Things to see in Veneto
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There are seven provinces of Veneto, each with their own characters and unique attractions.
Each of the provinces takes the same name as the major city within it; the first and most famous province is of course, Venice. The city built on the sea, a former maritime republic and now one of the major tourist destinations in the world. If you're considering visiting Veneto then you cannot ignore the charms of its capital city. |
Away from Venice itself, the eponymous province is also home to the Venice Lagoon and I recommend a visit to one of its lesser-known islands; Pellestrina. The island is a riot of colour and though its beaches are not as manicured as you'll find at the more famous destinations, this is certainly a place that provides something a bit different. You can reach Pellestrina by ferry from the town of Chioggia which is another of my top picks. Chioggia is like a mini-Venice but without so much hustle and bustle.
Also in the Metropolitan City of Venice province is the town of Portogruaro with its leaning tower while just a short distance from there is another pretty seaside town called Caorle.
To the north of Venice lies the Province of Treviso. This is a kind of buffer zone between the sea and the mountainous area of the Alps to the north. The city of Treviso itself is characterised by a medieval centre and a series of canals, while heading north you'll find the historic towns of Conegliano and Vittorio Veneto. The latter of the two has a small area known as Serravalle which is of particular interest.
The northernmost Province of Belluno is quite different to its southern neighbours, This is the domain of the eastern Dolomites, a region punctuated by beautiful lakes, snow-peaked mountains and ski resorts. Not to be missed are the glamorous Cortina d'Ampezzo, the lakeside town of Auronzo di Cadore or the nearby Pieve di Cadore, home to the Italian renaissance painter, Titian (Tiziano).
To the south west of Belluno lies the Province of Vicenza. The city itself is famous for its Palladian architecture which also spreads out into the surrounding towns with a series of villas designed by the same architect. Vicenza's mountain town of Asiago is a hive of activity all year round while further south, the town of Bassano del Grappa is one of Veneto's most memorable. A short drive from Bassano del Grappa lies Marostica, famous for its chessboard piazza which hosts an annual event where men and women in traditional costumes take the place of the pieces.
Verona is the westernmost province of Veneto; its city is a mixture of ancient, medieval and Renaissance architecture with highlights including the Verona Arena, Torre dei Lamberti and Castelvecchio Bridge (also known as Ponte Scaligero), a bridge that spans the River Adige running through the city. Verona is also the province of the eastern shores of Lake Garda with the towns of Peschiera del Garda and Malcesine two of the prettiest. Just south of Verona is a huge park called Parco Giardino Sigurtà where you can hire an electric bike, get lost in a maze or simply just enjoy the immaculate gardens.
The city of Padova is home to a number of treasures including the world's longest surviving botanical garden, the Orto Botanico di Padova which opened in 1545. It's also the location of the unique piazza; Prato della Valle, a huge, oval-shaped area with its own moat and dozens of statues surrounding it. Close to Padova is the Euganean Hills Regional Park where you'll also find a lovely village called Arquà Petrarca. I can also recommend a visit to the towns of Monselice, Cittadella and Montagnana.
The final province is Rovigo which can boast the Po Delta Regional Park within its environs. The park is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage list and is home to a unique biodiversity including sand dunes, wetlands and a wide variety of wildlife.
Also in the Metropolitan City of Venice province is the town of Portogruaro with its leaning tower while just a short distance from there is another pretty seaside town called Caorle.
To the north of Venice lies the Province of Treviso. This is a kind of buffer zone between the sea and the mountainous area of the Alps to the north. The city of Treviso itself is characterised by a medieval centre and a series of canals, while heading north you'll find the historic towns of Conegliano and Vittorio Veneto. The latter of the two has a small area known as Serravalle which is of particular interest.
The northernmost Province of Belluno is quite different to its southern neighbours, This is the domain of the eastern Dolomites, a region punctuated by beautiful lakes, snow-peaked mountains and ski resorts. Not to be missed are the glamorous Cortina d'Ampezzo, the lakeside town of Auronzo di Cadore or the nearby Pieve di Cadore, home to the Italian renaissance painter, Titian (Tiziano).
To the south west of Belluno lies the Province of Vicenza. The city itself is famous for its Palladian architecture which also spreads out into the surrounding towns with a series of villas designed by the same architect. Vicenza's mountain town of Asiago is a hive of activity all year round while further south, the town of Bassano del Grappa is one of Veneto's most memorable. A short drive from Bassano del Grappa lies Marostica, famous for its chessboard piazza which hosts an annual event where men and women in traditional costumes take the place of the pieces.
Verona is the westernmost province of Veneto; its city is a mixture of ancient, medieval and Renaissance architecture with highlights including the Verona Arena, Torre dei Lamberti and Castelvecchio Bridge (also known as Ponte Scaligero), a bridge that spans the River Adige running through the city. Verona is also the province of the eastern shores of Lake Garda with the towns of Peschiera del Garda and Malcesine two of the prettiest. Just south of Verona is a huge park called Parco Giardino Sigurtà where you can hire an electric bike, get lost in a maze or simply just enjoy the immaculate gardens.
The city of Padova is home to a number of treasures including the world's longest surviving botanical garden, the Orto Botanico di Padova which opened in 1545. It's also the location of the unique piazza; Prato della Valle, a huge, oval-shaped area with its own moat and dozens of statues surrounding it. Close to Padova is the Euganean Hills Regional Park where you'll also find a lovely village called Arquà Petrarca. I can also recommend a visit to the towns of Monselice, Cittadella and Montagnana.
The final province is Rovigo which can boast the Po Delta Regional Park within its environs. The park is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage list and is home to a unique biodiversity including sand dunes, wetlands and a wide variety of wildlife.
Major Cities of Veneto
San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice
There are seven major cities in this section, starting with Venice and ending with Rovigo with all the provincial capitals in between.
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Scenic Towns of Veneto
Portogruaro, Veneto
Portogruaro (pictured above) is famous for its leaning tower but there are many more interesting towns to discover in Veneto.
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Veneto's Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia
Borghetto, Veneto
Borghi Più Belli d'Italia translates as"Italy's Most Beautiful Villages". Find all of Veneto's entries including Borghetto here.
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Lakeside Towns of Veneto
Malcesine, Lake Garda
Veneto is home to Lake Garda and lots of other lakes with beautiful towns sitting next to them. I've listed the best in this section.
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Mountain Towns of Veneto
Asiago, Veneto
A large part of Veneto is covered by the Dolomites mountain range and there are some wonderful towns to visit here like Asiago.
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Lakes of Veneto
Lake Misurina, Veneto
Lake Garda is Italy's biggest lake but Veneto can boast a large number of others such as Lake Misurina or Lake Santa Croce.
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Veneto
Peschiera del Garda, Veneto
Veneto is listed by UNESCO in many areas; Peschiera del Garda's defensive walls are one example and you can see the others here.
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Seaside Towns of Veneto
Caorle, Veneto
Veneto's Adriatic Coast can boast two of the finest seaside towns in the country with Caorle and Chioggia, both full of charm.
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Orange Flag Towns of Veneto
Soave, Veneto
The Orange Flag (Bandiera Arancione in Italian) is a mark of excellence awarded to selected towns in Italy such as Soave.
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Parks of Veneto
Parco Giardino Sigurtà, Veneto
Veneto's main parks including the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park through to the smaller, but unmissable Parco Giardino Sigurtà,
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Landmarks of Veneto
Villa Pisani, Stra
The stately home of Villa Pisani with its maze is a great day out and you'll find some more alluring surprises in this section too.
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Ski Resorts of Veneto
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Veneto
Cortina d'Ampezzo is the most famous ski resort in Veneto and arguably in the whole of Italy. Find lots of useful info in this section.
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Venice Lagoon
Pellestrina, Venice Lagoon
The island of Pellestrina, located in the Venetian Lagoon is a festival of colour and there are lots of others to visit as well.
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