Veneto: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Veneto brings together major cities, exceptional cultural landscapes and protected natural areas within a compact regional space. In Padua, there is a garden whose history dates back to the Renaissance, while Venice with its lagoon, Verona with its Roman and medieval heritage, and the Belluno Dolomites with their extensive network of trails showcase the region’s different facets.

Culture

The Botanical Garden of Padua is an especially vivid place to explore the history of science and gardens. It was established in 1545 and is the oldest surviving university botanical garden of its kind. Its original circular layout has been preserved to this day: at the centre is a flower bed surrounded by a moat. The garden presents a total of 3,500 plant species from around the world. It can be visited with a guided tour or independently using an audio guide, which is included in the admission price. In spring, the festival Risvegli, dedicated to science and nature, complements the Botanical Garden’s programme.

Palladio’s architecture also shapes Veneto’s cultural identity. His works in the city of Vicenza and in Veneto are inspired by classical architecture and characterised by exceptional formal clarity. They had a lasting influence on architecture and urban planning in Europe and around the world. In the Riviera del Brenta, this cultural landscape can also be explored on a trip along the river.

With St Mark’s Square, the basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto district and the Grand Canal, Venice offers major cultural attractions. Venice and its lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city lies on an archipelago of 118 islands crossed by 150 canals and connected by more than 400 bridges; gondolas are a defining means of transport. Each island has its own traditions: Burano is known for its colourful houses and lace-making, while Murano is famous for its artistic glassmaking.

A collection of 200,000 natural history and anthropological objects, assembled over the centuries, is housed in the museum in Palazzo Cavalli. Alongside the city’s architecture and handicrafts, this provides an extensive collection on the history of nature and humanity.

History

Verona preserves Roman city gates and Renaissance bastions as evidence of its history as a fortified city. The historic city also preserves elements of its 2,000-year history from the Roman era, the Romanesque period, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, which survived into the 19th century. The Arena amphitheatre in Verona was built by the Romans around the middle of the 1st century AD.

The Roman past is also present in the Roman Theatre and the Archaeological Museum. Roman monuments, inscriptions, mosaics, sculptures and columns from the Arena are displayed there. In summer, the Roman Theatre hosts the traditional Shakespeare Festival Estate Teatrale Veronese. The Verona Arena continues to host performances and the world-famous Verona Opera Festival.

Nature

In the Belluno Dolomites National Park, an extensive network of trails opens up the mountain landscape. The Dolomite High Routes No. 1 and No. 2 run through the national park, along with a network of more than 200 kilometres of CAI hiking trails. The trail network comprises 52 CAI hiking trails and five via ferratas. The nature trails provide insights into the local flora, vegetation, fauna and geology. The themed trails focus on history, archaeology, traditional human activities and geomorphology.

At the other end of the landscape spectrum lies the Po Delta Park. Since 2015, the Po Delta has been recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve under the MAB Programme. Cycling excursions are possible along the embankments beside the six branches of the Po estuary. The park also offers opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography from concealed observation points in the Cà Mello and Cà Pisani oases. Boat and canoe excursions are also among the activities available there.

Food and Drink

On the Asiago Plateau and in the Seven Communities, there are gastronomic stops offering mountain pasture cheese, honey and mountain spirits. In the Prosecco Hills near Treviso, visitors can enjoy wine tastings, walks through the vineyards and panoramic routes. In this way, regional produce and landscapes are presented in the specific settings with which they are associated: mountain pasture cuisine on the plateau and winegrowing in the hills near Treviso.

Other regional destinations in Veneto: Lake Garda, Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice, Verona, Vicenza.

For the overarching travel overview: Italy.