Veneto: what to see and what to do on holiday

Veneto is a region that offers all sorts of landscapes : from the maritime one, with the Venetian lagoon and the sandy coasts, to the hilly one of the Palladian villas up to the imposing mountains dominated by the majestic peaks of the Dolomites , a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009: Veneto is a of the regions richest in history, charm, nature and flavors in all of Italy.

In every place, from the city to the smallest villages, you can breathe a genuine air, made up of popular traditions and regional pride and each offers different itineraries to follow, from naturalistic to food and wine, from cultural to sporting.

For those who want to discover a unique territory for the first time or for those who have already visited the most famous places and are looking for new ideas, here is a small guide to choose what to see in Veneto .

What to see in Veneto: Venice

Venice is Venice : whether it's the first or the umpteenth time you visit it, Venice will always make you daydream. A unique city in the world, declared, together with its lagoon, a world heritage site by UNESCO .

A romantic city in which to be lulled into a gondola ride along the Grand Canal, passing under the arches of the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge. Piazza San Marco with the basilica, the bell tower and the Doge's Palace make up what Napoleon defined as the most elegant living room in Europe.

The monumental Basilica of San Marco then bears witness to oriental influences, especially Greek-Byzantine, perfectly integrated with the Italian artistic tradition. Venice is also the Italian city where the greatest density of works of art is concentrated. You can admire Tintoretto's masterpieces at the Scuola di San Rocco , rediscover the works of Picasso, Dalí and Miró at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection , dive into contemporary art at Punta della Dogana or explore the other numerous museums, galleries and the inevitable Biennale .

And so admire the fascinating noble palaces such as Palazzo Grassi and the aristocratic homes that recall the era of the Doges, go in search of hidden wonders such as the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo and marvel at the Palladio of the Church of the Redentore . You will really get to know Venice when you get lost among the streets and canals, dead-end streets and squares on the lagoon, where you can stop among taverns and bacari for a cicchetto and a spritz , among artisan shops and silent corners where the baroque of Vivaldi echoes. It will be difficult to return to reality.

What to see in Veneto: Vicenza

In Vicenza you can admire the beautiful Piazza dei Signori with the Palladian Basilica and the Loggia del Capitano; among the historic buildings in the center are Palazzo Chiericati, Palazzo Valmarana and Palazzo Babaran da Porto. The Olympic theater is one of the most spectacular monuments, with the Cathedral designed by Palladio.

In Vicenza and the surrounding area you can visit the famous villas designed by the Vicenza architect Andrea Palladio in the sixteenth century: among the best known are La Rotonda, Villa Godi, Villa Badoer, Villa Piovene, La Malcontenta (in the province of Venice). Great examples of neoclassical architecture perfectly integrated into the territory.

What to see in Veneto: Verona

Romeo and Juliet, protagonists of the most tragic love story of all time, which still attracts numerous travelers to the " city of love " to visit the House of Romeo and Juliet.

Second in beauty only to Venice, Verona is a city of art of great prestige, and its historic center has been registered as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Arriving from Corso Porta Palio, Castelvecchio welcomes you, once a Scaliger military fortress and today a museum of medieval, Renaissance and modern art.

Walking through the historic center you can admire the splendid noble palaces, a reminder of the ancient glories, and the imposing military palaces such as Palazzo Barbieri, now the seat of the municipality, and Palazzo della Gran Guardia . It is also worth visiting the numerous churches of Verona, starting from the Duomo, which houses an altarpiece by Titian, the Gothic basilica of Sant'Anastasia and the basilica of San Zeno , a Romanesque masterpiece, inside which you can admire Mantegna's triptych . Also noteworthy is the ancient Capitular Library.

But the majestic Arena of Verona , famous throughout the world, is the jewel not to be missed. The wonderful Roman amphitheater hosts the opera season every year as well as numerous other concerts and shows that you should attend at least once in your life.

What to see in Veneto: Padua

A sumptuous city with a brilliant cultural past, Padua offers historical and artistic places of global importance such as the Porte Contarine, the Scrovegni Chapel , Giotto's masterpiece; the Tomb of Antenor, Prato della Valle , the famous historic café Pedrocchi, the Basilica of Sant'Antonio .

Furthermore, here is the oldest botanical garden in the world: built in 1545 for the cultivation of plants and herbs useful in the medical field by the University of Padua , today it has over six thousand plants kept in the circular walls of the structure.

Padua is also the city of science which has its fulcrum in the ancient university building of Palazzo del Bo , which preserves intact the oldest stable anatomical theater in the world, the ancient medicine classroom and Galileo Galilei's chair. A university attended by illustrious professors such as Nicolò Copernicus and excellent students such as the first woman graduate in the world, Elena Cornaro Piscopia .

What to see in Veneto: Bassano del Grappa

Overlooking the Brenta, there are the most beautiful, aligned, colorful and flowery houses on the river: Bassano del Grappa has an enchanting historic center with the very famous Ponte Vecchio built by Palladio and blown up by the partisans during the Second World War to defend the city ​​and its inhabitants. In 1947 it was rebuilt with the same Palladian project and since then it has also been called Ponte degli Alpini .

What to see in Veneto: the Euganean Hills

For a relaxing holiday in total harmony with nature, head towards the many hills of Veneto . Among the best known are the Euganean Hills, located near Padua.

If you want to discover the ancient winemaking tradition, take the Euganean Hills Wine Route which will take you around the cellars where 11 types of DOC wine are produced. Staying in the Euganean Hills also means relaxing in the nature of the regional park and enjoying the age-old culture of the spa.

In this area it is also worth visiting the Roman thermal complex of Montegrotto ; the seventeenth-century Villa Barbarigo in Valsanzibio; the Battaglia River Navigation Museum; the medieval village Arquà Petrarca where the famous poet spent the last years of his life; the oriental fortress of Catajo; the Geopaleontological Museum of Cava Bomba in Cinto Euganeo ; the 11th century Praglia Abbey, where the monks restore ancient codes and dedicate themselves to herbal medicine; the Rocca of Monselice ; the Valbona castle of Lozzo Atestino ; the castle of Este and the walls of Montagnana . Finally, the Euganean Hills are dotted with villages, villas and parish churches to explore on a holiday dedicated to relaxation, well-being and nature.