Thanks to Venice – capital city of the region – Lake Garda and Verona…

… Veneto is the first destination in Italy and among the first ones in Europe in terms of visitors.
The region offers many other art cities and small historic hamlets, nature oasis and mountains, fortified citadels, noble villas and holiday sea and lake resorts. It also boasts 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which describe the great value of the regional cultural heritage.
Venice, together with its lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: an incredible city, renown all over the world, with unique artistic and historic treasures: St Mark’s Square with its Campanile, the St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge, its canals and its streets (the “calli”), as well as its Carnival and its Historical Regatta, the Venetian glass from Murano and the Burano laces, the romantic gondolas…
Chioggia is a lovely little town that is like a mini Venice, with ancient churches and picturesque canals. It’s well known in the region for its seafood restaurants.
In Veneto there are nice and huge beaches in Sottomarina and Jesolo and the surrounding areas. The region also boasts some of the best spas in Europe in Abano Terme, Montegrotto and Recoaro. Another beautiful area is the Po River Delta, a large protected area of wetlands inhabited by more than 300 species of birds, a perfect destination for birdwatching and outdoor lovers.
The Dolomites are among the most beautiful mountains in the world and Veneto hosts the “Three Peaks of Lavaredo” and Marmolada, part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Prosecco hills, are embroidered with vines between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, where the worldwide famous sparkling wine Prosecco comes from. It’s the latest UNESCO World Heritage Site of the region.
Bassano del Grappa is famous for its covered wooden bridge designed by Palladio and for its grappa distilleries. A grappa tasting at the historic shop on the bridge is a must!
Padua is an elegant city to visit for admiring the Giotto’s frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel. It is home to the oldest university botanical garden in the world, one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Vicenza, the city of Palladio, together with the Palladian villas, noble summer residences designed by the architect Andrea Palladio around the mid-16th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
A boat trip down the Brenta Canal from Padua to Venice is worthwhile and it’s the best way to view and visit the Palladian villas.
Verona is the city of the incredible Roman Arena (UNESCO World Heritage Site): every summer a worldwide famous opera season take place here. It is also the City of Love, of Romeo & Juliet, with the romantic Juliet’s balcony. Piazza delle Erbe with the Lamberti Tower is considered to be one of the loveliest squares in all of Italy.
Borghetto sul Mincio is a tiny fairy tale village set between Lake Garda and Verona, with ancient mills, a castle, quaint cottages and a beautiful cycling path along the river Mincio and some of the best restaurants where to try the delicious “Tortellini”.
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and its banks border three regions: South Tyrol-Trentino, Veneto and Lombardy. It’s anyway true that the most beautiful and renown side is the one in Veneto.
Its beautiful landscape and mild climate with vine yards, olive groves and lemon trees) make the area around lake Garda a favourite destination. Along the shores of the lake there are picturesque villages such as Riva del Garda, Malcesine, Bardolino and Sirmione, but also thermal resorts, trekking opportunities and amusement parks, for instance Gardaland and Parco Natura Viva.
Lake Garda is also famous for its Bardolino and Lugana wines and for the high-quality olive oil.
Among the events in the region, several important ones are held in Venice such as Carnival, the Redentore festival, the Historical Regatta, the Venice Film Festival and the famous Venice Biennale with events dedicated to art, architecture, music, theatre and dance. The living chess game take place in the medieval town of Marostica while Vinitaly, an important international wine exhibition, takes place in Verona. The opera season in Verona is another key event during summer.
Veneto traditional dishes have ancient roots thanks to the historic and commercial importance of Venice. Rice, polenta (corn cream), beans and baccalà (salted codfish) are the main ingredients prepared in many different ways and combined with a large number of vegetables, like Radicchio Rosso di Treviso (red chicory), white asparagus or onions.
Pasta e fasoi alla veneta, a tasty bean soup, or bigoli, a kind of long pasta thicker than spaghetti and homemade with different and tasty sauces. Veal liver with onions and Baccalà with yellow or white polenta corn cream or seafood in general.
The original tiramisù, and the Pandoro, a Chistmas dessert typical of Verona are very typical.
If you love streetfood, you can indulge with cicchetti with meatballs, crostini con il baccalà (toasted bread with salted codfish), sarde in saor, cured meat and cheese with a good glass of wine or a Spritz, in traditional “bàcari” bars or osterie.
Veneto is one of Italy’s major wine producing regions. Wine areas like Valpolicella (where Amarone comes from), Soave, Bardolino and Prosecco all worth a visit. Each of them has completely different characteristics and yet each one is very special.