The most romantic region and land of opera and carnival
VENETO
The region includes the
eastern part of the Po Valley and, to the north, a part of the
Dolomites. The extensive plain, with the Po delta, is rich in waters.
It is a region which combines two different and unique aspects of the
Italian nature: the lagoon zone (Venice) and the majestic peaks of the
Dolomites of Cadore.The first settlements on the
Venetian lagoon and the surrounding areas maintained a simple social
organization until the arrival of the Romans in the second century B.C.
The new conquerors founded the cities of Verona, Vicenza, Padua, and named the one that would have became the 10th imperial region: Venetia. Both the Veneto region and the city of Venice have maintained their names from the original Latin names.
The region gained great wealth and prosperity thanks to the trade routes built near Venice and that connected Europe with Asia. In fact mulberry cultivation (around Treviso) and the breeding of silkworms imported from China brought great profits and more prestige to local residents. With money coming from every corner of the world, Venice began to erect its magnificent projects and buildings and the creation of the canal infrastructure and systems in the lagoon made Venice and Veneto one of the most rich areas of Europe.
Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th centuries following the opening of the Suez Canal, Venice once again became an important port city. Foreign investment financed the creation of the industrial infrastructure of Porto Marghera and freed the port of Venice from the burden of commercial navigation. Improved communications technology has allowed the rest of Italy and the world beyond closer ties to Venice, and has contributed to making Venice into an incomparable tourist destination.
The period of power and splendor that blessed Venice has not come to an end yet; the Suez Canal opened at the beginning of the 20th century saw Venice as a fundamental port city, the popular tourist destinations such as Merano and Burano (lands of the famed glassworks and needlepoint products) are still in fashion and Venice, the superb Venice with its bridges and gondolas will never lose the first position in the preference list of visitors that every year crowded the Venetian calles (streets) and squares.
The new conquerors founded the cities of Verona, Vicenza, Padua, and named the one that would have became the 10th imperial region: Venetia. Both the Veneto region and the city of Venice have maintained their names from the original Latin names.
The region gained great wealth and prosperity thanks to the trade routes built near Venice and that connected Europe with Asia. In fact mulberry cultivation (around Treviso) and the breeding of silkworms imported from China brought great profits and more prestige to local residents. With money coming from every corner of the world, Venice began to erect its magnificent projects and buildings and the creation of the canal infrastructure and systems in the lagoon made Venice and Veneto one of the most rich areas of Europe.
Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th centuries following the opening of the Suez Canal, Venice once again became an important port city. Foreign investment financed the creation of the industrial infrastructure of Porto Marghera and freed the port of Venice from the burden of commercial navigation. Improved communications technology has allowed the rest of Italy and the world beyond closer ties to Venice, and has contributed to making Venice into an incomparable tourist destination.
The period of power and splendor that blessed Venice has not come to an end yet; the Suez Canal opened at the beginning of the 20th century saw Venice as a fundamental port city, the popular tourist destinations such as Merano and Burano (lands of the famed glassworks and needlepoint products) are still in fashion and Venice, the superb Venice with its bridges and gondolas will never lose the first position in the preference list of visitors that every year crowded the Venetian calles (streets) and squares.
CITIES
The regional capital is Venice. The other cities are: Verona, Padua, Vicenza, Treviso, Rovigo and Belluno.
ART AND CULTURE
As most of the north of Italy Veneto
was one of the most rich areas of the Roman Empire and some of the
major constructions have endured as symbols of the same Empire. The
best example to give is the Arena of Verona that is the largest Roman
structure to have ever been built and it is still in use donating to
every opera lover endless emotions. The Byzantine influence is instead
visible in the area around Venice (the cathedral of Torcello and St.
Mark's basilica), while examples of Romanesque and Gothic art can be
found all around the region.
Furthermore Venice is considered the
cradle of classical music and opera and it inspired great masters such
as Bach, Wagner and Hande.
The city of Belluno is the bridge
between Venice and Verona and half way between the flat plains and the
Dolomite peaks which underline their power and beauty from the tower of
the city Duomo.
THINGS TO DO
From the most spectacular carnival in Venice with its channels and romantic gondolas, to the lyric and opera
lovers that every summerp opulate the Arena of Verona during the lyric
season; from the traditionalf easts carried out everywhere in the
region to the sports that can be practiced on the beautiful Dolomite
peaks Veneto is really to be considered the region for every taste.
Veneto is without of doubts the land
of music and festivals and the Arena with its amazing open-air
acoustics and great lighting makes of every concert and opera a
memorable occasion.
For what concerns sports in summer
Dolomites become an excellent base for bikers and walkers and every
year important associationsl ike the Italian affiliate of the World
Wide Fund (WWF) or the Italian Alpine Club (CAI - Club Alpino italiano)
arrange trekking or climbing excursions and walks and the Italian
Birds Protection League (LIPU) organizes bird-watching trips.
Dolomites are worldly famous thanks to
its ski resorts such as Cortina d'Ampezzo which hosted the Winter
Olympics in 1956. Several ski valleys are linked with each other in
this mountain paradise, offering breathtaking landscapes from many
different angles. Well-marked path and mountain climbing will donate
you an unforgettable experience.
If you are more likely to spend a day
shopping around the shopping area in Venice is the Via XXII Marzo and
the calles (the streets) around St mMrk's squares. The street market is
held on the Lido every Tuesday morning.
The most famous handmade souvenirs in
Venice are the carnival marks (made in leather, china, papier- mâché)
and the Murano glasses that are the most famous products of the
homonymous island. The Murano glasses are well known all around the
world both for the beauty of their shapes, colors and refinement but
also for their complex making process that make them unique.