Roaming with Red

Situated in the North of Italy, the Veneto Region is one of the most populous regions in Italy. Ranging from oceans to mountains to lakes, the Veneto region is a beautiful place to discover, whether you’re looking for architecture, nature or history. With Venice as its capital city and Verona as its most populous city, it certainly packs a punch as a region filled with famous locations!

Personally, I have a certain bias towards the Veneto region. My mum’s family originate from the Veneto and we still have a lot of family who live in the region. I’ve been lucky enough to visit multiple times during my life already and it definitely holds a special place in my heart. Below are 5 places that, from my perspective, are a must visit in this stunning part of the world. As a word of warning, these are not the only places to visit in the Veneto. The below list doesn’t include your key cities such as Verona and Padua – while these are definitely worth adding to you Italian itinerary, there are thousands of other blogs out there praising their beauty and providing detail on what to see. The below list was also not all completed in one trip. As mentioned above, I’ve visited the Veneto region many times in the past and have visited the below places during some trips and not others. This also means that the photos in this blog are mainly of Venice as this was the most recent place I visited in the Veneto. However, the below five cities all have their own merit if you’re looking for a tourist hot spot or somewhere slightly different.

Venice

No blog about the Veneto region is complete without a mention of Venezia, the floating city of wonder! There are a thousand and one blogs out there that provide you itineraries on what to see and where to eat in this stunning city so I won’t labour the point too much (there will be a separate blog on Venice alone in the future), but if you are visiting the Veneto region for the first time then your itinerary simply has to include a trip to Venice.

No matter how many times I visit this city, it continues to take my breath away with its beauty and uniqueness. There really is no other city in the world like it! Venice is a city that needs to be seen to be believed and it is one of the most magical cities to spend a day simply walking around. The little side alleys are enchanting, as you walk over bridge after bridge, with no trip to Venice ever being the same as you discover new areas to explore and find yourself running in circles in this maze of a city. Visit San Marco’s square, cross the Rialto Bridge or simply wander the streets, stopping for an espresso and cornetto (croissant) in the many small bars littered throughout the city. While the city can get extremely busy with tourists during the peak season, plan your trip around the shoulder months and you might just find space in the alleys and canals that you didn’t expect. My most recent visit was towards the end of November and, while still busy, at no point did it actually feel crowded with tourists. While a cliché, Venice genuinely is one of my favourite major cities in Italy and has so much to offer a first time visitor – journey into the past and experience first hand the wealth and power that this great city once held.  

Bassano del Grappa

Bassano del Grappa is not as well known as Venice but still holds all the beauty that this region has to offer. Easily accessible by train or bus from Venice, Bassano is well worth spending half a day if you can fit it into your itinerary. This hilly town has lots of beautiful cathedrals and buildings to discover, however its main attraction is the Ponte degli Alpini or the wooden covered bridge that connects the two halves of the city which are split by the Brenta River. Originally designed by Andrea Palladio in 1569, the bridge has been destroyed many times through the centuries, becoming particularly significant in World War II. This bridge is revered by the local partisan fighters, or Alpini in Italian, as the city and surrounding mountains were key battleground during both world wars – if you look close enough, you can even see bullet holes on the buildings which sit beside the bridge. Take a minute to appreciate the view from this vantage point, with the Alps framing the wide Brenta River. Talk a walk along the river’s edge or enjoy the Museo Civico which provides a look into the history of this stunning little town.

One other thing that Bassano del Grappa is famous for, as the name suggests, is an Italian spirit called Grappa. Made from radicchio, Grappa is extremely strong stuff that Italians sometimes drink post dinner or in their espresso (called a caffe` corretto). There are many shops selling Grappa in the city however Poli, one of the original distilleries, also has a museum dedicated to the spirit if you’re looking to learn more about this typical Italian spirit.

Marostica

Marostica is a little more tricky to get to, you’ll have to take a bus rather than train, but if you’re looking for somewhere different to visit this town is definitely worth considering. Originally influenced by the wealthy Ezzelini family, Marostica became part of the Venetian empire in the late 13^th century and is famous for two major things: the Upper Castle and the live chess game.

Marostica has two castles – il Castello Inferiore and il Castello Superiore. While the lower castle (il Castello Inferiore) is lovely to visit, it’s the upper castle (il Castello Superiore) that is the real beauty. Sitting at the top of the hill behind the centre city, the upper castle creates an imposing watch-house across the whole town of Marostica. If you’re ready for a hike, walk your way up the hill to the top of the upper castle. Not only is the castle itself impressive to see but the end result is a beautiful view over Marostica and beyond.

The other thing that Marostica is famous for is the live chess game that happens every two years, on the even year. As you enter the main piazza, you will see that much of the square is converted into a massive chess board. The legend goes as such: in the mid 1400’s, two noblemen fell in love with the same woman, Lionora, the daughter of the local lord at the time. As was customary, they challenged each other to a duel to decide who would marry Lionora. However, not wanting to make an enemy of either family, the Lord of Marostica instead declared that a chess game should take place, with the winner receiving the hand of Lionora in marriage and the looser instead marrying her sister, Oldrada. Every second year, the city re-enacts this encounter with a live chess game in the central piazza. While I’ve never been lucky enough to see it myself, I hear it is a great event to see and be a part of!

Cortina D’Ampezzo

This one is for all you mountain lovers and snow bunnies out there. Cortina d’Ampezzo sits in the heart of the Southern Alps and provides a beautiful opportunity to experience the natural beauty that the Veneto region has to offer. Visit in Summer and you will find numerous walking tracks and scenery trails to enjoy. Visit in Winter and you’ll find ski trails galore alongside cosy bars and restaurants to enjoy a post snow warming drink. Cortina is an extremely popular place among tourists and Italians alike for its beauty and so would recommend you book early if you’re thinking of staying here during peak period. If you’re just visiting for the day, hire a car and take a leisurely drive around Cortina and the surrounding towns. This is a beautiful part of the Alpine area and is a great way to see why these mountains are so famous.

Vicenza

Vicenza – the City of Palladio. A thriving metropolitan city, Vicenza is home to a host of beautiful renaissance buildings, museums and churches. During the Renaissance the city benefitted from the attention of well renowned Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio, who bought many new buildings and architectural wonders to the city. From stunning churches, such as the Basillica Palandiana or La Chiesa di Santa Corona, to historic landmarks, such as the Museo Civico or the Teatro Olimpico, and breathtaking architecture, such as La Rotanda, Vicenza is filled with things to do and see. If you’re lucky enough to visit during the Christmas months, enjoy the city in full splendour as Christmas lights take over the charming streets and the massive tree dominates the central piazza.

From the above it’s clearly no secret that I have a certain love for the Veneto region. There is so much beauty to be found here – from world famous cities like Venice to smaller, local secrets like Marositca, there is so much to discover in the Veneto. The above is, by no means, an exhaustive list of places to see in the Veneto region. The region is so big and vast that there are countless towns to visit and natural wonders to discover. However, I do hope this post has provided a bit of inspiration to venture slightly further into the Veneto region and not just to the major tourist attractions.