Situated in the north-east of Italy, Veneto extends from the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea, going across a wide belt of hills and a valley furrowed by rivers, channels and the Po delta. The typical scenery of the Venetian coast is the lagoon, and a unique city stands on that very lagoon: Venice, visited by thousands of Italian and foreign tourists every year. Yet Veneto, a region with thousands of facets, guards natural treasures, art and traditions in its hinterland as well. Veneto boasts an extraordinary variety of sceneries: the Dolomites, embellished by the pink shades of the sunset and by the eastern side of Lake Garda with Peschiera del Garda, Torri del Benaco and other tourist towns. Then long and sandy beaches, alternated with memorable bathing establishments like Jesolo, Bibione, Cavallino, Caorle. In this spectacular natural framework is a rich cultural heritage that makes Veneto a particularly charming 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 gather the most peculiar traits of this many-sided region. Veneto is also an ideal destination for a relaxing holiday in the pursuit of comfort and well-being, thanks to the presence of thermal waters with precious therapeutic properties: the mild rises of the Euganean Hills host the well-equipped facilities of the Euganean Spas, like Abano, Montegrotto and Teolo, to combine treatments and baths with pleasant excursions in the surrounding area. The provinces of the region are: Venice (regional capital), Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Verona and Vicenza.
The fascinating land of Veneto has countless natural and artistic attractions and some unmissable places. The first stop of a journey to discover the region is undoubtedly Venice, inscribed on the World Heritage list by Unesco, with its lagoon, its islands and the Grand Canal, skirted by old decorated buildings which recall the splendour of the ancient Maritime Republic. Venice, famous for its historic Carnival, Murano glass and Burano laces, can be visited on foot, going through the small lanes called “calli” and numerous bridges, or by boat, from steamboats to gondolas, carried by the water to admire unique views and sceneries. Piazza San Marco, with its basilica rich in mosaics and domes, Doge’s Palace, the labyrinth of lanes dotted by shops and workshops, churches decorated with canvas, sculptures and frescoes, museums and even the most hidden piazzas, are all unforgettable. Another site on the Unesco list is the old town of Verona, a peculiar example of integration between Renaissance, Medieval and Roman architecture. The emblematic monuments of this city are the romantic balcony of Juliet, famous after Shakespeare’s tragedy, and the arena, which turns into a spectacular opera theatre during the summer. In Veneto, nature is amazing as well: the Dolomites were recently inscribed on the list of World Heritage sites because of their particular shape and the fascinating light effects between the rocks. This is the ideal world for ski enthusiasts: a huge area with kilometers 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 of living a holiday in the mountains both in summer and winter. Padua, the most important town of culture, 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 old town of Vicenza, characterized by the classic style of architect Andrea Palladio, deserved Unesco award as well, together with the marvelous aristocratic villas designed by Palladio, among which are Villa Capra Valmarana and Villa Poiana, surrounded by great parks. This region has many more surprises in store for its visitors, like Belluno, Treviso and Rovigo. Even the smallest towns are rich in history and culture: Asolo, a picturesque medieval village; Possagno, dominated by the mausoleum of Canova; the walled towns of Monselice, Montagnana and Castelfranco Veneto, which are now an integral part of the regional scenery.
In the mountains, at the seaside and in the hills, Veneto proposes exciting holidays amid nature, sport, relax and pleasant surprises. From the Dolomites to Lessinia, famous resorts like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Falcade, San Vito di Cadore and others offer matchless experiences for winter sports enthusiasts: adreline-charged slopes for skiing or snowboarding, snow-rafting, climbing, trekking at all levels, special courses for cross-country skiing, snowshoe walks and exciting sled-dog races. The golden coast that stretches from Bibione to Cavallino is perfect for working out: beach volley, boating, surfing, water skiing and cycling in cool pinewoods and uncontaminated 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 make excursions or follow trekking paths in the protected areas of Veneto, among which is the National Parks 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 birdwatching 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 Euganean Spa, among baths and aesthetical treatments to restore the right balance between body and mind. The greediest can take the many wine roads: from Bardolino to Pramaggiore, from Conegliano to the other areas that became famous for their wine production, stopping at the wineries to taste excellent wines and typical products. The calendar 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 folk festivals, and the fairs in the smallest villages.
Even though there are differences from a province to another, regional food is based on some common ingredients: rice, vegetables and especially polenta. The latter, particularly loved by venetians, is prepared and tasted with meat, fish and cheese. The beans of Lamon (province of Belluno) are a typical product of the area, like the asparagus of Bassano del Grappa, the celeriac of Verona and the red radicchio of Treviso, which became the prince of Trevisan food. Another specialty of this province is the soapa calda, a warm soup with pigeon and chicken meat; 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, you can mostly have sea food. Among the typical dishes of the area are risotto with scallops, scampi and cuttlefishes, saor, that is sardines with vinegar and onions, creamed cod or Vicenza-style cod. Stewed eel (bisato) is a specialty of Venice. There are many typical desserts and some of them are fritters, zaletti, Carnival galani and the pandoro from Verona that later became a National celebrity. Veneto also boasts and wide and valuable production of red and white wines, among which are Amarone di Valpolicella, Breganze Bianco, Bardolino and Soave, just to mention the most famous. Raisin wines are best represented by the Recioto di Soave; sparkling wines (spumante) are renowned too, like the Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene. The production of grappa is remarkable in Bassano del Grappa and in Conegliano.
