When you’ve slurped your way through Tuscany’s wine country and taken an album full of photos in Rome’s Colosseum, the lesser-known delights of Italy’s Veneto region are calling. This area in the northeast corner of Italy is a food and wine lover’s dream, offering exciting holiday opportunities for everyone. From the towering Dolomites and the glistening Lake Garda, to hiking and sipping wine in style, you can’t go wrong when you go to the Veneto.
Get romantic in Venice
Venice is undoubtedly the number one destination in the Veneto region and no visit would be complete without a look around one of Italy’s most romantic and most-visited cities. This stunning car-free city is built on the water, meaning a gondola ride is a must.
Wind your way through the canals, taking in Saint Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal and don’t forget to order a Prosecco at a cosy table in one of those picturesque squares. Art lovers will adore the chance to take in works by artists of the highest calibre. Titian, Tintoretto, Canaletto and Tiepolo are all waiting to wow you.
Lovely bubbly: Taste the Prosecco route
Italy’s famous sparkling Prosecco wine hails from picturesque vineyards in a beautiful valley close to Venice. The Prosecco grape that thrives in these rolling green hills grows in Valdobbiadene, past Treviso and Conegliano and into the pretty Vittorio Veneto. It’s easy to while away a few days driving along the “Strada del Vino”, stopping in B&Bs and tasting wines in quaint village cantinas.
Valdobbiadene is the capital of Prosecco country – the place where you’ll get your lips around some of the most amazing wine in the country. Start your trip through the vineyards at the historic Bar Alpino – ask our specialty travel team to help you build the perfect Prosecco-tasting itinerary.
Explore Asolo: “The Pearl of the province of Treviso”
Also known as “The City of a Hundred Horizons” thanks to its stunning mountain settings, Asolo is a splendid medieval stopover in your trip through the Veneto region. Breathtaking scenery greets you at every turn, as do olive groves and cypresses reaching up and touching the sky over the brooding Asolo hills.
As one of the prettiest and well-preserved hamlets in Italy, you can’t help but be impressed by the 360-degree view over the surrounding scenery, or with the hospitality at the local B&Bs and restaurants. Ask our special team of travel connoisseurs about the best things to do in Asolo.
Ski and hike in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Cortina is an excellent skiing destination, and in the summer it’s also a dream mountain-climbing destination for climbers of all levels. The town will lure you in with its alpine designs and 18th century charm, not to mention its abundance of gourmet restaurants and fashionable shops selling skiwear.
The pedestrian-only main street of Corso Italia leads you to the church, Santi Filippo e Giacomo, with its rising bell tower in front of even taller mountains. Outdoor activities abound here and cable car enthusiasts will love the ride from the top of Passo Falzarego, 25 km west of Cortina, into Lagazoul at 2550 m. Here’s where you can begin your hikes in the summer, where a network of different trails lead adventurers out into rocky and exciting terrain, complete with exhilarating views.
If you’re planning a holiday to the Veneto region and are overwhelmed by the options, talk to our Concierge Travel staff today and start your journey. Don’t forget to factor in some good eating time – try traditional dishes from the Veneto, such as oca in onto (goose in its own fat) or freshwater lagoon fish. Buenisimo!
