A Guide to Veneto’s Underexplored Wonders: From Hills to Historic Towns

There are many beautiful places in the Veneto, but the region’s history may not do it credit. The Veneto has a lot of different landscapes, works of art, and great food traditions that few other places in Italy can match. Every year, thousands of tourists come from all over the world to visit the city of the doges. They don’t know that by the time they get back, they’ll have missed at least 90% of the Veneto’s other wonders.

Verona: The City of Love and Art

For example, Verona is a place that is worth visiting because it has so many beautiful works of art. The Adige River flows through Verona, which is known as the “city of lovers.” It is at the base of the Lessini Mountains and surrounded by hills that grow great wines from Valpolicella, like Recioto, Amarone, and many others. Many tourists and couples of all ages go to the balcony, which is thought to be that of Juliet Capulet, the young woman Romeo loved, to feel what it was like to be there when Shakespeare wrote that sad love story. Also, don’t forget about the Arena, which is a different kind of amphitheater than the Colosseum in Rome and hosts music, theater, and opera events in the summer.

Vicenza: Palladio’s Architectural Marvels

The hills, the Berici mountains, make a beautiful background for the ancient city center. This is why Vicenza is officially known as the city of Palladio. If you’re nearby, you should stop in Marostica to see the famous chess area and Bassano del Grappa, which is crossed by the Brenta River and has a beautiful bridge. The Asiago altopiano, which is also called the plateau of the seven towns, and the Schio area, which is near the Terme di Recoaro, are two places that you should know about in the pre-Alps. They have a view of the province of Vicenza.

The Charm of the Euganean Hills: Nature and History

It stays flat in the provinces of Rovigo, Padua, and Venice. Along with Padua, the Euganean Hills are part of the city’s area. These are a group of extinct volcanoes that erupted in the middle of a plain that was once the sea. Some places in Italy, like Monselice, Arquà Petrarca, and Montegrotto, have a past with the Euganeans and the warm water that still comes up from the ground in the Euganean Baths. Montagnana, which is close by, is famous for its walls and well-kept medieval plan.

Padua: A Blend of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Vitality

The historic center of Padua is very important. It has beautiful buildings, important frescoes like those by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel, and nice views along the Bacchiglione.

The so-called Riviera del Brenta starts in Padua, more specifically in Stra. It is a path along a canal that can be navigated and leads to the Venice Lagoon via the towns of Fiesso, Dolo, and Mira. Along the road that goes next to the canal, you can see beautiful views of important patrician villas like Villa Pisani, Villa Foscarini Rossi, and Palladio’s Villa di Widmann-Foscari.

Rovigo

Rovigo is not in a very interesting place for art and architecture, but it does have the Po Delta, which is a very important part of the area. Watching birds, riding bikes or horses, and doing water sports like swimming and rowing are all great things to do along the coast and in the delta. Albarella Island is a well-known spot that is close to Chioggia and Sottomarina. From these places, you can enjoy the canal without all the people that live in Venice.

Treviso: Waterways and Cultural Riches

The clear water in Treviso’s rivers and the Sile River will take your breath away. The resurgence phenomenon cleans the river and canal water by coming from the mountains and past the foothill gravels. This makes the water clear and crystal clear. There are also fun culture events in the city, like shows and art shows. Don’t miss the area around the Duomo and the Baptistery in the historic center.

Even though Murano and Burano are in the province of Venice and not Treviso, they are very close to some very beautiful places. These include Caorle and Bibione, Lido di Jesolo with its beaches and pine woods, and the beautiful lagoon islands of Murano and Burano.

Conegliano, Vittorio Veneto, and Montebelluna

To the mountains, cities like Conegliano, Vittorio Veneto, and Montebelluna are close to Treviso. Then there is the area around the Piave River, which includes the Montello hills, the Asolo area, and wine-growing regions like Valdobbiadene, which is where Prosecco comes from and is the wine that most bars in Veneto serve.

The history of Prosecco starts in Feltre, which is in the province of Belluno. This is about a bet, or a real task, for people who have to stop at every bar on the road that goes up from the station to the center for the traditional aperitif. Because there are so many of these places, you’re almost certain to get a hangover!

The Dolomites: Veneto’s Majestic Peaks and Hidden Valleys

Belluno The last flat area in Veneto is the Belluno plain. From here, to the north, the big mountains start to take over, and in Veneto, the Marmolada, at 3,342 meters, is the tallest. It’s clear that Cortina d’Ampezzo is the mountain queen, but Cadore’s green valley at the base of the Tofane and Cristallo groups makes it a great spot for a nature- and relaxation-focused vacation.

The road from Pieve di Cadore to Auronzo is very beautiful. It goes up through a valley that gets narrower and narrower until it reaches Misurina. There, the lake meets you with reflections of the mountains and the Tre cime di Lavaredo in the background.

Alleghe

Another definitely interesting place to visit is the Alleghe area, which may be less busy but just as interesting. With its truly impressive north face, the Civetta massif rules the scenery. But the road offers a series of views and panoramas all the way to Arabba, where the sharp turns that lead to Pordoi start at the base of the Sella group.

Agordino

If you go south instead, you’ll reach the Agordino, a place of quiet, solitary mountains that isn’t on any of the main tourist routes. There are walks there that let you enjoy the natural beauty of these valleys without any people or cars around. But away from the crowds at the big passes, in the quiet of the huts and mountain fields, you can really feel the Alpine air of long walks through forgotten forests and lone peaks.