1404, when it became a possession of the Venetian republic, governed by an official elected by the most serene Republic. The boundaries of Bassano were: Pove, Cassola and Rossano to the east, Tezze sul Brenta to the south; Primolano to the north and the Brenta River to the west.

Bassano was dominated by Venice for four centuries of relative peace, during which economic activity such as cloth and gold works developed. In the 1500's the artistic dynasty of the da Ponte family as well as the editorial company Remondini made the town famous. On 27 December 1760, Bassano officially became a city.

The earliest documentation of the presence of a bridge connecting Bassano and Angarano goes back to 1209. This bridge was repeatedly destroyed by wars and the effects of the river's water. In 1569 the current wooden bridge was designed by Andrea Palladio. In September 1796 Napoleon's victory in Austria disturbed the peace once more. This was followed in 1797 by the fall of the Venetian Republic. The territory was annexed to Austria the following year under the Treaty of Campoformio, and during this later period Bassano became the capital of the province On 7 April 1815, the town was annexed into the Lombard-Veneto Kingdom and unified to the city of Vicenza. The salient historical moments under the Austrian rule was a cholera epidemic in 1836, the opening of the museum and library in 1840 as well as many public and road works.

In 1866 the Austrians were beaten in the third war for independence and Bassano returned to being an Italian province. In 1877 it was connected to Padua vial rail, and subsequently to Venice in 1908, Tento and Vicenza in 1910. The acqueduct was built in 1913 and in 1917 the new bridge over the Brenta was built.

Since the beginning of the first world war Bassano was declared a war zone and remained such for the entire length of the war. During the Battle of Caporetto the town was on the front lines, and the inhabitants were evacuated in only three days. Immediately after the war the most important event was the founding of the town's first business, the enamel works factory and several other commercial and production activities.

Between 1922 and 1943 fascism came to Bassano, and the biggest problem after the start of the second world war was the lack of food. After the fall of fascism and under the German occupation, the city was again on the front lines with the resistance. In September 1944 the surrounding of Monte Grappa saw 500 killed and 400 more deported. On 26 September 1944 31 youths were hung on trees which line the road still to this day known as Viale dei Martiri (Road of the Martyrs).

In the last fifty years the industrial and commercial development saw an urban expansion outside the historical center, with a total population of 40,000 people at the end of the year 2000.