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Situated in the north-east of Italy, Veneto extends from the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea, by way of an expansive range of hills and a valley furrowed by rivers, canals and the Po delta.
The typical scenery of the Veneto coast is the lagoon, and, right on this very lagoon stands a city unique in all the world - Venice, visited by thousands of Italian and foreign tourists every year.
Yet Veneto, a region with a thousand different faces, is the custodian, also on dry land, of natural, artistic, and traditional treasures.
Veneto boasts an extraordinary variety of scenery: the Dolomites, dipped in the crimson shades of the sunset, the eastern side of Lake Garda with Peschiera del Garda, Torri del Benaco and other tourist destinations. Then there are the long, sandy beaches, alternating with well-known resorts such as Jesolo, Bibione, Cavallino and Caorle.
In this spectacular natural setting is a rich cultural heritage that makes Veneto a particularly fascinating region, from its cities of art to the magnificent “Palladian villas” scattered along the Brenta Riviera, up to the small villages of Arquà Petrarca, Monselice, Asolo and Bassano del Grappa which bring together the most typical aspects of this many-faceted region.
Veneto is also an ideal destination for a comfortable relaxing holiday , thanks to the thermal waters with their valuable therapeutic properties: the gentle slopes of the Euganean Hills are home to the well-equipped facilities of the Euganean Spas, for example Abano, Montegrotto and Teolo, where you can combine treatments and therapies with pleasant trips out in the surrounding area.
The provinces of the region are: Venice (regional capital), Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Verona and Vicenza.
Veneto is fascinating, with countless natural and artistic attractions and some unmissable places.
The first stop of your journey of discovery must be Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its lagoon, islands and the Grand Canal, flanked by ancient and highly decorated buildings which recall the splendour of the ancient Maritime Republic.
Venice, famous for its historic Carnival, Murano glass and Burano lace, can be visited on foot, via small lanes called “calli” and numerous bridges, or by boat, from steamboats to gondolas, carried by the water to admire unique views and scenery. Piazza San Marco, with its basilica, mosaics, and its domes, the Doge’s Palace, the labyrinth of lanes dotted by shops and workshops, churches decorated with paintings, sculptures and frescoes, museums and even the most hidden piazzas, are all unforgettable.
Another site on the UNESCO list is Verona’s historic centre, a unique example of fusion between the Renaissance, Medieval and Roman styles of architecture.
The city’s most famous monuments are Juliet’s romantic balcony, made famous by Shakespeare’s tragedy, and the arena, which becomes a spectacular out door opera house in summer.
In Veneto, the value of nature is also recognised : the Dolomites were recently added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites because of their remarkable shape and the fascinating interplay of light between the rocks.
This is the ideal world for ski enthusiasts: a huge area with kilometres of slopes and well-equipped resorts, first of all exclusive and elegant Cortina, the “pearl” of the Dolomites, one of the most famous mountain resorts in the world. The tourist resorts are many and very well-equipped, including well-known Cortina, and offer the opportunity to spend a holiday in the mountains both in summer and winter.
Padua, the town of culture par excellence, offers its visitors many attractions, from the basilica of St. Anthony, a destination for religious tourism, to the wonderful Scrovegni Chapel, entirely frescoed by Giotto, a timeless masterpiece. Its Botanical Garden of the sixteenth century, rich in medicinal herbs, is also a World Heritage site.
The historic centre of Vicenza, characterized by the classical style of the architect Andrea Palladio, has also received UNESCO status, together with the marvellous stately homes he designed , including the stunning Villa Capra Valmarana and Villa Poiana, surrounded by great parks.
This region has many more surprises in store for visitors to Belluno, Treviso and Rovigo. Even the smallest towns are steeped in history and culture: Asolo, a picturesque medieval village; Possagno, dominated by the mausoleum of Canova; the walled towns of Cittadella, Monselice, Montagnana and Castelfranco Veneto, are all now an integral part of the regional landscape .
Mountain, sea or hill, Veneto offers exciting holidays in natural surroundings, with the chance for sport, relaxation and enjoyable experiences.
From the Dolomites to Lessinia, famous resorts like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Falcade, San Vito di Cadore and others offer peerless experiences for winter sports enthusiasts: adrenaline-fuelled slopes for skiing or snowboarding, snow-rafting, climbing, trekking at all levels, special courses for cross-country skiing, snowshoe walks and exciting dog sled races.
The golden coast that stretches from Bibione to Cavallino is perfect for working out: beach volley ball, sailing, surfing, water skiing and cycling in cool pinewoods and unspoilt surroundings. Then you can spend fashionable nights in the trendy bars and clubs of the tourist resorts. Golf enthusiasts will find several “greens” in the hills, with Lake Garda in the background or near the coast.
Nature lovers can go on excursions or follow trekking trails in the protected areas of Veneto, such as the National Park of the Dolomites of Belluno, renowned for its breathtaking scenery, or the Park of Lessinia, where you can see the typical fauna of the foothills of the Alps.
You can visit many places while mountain biking, including the Asiago Plateau, which is crossed by a network of trails with different levels of difficulty, amid extraordinarily beautiful landscapes.
The charming Po Delta and the other areas of the lagoon, dominated by the reflection of the sky on the water and populated by hundreds of bird species, are a real paradise for the those who enjoy bird watching and nature photography, while the shores of lake Garda, surrounded by the typical Mediterranean scrub, offer plenty of room for water sports, sailing, boating and scuba diving.
You can enjoy a relaxing stay at the many spas of the region, including the renown Terme Euganee (Euganean spas), with treatments and beauty therapy to restore the right balance between body and mind.
Lovers of good food can follow the many wine trails : from Bardolino to Pramaggiore, from Conegliano to the other areas that have become known for their wine production, stopping at the wineries to taste excellent wines and typical products.
The schedule of unmissable events is always full; some of these events are renowned world-wide like the Biennale and the Carnival of Venice, followed by exhibitions and art shows, several religious and village festivals, and the food fairs, even in the smallest village.
Even though there are differences from one province to another, regional food is based on some common ingredients: rice, vegetables and especially polenta.
Polenta particularly loved by natives of Veneto , is prepared and eaten with meat, fish or cheese. Beans from Lamon (province of Belluno) are a typical product of the area, as is asparagus from Bassano del Grappa, the celeriac of Verona and the red radicchio of Treviso, which has become a universal ingredient not just in Treviso.
Another specialty of this province is the soapa calda, a warm soup with pigeon and chicken; in the nearby areas of the Alps you can also have mushrooms and roe deer, while the Asiago Plateau is well-known for its cheese.
In the lagoon, the choice is for sea food. Among the typical dishes of the area is risotto with scallops, scampi and cuttlefish, saor, that is sardines marinated with vinegar and onions, dried salt cod or Vicenza-style cod. Stewed eel (bisato) is a specialty of Venice. There are many typical desserts, including fritters, zaletti (polenta cookies), Carnival galani (pastries) and the pandoro from Verona that later became renowned nationally.
Veneto also boasts an extensive and valued production of red and white wines, including Amarone di Valpolicella, Breganze Bianco, Bardolino and Soave, to mention but a few . Raisin wines are best represented by the Recioto di Soave; sparkling wines (spumante) are also well known , in particular Prosecco from Conegliano-Valdobbiadene. The production of grappa is remarkable in Bassano del Grappa and in Conegliano.
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