Venice

Venice is a city in northern Italy known both for tourism and for industry, and is the capital of the region Veneto, with a population of about 272,000 (census estimate 1 January 2004). Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area (population 1,600,000).

The name is derived from the ancient tribe of Veneti that inhabited the region in Roman times. The city historically was the capital of an independent city-state. Venice has been known as the "La Dominante", "Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". Luigi Barzini, writing in The New York Times, described it as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man". Venice has also been described by the Times Online as being one of Europe's most romantic cities.

The city stretches across 117 small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The saltwater lagoon stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po (south) and the Piave (north) Rivers. The population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole Comune of Venezia; around 60,000 in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico); 176,000 in Terraferma (the Mainland), mostly in the large frazioni of Mestre and Marghera; and 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon.

The Republic of Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusades and the Battle of Lepanto, as well as a very important center of commerce (especially silk, grain and spice trade) and art in the 13th century up to the end of the 17th century. This made Venice a wealthy city throughout most of its history. It is also known for its several important artistic movements, especially the Renaissance period. Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Vivaldi.

Venice arguably produced the most unique and refined Rococo designs. At the time, Venice was in a state of trouble. It had lost most of its maritime power, was lagging behind its rivals in political importance and society had become decadent, with nobles wasting their money in gambling and partying. But without a doubt, Venice remained Italy's fashion capital, and was a serious contender to Paris in terms of wealth, architecture, luxury, taste, sophistication, trade, decoration, style and design. Venetian Rococo was well-known for being rich and luxurious, with usually very extravagant designs. Unique Venetian furniture, such as the divani da portego, or long Rococo couches and pozzetti, objects meant to be placed against the wall. Venetian bedrooms were usually sumptuous and grand, with rich damask, velvet and silk drapery and curtains, a beautifully carved Rococo beds with statues of putti, flowers and angels. Venice was especially famous for its beautiful girandole mirrors, which remained amongst, if not the, finest in Europe. Chandeliers were usually very colourful, using Murano glass to make them look more vibrant and stand out from others, and precious stones and materials from abroad were used, since Venice still held a vast trade empire. Lacquer was very common, and many items of furniture were covered with it, the most famous being lacca povera (poor lacuqer), in which allegories and images of social life were painted. Lacquerwork and Chinoiserie were particularly common in bureau cabinets.

What to taste:

• The regional food is based on some common ingredients: rice, vegetables and especially polenta. Polenta, particularly a favourite dish for venetians, is prepared 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. 

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• There is a boat tour on the Brenta or between the islands of the Lagoon, a walk through the narrow lanes of Venice and the nearby small sea towns, or an excursion into the natural surroundings.
• You can go shopping in the typical crafts workshops and in elegant boutiques. The famous glass of Murano, the beautiful necklaces made with colourful pearls, the terracotta masks , the typical venetian desserts: these are some of the gifts you can get for yourself or for your family, as a souvenir of this unforgettable place.
• Sport activities such as volleyball, beach-volley, petanque, beach tennis, surfing, waterskiing, sailing and paraflying at the beach resorts in the area. You can aslo go deep into the nature, you can go to the WWF oasis of Valle Averto or to the Parco delle Giare to observe and take pictures of the characteristic fauna of these areas.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• The Grand Canal or Canal Grande winds through the heart of Venice. It's over 21/2 miles (3 km) long and full of vaporetti, barges, water taxis and gondolas. Bordering the canal are beautiful palazzi, mostly dating from the 14th to the 18th century. You can admire them by taking a gondola ride or more cheaply by taking vaporetto no 1 from front of Santa Lucia railway station. Three beautiful bridges span the canal (Scalzi, the Rialto and Accademia).
• Basilica di San Marco This is where the Byzantine meets the Western art. Basilica di San Marco is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and the most important church in Venice. It was built over several centuries, starting in 832. Inside, the basilica is covered in splendid Byzantine mosaics (only illuminated at certain times). There is an entrace fee for the treasury and for Pala d'Oro (the main altarpiece made of gold and precious stones) and to see the four ancient bronze horses kept in the Museo della Basilica (the ones on the balcony are copies). From the balcony one can get a nice view of the Piazza.
• Rialto Bridge until the 19th century this was the only bridge between the two sides of the Grand Canal. The bridge as we see it today was built in the 16th century when a competition took place to chose the design of the new bridge to replace an older structure. Michelangelo was among the contenders but the competition was won by Antonio da Ponte. This is one of the centers of activity in Venice and everywhere on the islands there are signs indicating the direction for the Rialto bridge. The bridge is a good place to watch the activity on the Grand Canal at any hour of the day.
• The Doge's Palace was built in the early 9th century as a fortress. It was afterwards rebuilt in the 12th century and modified again in the 14th and 15th century. Its facade as we can see it today is a Gothic masterpiece in pink and white marble. From its early days, the Doge's Palace served as the seat of the government, the Palace of Justice, the prison and the home of the doge. The doge was the elected ruler of the Republic, but its role was rather that of a figurehead. Inside the palace the halls are lavishly decorated with many of the paintings representing the eternal glory of La Serenissima. Many of the works are by Venice's most renowned artists like Veronese and Tintoretto.
• Islands of the Lagoon: MuranoLike Venice, Murano is made up of smaller islands connected by bridges. It is known all over the world for its glasswork. The glasswork manufacturing started in the 12th century and in the 15th and 16th centuries Murano was the main glass producer in Europe. This craft continues today and the main attraction of Murano is to watch the glass artisans at work. Many small factories line the Fondamenta dei Vetrai, the street that starts at the Colonna landing stage. We went there on a Saturday and found out that many factories are closed over the weekend. Still we managed to find one that was open and witnessed the glass blowing of a horse. All these factories have a showroom where they sell glass (no obligation to buy, of course). There is also a Glass Museum (Museo Vetraio) that one can visit. Murano can be reached by vaporetto.
• Islands of the Lagoon: LidoLido is a slender island located between the lagoon and the open sea. The only reason to visit this island is to go to the beach. It has no notable architecture but if you want to relax on the beach, after all that walking in Venice, then this is the place to do it. From Venice you can reach Lido by vaporetto.

Events:

• Carnevale di Venezia, an event full of art, music, amusement and ancient traditions. In the carnival period, Piazza San Marco becomes a huge stage where versatile artists and gorgeous masks entertain in many different ways the “spectators” of this crazy and wonderful show. In 2010 the subject will be “Sensation - 6 sensi per 6 sestieri” (6 senses for 6 districts).
• Venice and the wate, two worlds that complement each other perfectly. Indeed,its waters are the theatre of many events. There are 120 boat races every year in the Venetian Lagoon; the oldest is also the most famous, the Regata Storica that every time captivates and excites tourists and locals alike. A parade of boats typical of the 16th century makes its way along the Canal Grande; there is also a real race of “voga alla veneta”: a special technique where the rower has to stand, and use one oar to propel and guide the boat at the same time.
• For art and movie lovers there are two unmissable and prestigious events: the Biennale and the Venice Film Festival.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• If you are in Venice you cannot miss the bacari, typical venetian wine bars and taste exquisite cicheti (appetisers) with an ombra (glass) of wine.
• For those who love a bit of nightlife there are many opportunities: you can let yourself go in one of the various discos or spend the night at the Casino of Venice, testing your luck at the green baize tables
• (Add a restaurant review in the italian blog area of our website).

back to top

Belluno

Belluno is In the north area of Veneto, surrounded by the Dolomites . It is a famous tourist destination where art, history and culture establish a perfect link with the wonderful surrounding environment.

The lasdscape is breathtaking with many small towns, impressive mountains, beautiful valleys and quiet forests. The Dolomites are without a doubt the plus point of this land: an extraordinary monumental work declared Unesco heritage from 2009, created through the centuries by an inimitable artist, Mother Nature. This imposing mountain range with Marmolada, Monte Antelao, Monte Civetta and Tre Cime of Lavaredo offers the visitors the opportunity to admire outstanding landscapes, with big valleys close to impressive rocky mountainside, small and big lakes that in summer tinged with blue.

There are also torrents, rivers and falls with clean and roaring spates, thick woods that are a source of colour when the winter covers everything with the white snow showing a surrealistic landscape.

Everthing about Belluno is beautiful, The blue skys, the rising moon at night marries into a canvas of nature art. There are many ways to spend nature holidays, and also a lot of opportunities for those who want to explore the past and traditions of this land.

A tour in villas and castles, abbeys and monasteries, archaeological sites, museums, cities and old small towns: that is an alternative holiday for those who, besides nature, want to discover an interesting historical and artistic heritage of this area.

What to taste:

• The untouched nature is the wealth of this land. The vast green mass of land next to the Dolomites is the perfect habitat for the cattle breeding in the wild, and it is possible to obtain excellent raw materials to make exquisite  high-quality specialties.
• The main ingredients of the culinary art from Belluno are simplicity and uniqueness, together with delicious cheese, excellent meat and tasty cold cuts.
• And, obviously, there is the main ingredient of the Venetian art of cooking: polenta. It can be a single course or perfectly served with a slice of Casél dell’Agordino, Contrin, Nevegal or Casalingo d’Alpago, great local dairy products.
• Polenta can also be served with a slice of exquisite speck ham of Cadore or salami of the area of Belluno, both of them made with the meat coming from Alpin cattles.
• Another typical course that reflects the traditional local tastes is polenta served with game.
• For any other combination it is worthwhile exploring the area of Belluno and taste the original and exquisite recipes of the locals.Regarding the old specialties there is the kodinzon, a jam made with dried apples obtained by local cultivations. The apples are cooked to obtain a purée, then dried; the Pastin, flat meat balls made with sausage cooked in the pan or grilled.
• A good recipe is the Risotto Lamonese, with exquisite Lamon beans and the special flavoring of laurel.

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, climbing, snowboarding, bobsledding, ice-skating, curling, snowshoe racing, hiking, and also hang gliding and paragliding, for extreme sports lovers.
• All ages will have fun on a sledge pulled by dogs with a musher telling the tricks and guiding the visitors along routes that explore the wonderful nature of these places.
• For relaxing treatments, the Terme delle Dolomiti are ideal, against the wonderful natural scenery of Valgrande, bordering Austria. They are renowned for their special waters, rich in minerals and used for their curative properties and as beauty treatments.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• In this back to the past environment it is possible to admire buildings and architecture of different periods, such as Porta Rugo -with a typical medieval structure-; the old Piazza del Mercato where the Roman castrum was settled in ancient times; Piazza Duomo which hosts Palazzo dei Rettori, the Cathedral of Belluno and Palazzo dei Giuristi, site of the Civic Museum, with many interesting paintings. In the central area of the province there is the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi, characterized by a wild and charming nature, with rocky peaks, enchanting valleys and pure waterways.
• Feltre is castled on a hill of Val Belluna, it is a wonderful fortified city with a remarkable history that many old buildings like Torre del Castello di Alboino -which dominates the valley- can prove.
• In the north area there is the “jewel” of Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo, which lays on the valley with the same name. It is considered the best ski slopes of Italy, famous also for its worldliness and lively nightlife. Close to that area, there is the Valle del Boite, with remarkable resorts like Cibiana and San Vito di Cadore, totally equipped.
• The area of Cadore-Auronzo-Misurina, with the beautiful lakes of Santa Caterina and Misurina at the bottom of the imposing Tre Cime of Lavaredo, is the perfect challenge for alpinist lovers. Various landscapes with an element in common: the incomparable beauty of nature.

Events:

• Every District has a few are festive stalls with traditional menus, music and games. History, engines and nature, three passions join in the "Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti", a remarkable national event with the most beautiful old cars in the world challenging each other on the hairpin bends of Dolomite roads. It is a race full of charm, that captivates everyone.  
• In the summer the spectacular Palio di Feltre is held,, where the four districts of the city challenge each other in competitions like archery, tug-of-war and horse-races.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• (Add a restaurant review in the italian blog area of our website).

back to top

Padua

Padua, art, colours, tastes and traditions. This land is well worth a visit, with its various waterways, castles, villas, the charming fortified cities & wonderful natural landscapes. 

The south-eastern area is occupied by Colli Euganei, a wonderful jewel. There are green valleys and pretty hills with vineyards, even more beautiful with the colours of spring or with the warm atmosphere in autumn. Laying on a valley there is the biggest thermal area in Europe, internationally renowned for the healing properties of the waters, that have been flown in the subsurface to re-emerge in this area.

It is a land to be explored under every aspect -also the artistic one sailing in the Riviera Euganea, a romantic trip in the beautiful villas spread along the Canale Battaglia banks. Between Padua and Venice there is another elegant artistic route: the Brenta. A trip on the wherries is an unforgettable experience, a walk into the past, like when the lords and aristocrats of Venice used these old boats to reach their summer residences, simple buildings transformed into wonderful architectural works by brilliant artists like Palladio, Preti and Scamozzi.

Also a tour in the fortified cities is really suggestive, it represents the sign of the old medieval history lived in Padua and its lands. A history that you can find in the art of good wine as well. The origins of wine-growing are really old. Through the centuries the growing methods have improved and they have reached high levels of quality nowadays. That is an evidence of the love of this people for their land, love to be tasted in the excellent wines of the area of Padua.

What to taste:

• Rice is one of the main ingredients and is cooked with peas, red chicory, with asparagus or bruscandoli (hop sprouts). Regarding renowned courses, there are the bìgoli, fat spaghetti made with the bigolaro (pasta-making machine).
• Different versions of the classic dough are with black cuttlefish or whole meal flour.
• The main ingredient of Venetian food: polenta. The famous one is “fasoà”, made with lard. In the area of Colli Euganei the traditional courses are soups, risottos made with herbs and sprouts and stewed, roasted or fried nails. The musso (donkey meat) in ‘tecia’, fried or stewed frogs, and river crayfish.
• The most important course is, without a doubt, the “Corte Padovana” (game), with its famous Gallina Padovana (Paduan chicken), bred since ancient times and crossbreed of many races. The “Corte Padovana” can be prepared with goose, chicken, capon, guinea-fow, duck and turkey. The delicious and rich Paduan boiled meat seasoned with sauces and mustard is a delicacy prepared with the meat of these flying animals.
• In the area of Este and Montagnana, since pigs are really common, it is possible to taste appetizing cold cuts such as the prosciutto berico euganeo (ham) and the soppressa (sausage with a garlic taste).Regarding the typical cakes, there are the pazientina (with zabaglione cream), the fregolòtta or sbrisolona, the paduan fugassa -one of the oldest desserts- and the figassa, with dried figs macerated in grappa. Since the Paduans are really devoted to St Anthony, there are some typical pastries dedicated to the Saint: amarettoni, merletti, pan and dolce del Santo. So many delicious dishes should be definitely served with excellent wines, certificated by the consortium of Colli Euganei DOC, Merlara DOC, DOC wines of Bagnoli and Corti Benedettine.
• There are also excellent liquors, flavored with herbs and fruits of the area. Then there is the renowned Spritz, an alcoholic cocktail made with white dry sparkling wine and water, served as an aperitif.

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• Renowned for the waters are a real natural oasis where it is possible to relax and get spa treatments and practice many activities outdoors, in a pretty and cosy environment.
• For golf lovers there is plenty of golf fields, totally equipped, in outstanding natural environment, with plays of water and small lakes that interrupt the vast green fields. The walkways that penetrate the heart of the Regional Park are perfect to go trekking, to choose a guided hike, to go mountain biking, or to go nordic walking with the proper poles. 
• In Padua it is possible to book a balloon tour, in order to live a unique experience, admiring the wonders of this city from a different perspective.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• You can start from Piazza dei Signori where there is always a vibrant life, with jewels like San Clemente church and the Palazzo del Capitanio, with its imposing Tower decorated with the famous Clock, which marks hours and minutes, the month, the day, the phases of the moon and the astrological information. Not far, Piazza del Duomo with its majestic Cathedral, decorated with art works by Giandomenico Tiepolo, Giusto de’ Menabuoi and Jacopo Montagnana, and the annexed Baptistery dedicated to San Giovanni Battista. Next to the Cathedral is the Palazzo Vescovile, site of the Diocesan Museum since 2000.
• The Palazzo della Ragione, called “Salone”, towers the square, and it is considered the most important monument in Padua. It is a unique art work: a huge hanging room held up by 90 pillars. Another historical place of Padua is the famous Caffè Pedrocchi, built in the first years of the XIX century and ordered by Carlo Pedrocchi who assigned the architect Giuseppe Jappelli the restoration of some premises inherited by his father in order to realize “the most beautiful coffee bar on the earth”. Palazzo Bo is a place of history and culture, it is the site of the prestigious University of Padua where Galileo Galilei taught.

Events:

• A metropolis of great exhibitions Padova and its Province offer, once again to an art loving public, important exhibitions with works of art that arrive from all over the world. Let's discover together how rich is the cultural offer of our territory.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• For those who want to delight the palate -not just the body- there is the "Strada del vino dei Colli Euganei", a wine tasting itinerary that allows you to sample the excellent wines of these hills.
• (Add a restaurant review in the italian blog area of our website).

back to top

Rovigo

Rovigo, mostly occupied by Polesine and crossed by two remarkable rivers: Po and Adige. Following the flow of the water it is possible to start a characteristic and unusual trip across woods, old towns and the sound traditions of these people.  An exceptional land where a dense network of canals, drainage units, reclaimed lands and geometric plantations coexist with nature.

An unreal world where absolute silence is interrupted just by the cry of birds or by the calm noise of the Po river; a mysterious landscape, made of water and land, hard to identify when it is foggy. It is a precious evidence of how men with efforts, sweat and love succeeded on coexist with an explosive nature, without modifying its balance. 

The Po Delta is situated on the coasts of the Adriatic Sea; it is an unknown land to be explored, in order to discover any hidden corner of this pretty and charming landscape where woods, pine forests, oasis and cane fields coexist with history and art.

What to taste:

• The local recipes are created by simple and genuine ingredients. Examples of typical courses include rice in fish broth, risotto polesano with eel and the guinea fowl in tecia cooked in the stove or in the fireplace in a earthenware pot. Eel and freshwater fish are grilled or cooked in a saucepan, usually with a side of polenta, typical in this area.
• The comon area game is geese and ducks. There are tasty cold cuts, such as the renowned smoked bondiola Basso Polesine area and the bondiola of Adria, made with ground veal, pork rump and lard. 
• The typical dessert of Polesine is the torta polesana or miassa, with a recipe that dates back to the early 1800's.

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• The Po Delta is site of the Regional Natural Park which is characterized by unique landscapes that welcome the visitor in an unreal world: spits, arms of rivers, islets, cane fields and fish valleys, the perfect environment for many bird species.
• For beach lovers Rosolina a Mare, embraced in the lagoons of two rivers. It has a large, beautiful and sandy beach, that seems an island embraced in the Adriatic Sea and the rivers.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• The Medieval influence is seen by various towers that look over the city, like the tower in Pighin street and the two leaning tower: Donà one of the highest Italian medieval towers- and the truncated tower.
• There are many palaces of the Renaissance period: Palazzo Roverella, Palazzo Roncale di Michele Sanmicheli and Palazzo dell’Accademia dei Concordi, which hosts the Pinacoteca with the same name.
• There is the remarkable Cathedral dedicated to Santo Stefano Papa preserving many sculptures and paintings.

Events:

• Many feasts and festivals are celebrated throughout the Province of Rovigo, symbols of still vivid customs and traditions. Strawberries, wheat and polenta are just some of the "ingredients" that feature in these festivals, besides the traditional Christmas and Easter celebrations. Badia Polesine hosts the Sagra degli Aquiloni (Kites festival), an event dedicated to children, with prizes for the most beautiful kite and for the one that flies the highest.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• (Add a restaurant review in the italian blog area of our website).

back to top

Treviso

Rovigo, mostly occupied by Polesine and crossed by two remarkable rivers: Po and Adige. Following the flow of the water it is possible to start a characteristic and unusual trip across woods, old towns and the sound traditions of these people.  An exceptional land where a dense network of canals, drainage units, reclaimed lands and geometric plantations coexist with nature. An unreal world where absolute silence is Treviso, the city, the park and the Sile river

Treviso is a little place in Veneto, where art( of the 1300), country taverns and frescoed houses together with Ville Venete and modern architecture give a picturesque image.

This is the typical itinerary for those who want to discover a city full of history, works of art, excellent cuisine which offers typical dishes. The atmosphere along the bustling streets is joyful and there are also the most famous craftsman and you will find always asomeone who is willing to drink an "ombretta" and a "cicchetto" (classic aperitifs) with you! And then the river Sile with his affluents, le Ville Venete (along them) and the beautiful natural scenery of the Sile's park and even more.

What to taste:

• Common to the region is the renowned red radicchio salad that characterises many first courses dishes, and is a pleasant side for meat courses.
• White asparagus of Sile and the tasty mushrooms of Montello.
• Famous cheeses namely Montasio, Moesin, Bastardo del Grappa, Inbriago, Morlacco,
• Cold cuts, achieved through a skilled treatment of local meats: Lengual, special pork sausage made with pork corned tongue; soppressa, which can be eaten raw, or grilled; and ossocollo, to serve sliced as appetiser.
• The desserts include pinza, a cake with the rich aromas of old rustic tradition, Fregolotta, with almonds, butter and eggs or the exquisite Tiramisù. Strong flavours that can be complimented with a glass of Manzoni, Boschera, Torchiato, Malbech or Prosecco of Conegliano Valdobbiadene.
• Grappa and Bitter liqueur

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• You can find places for climbing or hike with an experienced Alpine guide, even if you are not skilled climber.
• Nordic walking, horse riding and mountain biking are other ideas for exploring the mountain, having fun and being healthy.
• The province of Treviso is the paradise of bicycle racing. There are many routes to choose from according to the desired distance and difficulty level.  

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• In the city centre the Cathedral, surrounded by strong walls, is a wonderful example of a complex stratification of architectonical styles, due to numerous restorations effectuated over the centuries. Borgo Cavour leads to the Luigi Bailo Civic Museum which has an archaeological collection, an interesting art-gallery with pieces by great Venetian artists, and a Collection of Modern Art.
• There are also many Renaissance buildings such as Villa Contarini degli Armeni; the Casa Longobarda (Asolo); Villa Rovero (San Zenone degli Ezzelini) and Villa di Maser, by Palladio, with the Tempietto.
• The Conegliano and Valdobbianese areas are home to flourishing vineyards of the renowned Prosecco. The landscape offered by this land is ideal for the Wine Routes, along which you can taste good wine while admiring the area's beautiful scenery. The Cathedral of Conegliano, with the Birth place of Giambattista Cima is well worth a visit.

Events:

• TRADITIONAL FIRES IN WINTER SOLSTICE The origins of panevin, the traditional bonfires in winter solstice, are very old certainly in Veneto - Italy; it, born as rite concerning Fire and Earth, was influenced by the Christian faith afterwards and thus it become a tool to light up the way of Three Wise Men who were got lost. The panevin celebrated day of winter solstice by fire at first, this event fell on the 25th of December according to Julian calendar and then it coincided later on the day of the birth of Jesus and it was put off after twelve days, at the Epiphany Eve after some centuries. This traditional bonfire in winter solstice is made by a heap of dry branches, brushwood, firewood and everything which is no more necessary and destined to be burnt; it is eight or ten metres high and it has a circular base with a diameter of three or four metres. A puppet, being similar to an old lady, is often placed on the top of panevin; this female figure is called "vecia" ("old lady") and she is guilty of all mishaps and calamities happened in just past year and thus she is burnt.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• (Add a restaurant review in the italian blog area of our website).

back to top

Verona

Verona is situated in the south western area of Veneto, close to the eastern bank of Lake Garda, renowned for the beauty of its landscape with green and pretty hills, small and big beaches.

Small towns with typical colored houses and magnificent villas, emblem of an old and refined prosperity. In the area of Verona there are many evidences with artistic and historic value: castles, towers, hermitages, monasteries, sanctuaries and old Romanic parishes. 

In the northern part Lessinia with its Regional Park and Monte Baldo indicate the passage from Po Valley to Alpine area: a charming landscape to go trekking and hiking in beech woods, prairies, olive groves, vineyards and orchards. It is a wonderful landscape, that is the reason why the Monte Baldo is also called Hortus Europae, garden of Italy and Europe. In the core of the province, the Valpolicella, land of history and tastes where, besides the numerous historical villas, the wine tradition is the distinctive element of the area. In this land exquisite worlds famous wines are produced, with special and unique Italian techniques.

In the south there is the area of Basso Veronese, a world of its own, with its slow rhythms, silent places, different colours, a distinct way of living that welcomes the visitor.

What to taste:

• Traditional food include boiled beef seasoned with a special sauce made with pepper, bread, marrow and Parmesan cheese (pearà); polenta pastissada; gnocchi; pasta with beans ; duck and guinea-fowl meat cooked with peverada (pepper) sauce. There are also many freshwater fish dishes thanks to the vicinity of the lake
• Other specialties of the area are olive oil, asparagus, chestnuts, truffles, cheese and tortellini of Valeggio sul Mincio, many of which are "celebrated" in festivals held every year throughout the province.  
• The desserts include the Pandoro that together with the Panettone is the typical Italian dessert over the Christmas period.

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• Windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, game fishing, diving, canoeing, waterskiing: many activities to have fun in the clean waters of the biggest Italian lake. Lake Garda also offers many dry land opportunities.
• You can climbe the rocky mountainsides of Lessinia, Mount Baldo or the cliffs that plunge down to the lake; hang-gliding or paragliding above these wonderful lands; and climbing glaciers.
• For the toddlers the Province of Verona hosts a wide variety of amusement parks, devoted to the pursuit of fun and excitement: Gardaland with its sensational attractions; Parco Cavour with its "Movieland Park" and "Caneva World" waterpark, Parco Giardino Sigurtà, a 600,000 sq. metre earthly paradise, one of the most astonishing gardens in the world.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Piazza Erbe is the best example: architecture from the Roman, Medieval and Renaissance periods is integrated parts relative to the period of the Della Scala family and buildings of the 19th century. Not far away, Piazza dei Signori, Verona's drawing room, is another example of perfect historical stratification, adorned by the monument dedicated to Dante Alighieri.
• In the Adige river area there are other remarkable buildings from the Roman and Della Scala family periods, which are probably the two periods that most influenced the history of this city: the fortress of Castelvecchio, now site of the Modern Art Museum, the Ponte Scaligero, outstanding example of medieval architecture, and the Arche Scaligere, superb tombs built for the lords of Verona
• On the northern banks of Lake Garda, there is the astonishing landscape of Mount Baldo, accessible by a modern and unique cableway, with a rotating car that makes it possible to admire 360 degrees of breathtaking scenery.

Events:

• Vinitaly -the most important event dedicated to wine production- unmissable for those who want to taste excellent wines like Soave, Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto. A trip along the Wine Routes, tasting the ancient flavours of the area's produce, in such a wonderful landscape as this, is an unforgettable experience.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• (Add a restaurant review in the italian blog area of our website).

back to top

Vicenza

Vicenza, an area where art, mountains, valleys, streams, food & wine offer natural landscapes and many opportunities to spend a pleasant holiday. 

In the north there is the Altopiano di Asiago with its 9 municipalities filled with meadows, colorful flowers, dark green and nature colours, softened when the white snow covers the entire panorama. At the bottom of the plateau lays the area of Bassanese, dominated by Monte Grappa, the perfect destination for those who love pretty hilly areas, places of remembrance, traditions and old trades.Going down, there are the wide valleys of Alto Vicentino, with remarkable natural, historical and artistic landscapes, as Vicenza -situated in the centre of the valley- witnesses.

The area of Basso Vicentino a strip of land in the very south of the province- is a mosaic of geometries covered by rows of vineyards, olive fruit trees, dominated by the impressive rocks of Berici Hills. The nature, art and history told in the elegant villas by Palladio, wonderful gardens, religious places, medieval castles, artisan workshops and historical evocations restore the customs of an ancient past.

A trip in this land will give you a source of renewal learning the culture, relax and an opportunity to taste exquisite food. In this area the main ingredient of the good local cuisine is love, the feeling that ties people to this land; the love deeply felt when it is time to taste a good local wine.

What to taste:

• The Altopiano di Asiago, is renowned for cheese such as Asiago PDO, Morlacco and Burlacco (produced only in summertime in the Grappa area).
• Strong and special tastes are offered by cold cuts like the Soppressa vicentina (a perfect combination of sweet and peppery), the Veneto Berico-Euganeo PDO and the Val Liona hams, the donkey meat salami that can be grilled, fried or eaten raw with polenta.
• Their is a variety of fruit and vegetables including white asparagus and the white radicchio of Bassano del Grappa, the potatoes of Rotzo, the cherries of Marostica, the mushrooms of Costozza and the black truffles of the Berici Hills. As for fish, the most famous is without doubt the baccalà alla vicentina (dried codfish), then there is the excellent brown trout, prized for its white meat and delicate taste, that can be cooked in tinfoil, grilled or boiled.
• Vicenza also produces many excellent wines. Theproduction of spirits is also wide and varied, the most famous being the grappa of Bassano and a wide variety of bitter liqueurs.  

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• Climbing, paragliding, and quad biking for the more adventurous, and mountain biking, trekking and orienteering for those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground: many different ways to have fun exploring the charming places, such as those offered by the Berici Hills, Monte Grappa and the Altopiano di Asiago.
• When the snow comes, there are even more opportunities for fun filled holidays in the midst of nature: skiing, snowboarding, sledge races and ice-skating.
•

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Outside the city Villa Almerico Capra known as "La Rotonda", is Palladio's undisputed masterpiece, the interior too is sumptuous, decorated with wonderful frescoes and stuccoes. Not far away, Villa Valmarana "ai Nani" (dwarfs), which takes its name from the 17 stone statues of dwarfs now placed on the walls surrounding the house.
• There are many places where it is possible to admire his wonderful works of art: the Palazzo Chiericati Gallery, the Church of St. Stefano, the Church of St. Vito, St. Modesto and St. Crescenzia of Noventa Vicentina and the famous Villa Cordellina Lombardi of Montecchio Maggiore. The Montagna Spaccata is a wonder of nature, a deep crevice hollowed out of the rock by torrents and geological mutations over the centuries.
• The Altopiano di Asiago and its municipalities offer a wonderful natural landscape, both in winter when snow covers everything, and in summer when nature reawakens in an explosion of colours.

Events:

• The Chocolate Fiest, Vicenza offers three days of excitement, with more than 50 booths to choose from to satisfy visitors with a sweet tooth. We are talking about CioccolandoVi, the kermis totally dedicated to chocolate, where the most famous chocolatiers offer up this delight in many different forms and recipes. The feasts that are celebrated every year in the municipalities of Vicenza are unmissable: there are festivals valorising wine, cherries, water, and even "corgnoi" (snails). There are also historical re-enactments, such as the famous Partita a Scacchi (chess game)with live characters, which takes place in the piazza in Marostica.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

• There are many food and wine routes to discover old flavours and exquisite local specialities, such as those dedicated to Baccalà alla Vicentina (dried codfish) or to Asiago cheese, made in Italy products that are internationally renowned for their excellence.

back to top