The Secrets of Veneto Italy

In a way Veneto is Italy in one region. Everything wonderful about Italy is packed into one easily visited corner.

Don't have time to see all of Italy? Don't worry just vist the Veneto and you'll get a pretty good taste of the best of Italy rolled into one small package.

Join me, Maria, in exploring this region...

Photo of Peschiera on Lake Garda - for more photos see our pictures of Venice Italy & Veneto page.



The foothills of the Alps (Dolomites)are where my family is from and this area is rich in wonderful villages, picturesque hill-towns and world renowned vineyards.

Most of my family live in a little place called Piovene Rocchette or in the nearby village of Santorso, neither are on any tourist route but both are pleasant towns to spend a morning.

Well let’s get on with our exploration. If you get lost at anytime click here to view our map page.

Click the name of the town or the highlighted link if you would like more detailed information.

Towns in Veneto Italy

Vicenza is marvelous though I am naturally a little biased. Vicenza is very pleasant place to base yourself while exploring the Veneto

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is well worth spending a few days in and around the town exploring the Palladian Villas for which it is globally famous.


Padua

Padua is a prosperous and elegant place. Home to one of the world's oldest universities it has a lot to offer the visitor including superb architecture and the Scrovegni Chapel famous for its Giotto frescoes.


Treviso

A pleasant enough town but sadly often overlooked, Ryanair has plenty of flights to Treviso (Venice Treviso Airport) but most of the passengers jump on the first bus to Venice.

My advice is to spend a day or two here if you have the time. Treviso is one of the friendliest towns in the Veneto with a great atmosphere.


Asolo

An hours drive from Venice you will find one of the Veneto's best kept secrets, the village of Asolo, the famous " city of a hundred horizons."

Asolo is rated as one of the loveliest towns in all of Italy and if you are visiting the Veneto make the time to visit.


Belluno

Belluno is a place that really must be visited. Most people have never even heard of it but perhaps it's better like that.

You won’t find many tourist in what is a gorgeous town in every way. Belluno is situated on the edge of the Dolomites and borders the spectacular 32,000 hectares of the Belluno National Park.

Bassano del Grappa

Great grappa, cheese and food are all to be enjoyed in this marvelous, nearly two thousand year old town.

The wooden bridge designed by Palladio in the 16th century over the Brenta River is the architectural highlight.

The good news is that you can combine the bridge and great grappa all at the same time as the main grappa brewery has a shop on the bridge – be warned though that this is potent stuff!

The Villages of Veneto Italy

Chioggia

A funny little town that likes to imagine it is some sort of mini Venice – it isn’t but I still like the place. The fish market is worth seeing and the town has some good seafood restaurants that are a lot cheaper than anything in the heart of Venice.

Chioggia has a decent beach but the beach is a bit too full of rows of deck chairs for my liking – read our Veneto and Venice Italy Beach Guide for some better beaches near Venice.


Asiago

Home to some wonderful cheese, Asiago is an attractive town. Probably better known as a winter ski town it is very pleasant in summer too. Some great hikes can be had in the lovely nearby countryside and Asiago is a very good place to try traditional Veneto country-style cooking.


Arsiero and Posina

Two little towns with important family connections for my wife as her father grew up here. You won’t find any great monuments, buildings or art galleries here, just genuine and one hundred percent authentic Italian mountain villages in breathtakingly magnificent settings.

The Veneto Spas

Veneto Italy is renowned for having some of the best spas in Europe. There is something for everyone and the range includes the world’s highest spa through to some of the most luxurious spa resorts to be found anywhere. Read our complete guide to the best of these spas.

Veneto Italy - Wines, Beaches & Mountains

Not a cheap outing at around 70 Euro per person it does make for an interesting trip. This is the best way to view the summer residences built by Venetian nobility dating from the 16th century.


Dolomites

The Dolomites had a huge role in shaping the history of Venice Italy and the Veneto.

These mountains are very different in character to the western Alps. There is so much to do here both summer and winter. The choice includes some of the towns and villages mentioned earlier through to world class ski resorts and superb national parks.

The Belluno National Park is my favourite but the Parco Dolimiti d'Ampezzo is spectacular too and is very popular with mountain bikers and Italian mountain climbers.


Veneto Italy Beaches

Veneto has some very good beaches. Although not quite Sardinia these beaches are as good as you are likely to find in the north of Italy.

I am kind of a specialist at beaches having spent hours lying on them, swimming in the sea off them and generally undertaking lots of similar painstaking research.

Maria is even better at this than me. If you clicked on the Sardinian link, many of the beaches are reviewed by her.

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