Veneto has been the site of artistic and economic exchanges between Western, Eastern and Central European cultures for centuries; today in Veneto we can find very important paintings and sculptures , which mix Byzantine, European and Muslim influences.
CLICK AND DISCOVER VENEZIA
The heart of Padua is made up of a mixture of buildings, erected around the "Palazzo della Ragione" and "Piazza delle Erbe e della Frutta": in "Piazza dei Signori" we find the "Loggia della Gran Guardia" (fifteenth century) and the "Palazzo del Capitanio", while near the "Palazzo della Ragione" we find the "Bo", seat of the University since 1493.
Visit the Chapel of Scrovegni, one of the most famous Italian monuments, which holds the most important collection of Giotto's frescoes, preserved perfectly, painted between 1305 and 1306, the Church of "Eremitani", which holds Andrea Mantegna's frescoes, the Picture Gallery, that preserves an incredible artistic heritage.
In Verona we suggest visiting the basilica of St. Zeno, the Church of St. Procolo, the monastery of St. Bernardine, rich in works of art, the Holy Trinity Church, the Cathedral, St. Mary Matricolare, St. John in Fonte, St. Helen Churches, the basilica of St. Anastasia and the Holy Apostles and St. Laurence Churches.
The most important seaside-resorts are the Lido of Venice, which, with its wide range of facilities, offer every kind of sport , Bibione , Caorle, Iesolo, Rosolina Mare and Albarella, with ten sports schools.
Cortina d'Ampezzo is surely among the most exclusive skiing resorts in Italy: situated in the incredible scenery of the Dolomites, it is also famous for its refined restaurants; it offers, besides the ski tourism and cross-country skiing, an Olympian ice palace, swimming-pools, tennis fields and horsemanship's. In summer, the town becomes a meeting-place for hiking lovers.
Other important skiing resorts are Vito di Cadore, Sappada, Selva di Cadore, Falcade, Arabba Marmolada, Malga Ciapela, Auronzo and Misurina. The district of the Euganean Spas is one of the biggest European spas and include Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme and Battaglia Terme, specialized in the treatments of rheumatism and arthritis. Garda Lake is one of the biggest Italian lakes and to the north it borders on Trentino, to the west on Lombardy and to the south and east on Veneto: the weather is mild and it favours the presence of luxuriant plants. The lake is a real meeting point for tourism, sports, sailing and pleasure lovers. The most visited resorts of Garda Lake are Bardolino , which gave its name to the famous red wine, Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Garda, Torri del Benaco, Brenzone and Malcesine.
LOCAL CULINARY SPECIALITIES:
First course: rice dishes are very popular, such as "risi and bisi" (with peas), rice "in cavroman", "risotto polesano", with eel, and rice with the red chicory of Treviso; potatoes, beans and barley soups, "bigoli".
Second course and coldcuts: stuffed goose, paduan style chicken, pomegranate turkey, liver cooked "alla veneziana"; brodetto, dried salted cod, and "granseola"; ham, the brawn of Vicenza, smoked "bondola"; among the cheeses, "asiago, monte veronese, montasio, taleggio and grana padano".
Desserts: the pandoro of Verona, "zaleti padovani, pinza trevigiana, bussolà vicentino", the venetian specialities, such as the famous "tiramisù, i baicoli, le borracciate" and pancakes.
Wines: Bardolino, Bianco di Custoza, Soave, Valpolicella, Verduzzo, Tocai, Recioto di Soave, Colli Euganei, Gambellara and Conegliano-Valdobbiadene.
