Veneto
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| Veneto | |||
| Flag | Coat of arms | ||
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| Location | |||
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| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | ||
| Administration | |||
| Country | Italy | ||
| NUTS Region | ITD | ||
| Capital | Venice | ||
| President | Giancarlo Galan (PdL) | ||
| Basic statistics | |||
| Area | 18,391 km² (7,101 sq mi) (Ranked 8th, 6.0 %) |
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| Population | 4,845,832 (12/2007) (Ranked 5th, 8.1 %) |
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| - Density | 263 /km² (682 /sq mi) | ||
| Other information | |||
| GDP/ Nominal | € 139 billion (2006) | ||
| Website | www.regione.veneto.it | ||
Veneto or Venetia (Vèneto), is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 4.8 million, and its capital is Venice. Once the cradle of the renowned Venetian Republic, then a land of mass emigration, Veneto is today among the wealthiest and most industrialized regions of Italy. It is also the most visited region of Italy, with about 60 million tourists every year (2007).[1] Besides Italian most people speak Venetian.
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[edit] Geography
[edit] Geomorphology
With 18.378 Km² Veneto is the eighth largest region of Italy.
Veneto is located in the north-eastern part of Italy and borders on Friuli Venezia Giulia to the East, on Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Lombardy to the West, on Emilia-Romagna to the South. At its northernmost corner it borders on Austria.
The northernmost spot of the region is the “Cima Vanscùro” at the Austrian border, the southernmost place is the “Punta di Goro”, at the Delta of the Po River.
Veneto can be divided into the following areas:
- the Alps and the Dolomites;
- the Venetian Prealps;
- an extensive hilly landscape (Colli Euganei, Colli Berici, Colli Asolani and area of the Montello);
- a large plain, the Po Valley, crossed by the rivers Po, Adige, Brenta and Piave;
- the eastern coast of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest one;
- the coast of the Adriatic Sea with its lagoons.
[edit] Climate
The climate changes significantly between one area and another. Continental on the plains, the climate is milder along the Adriatic coast, around Lake Garda and in the hilly areas. The lowlands are often covered by thick fog. Precipitations are scarce (750 mm. /year) next to river Po River, more abundant (750-1,100 mm./year) at higher altitudes; the highest values (up to 3,200 mm./year) are recorded in the Bellunese Prealps, near Pasubio and on the Asiago plateau.
[edit] Subdivisions
Veneto counts 7 provinces and 581 municipalities.
[edit] Provinces
Veneto is divided into seven provinces. The province of Padua is the one with the largest population, the province of Belluno has the largest extension.
| Province | Inhabitants of the capital | Area (km²) | Inhabitants of the province | Density (inh./km²) | Number of municipalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Province of Belluno | 36.147 | 3.678 | 213.059 | 57,9 | 69 |
| Province of Padua | 209.696 | 2.141 | 905.112 | 422,8 | 104 |
| Province of Rovigo | 51.378 | 1.789 | 245.598 | 137,3 | 50 |
| Province of Treviso | 81.665 | 2.477 | 865.194 | 349,3 | 95 |
| Province of Venice | 268.741 | 2.463 | 841.609 | 341,7 | 44 |
| Province of Verona | 262.403 | 3.121 | 889.862 | 285,1 | 98 |
| Province of Vicenza | 113.969 | 2.722 | 848.642 | 311,8 | 121 |
[edit] The largest municipalities
| Pos. | Municipality | Inhabitants (inh.) |
Area (km²) |
Density (inh./km²) |
Elevation above sea level (m) |
Province |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1° | Venice | 268.741 | 412,54 | 651,4 | 1 | VE |
| 2° | Verona | 262.403 | 206,63 | 1.269,9 | 59 | VR |
| 3° | Padua | 209.696 | 92,85 | 2.258,4 | 12 | PD |
| 4° | Vicenza | 113.969 | 80,54 | 1.415,1 | 39 | VI |
| 5° | Treviso | 81.665 | 55,50 | 1.741,4 | 15 | TV |
| 6° | Rovigo | 51.378 | 108,55 | 473,3 | 6 | RO |
| 7° | Chioggia | 50.880 | 185,20 | 274,7 | 2 | VE |
| 8° | Bassano del Grappa | 42.237 | 46,79 | 902,7 | 129 | VI |
| 9° | San Donà di Piave | 39.774 | 78,73 | 505,2 | 3 | VE |
| 10° | Schio | 38.779 | 67,04 | 578,4 | 200 | VI |
[edit] History
[edit] The Venetic Period
Between the 2nd and 1st millennium B.C., the region was inhabited by the Euganei. According to ancient historians, the Veneti (sometimes called the Paleoveneti [5]), came from Paphlagonia in Asia Minor at the time of the Fall of Troy, led by prince Antenor, a comrade of Aeneas. In the 7th-6th centuries B.C. the local populations of Veneto entered into contact with the Etruscans and the Greeks. Venetic culture reached a highpoint during the 4th century B.C. These ancient Veneti spoke Venetic, an Indo-European language akin to, but distinct from Latin and the other Italic languages. Meanwhile, the Veneti prospered through their trade in amber and were well-known for their breeding of horses. Este, Padua, Oderzo, Adria, Vicenza, Verona, and Altino became centers of Venetic culture. However, over time, the Veneti began to adopt the dress and certain other customs of their Celtic neighbors.
[edit] The Roman Period
During the third century B.C., the Veneti, together with the Cenomani Celts on their western border, sided with the Romans as Rome expanded and struggled against the Insubri and Boii Celts. During the Second Punic War (218 B.C. – 202 B.C.), the Veneti even sent a contingent of soldiers to fight alongside the Romans against Hannibal and the invading Carthaginians and Veneti were among those slaughtered at the Battle of Cannae (216 B.C.). In 181 B.C., a Roman triumvirate of Publius Scipio Nasica, Caius Flaminius, and Lucius Manlius Acidinus led three thousand families, mainly from Samnium but supplemented by native Veneti, to found a Latin colony at Aquileia as a base to protect the territory of the Veneti from incursions of the hostile Carni and Istri. From then on, Roman influence over the area increased. Thus, in 169 B.C. more colonizing families were sent from Rome to Aquileia. In 148 B.C. the Via Postumia was completed connecting Aquileia to Genua. In 131 B.C., the Via Annia joined Adria to Patavium to Altinum to Concordia to Aquileia. Gradually, the Roman Republic transformed its alliance with the Veneti into a relationship of dominance. After the 91 B.C. Italic rebellion, the cities of the Veneti, together with the rest of Transpadania, were granted partial rights of Roman citizenship according to the Lex Pompeia Transpadanis. Later in 49 B.C., by the Lex Rubria de Gallia Rome granted full Roman citizenship to the Veneti. The Via Claudia was completed in 46 B.C. and connected Altinum, Tarvisium, Feltria and Tridentum (modern Trent). From Tridentum it continued northwards to Pons Drusus and southwards to Verona and Mutina (modern Modena). After the Battle of Philippi (42 B.C.), which ended the Roman Civil War, the lands of the Veneti, together with the rest of Cisalpine Gaul, ceased to be a province and the territory of the Veneti, which included modern Friuli, became region X (Venetia et Istria) of a new entity named Italia (Italy). Aquileia became its capital. Meanwhile, under the Pax Romana, Patavium (modern Padua) became one of the most important cities of northern Italy. Other Venetic cities such as Opitergium (modern Oderzo), Tarvisium (modern Treviso), Feltria (modern Feltre), Vicetia (modern Vicenza), Ateste (modern Este), and Altinum (modern Altino) adopted the Latin language and the culture of Rome. Thus, by the end of the first century A.D., Latin had finally displaced the original Venetic language.
[edit] The Middle Ages
In 166 A.D. the Quadi and Marcomanni invaded Venetia. It was the first invasion of the barbarians. In the fifth century, both Alaric the Goth and then Attila and the Huns devastated the area. Attila laid siege to Aquileia and turned it into a ruin in 452 A.D. Many of the mainland inhabitants sought protection in the nearby lagoons which would become Grado in the east and Venice more to the west. On the heels of the Huns came the Ostrogoths who not only invaded, but also settled down in the region. During the mid-sixth century, Justinian reconquered Venetia for the Eastern Roman Empire. An Exarch was established at Ravenna while a military tribune was set up in Oderzo. Byzantine rule would not last long. Starting in 568 A.D, the Lombards crossed the Julian Alps. These invaders subdivided the territory of Venetia into numerous feuds ruled by Germanic dukes and counts (essentially creating the division of Veneto from Friuli). The invasion provoked another wave of migration from the mainland to the Byzantine controlled coast and islands. In 667, A.D. the Lombards conquered the Byzantine base at Oderzo and took possession of practically all of Veneto (and Friuli) except of Venice and Grado. The 36 Lombard duchies included Ceneda, Treviso, Verona, and Vicenza. A reminder of Lombard rule can be seen in the place names beginning with the word Farra. By the middle of the eight century, the Franks had assumed political control of the region and the mainland of Veneto became part of the Carolingian Empire. Though politically dominant these Germanic invaders were gradually absorbed into the Venetian population over the centuries. In the late ninth century, Berengar, Margrave of the March of Friuli was elected king of Italy. Under his tumultuous reign, the March of Friuli was absorbed into the March of Verona so that Verona's territory contained a large portion of Roman Venetia.
In the tenth century, the mainland of Veneto, after suffering invasions from the Magyars and the Slavs, was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire. Gradually, the communes of the mainland grew in power and wealth. In 1167 an alliance (called the Lombard League) was formed among the Venetian cities such as Venice, Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, and Verona with other cities of Northern Italy to assert their rights against the Holy Roman Emperor. The Second Treaty of Constance in 1183 confirmed the Peace of Venice of 1177 in which the cities agreed to remain part of the Empire as long as their jurisdiction over their own territories was not infringed upon. The league was dissolved at the death of Emperor Frederick II in 1250. This period also witnessed the founding of the second oldest university in Italy, the University of Padua founded in 1222. Around this time, Padua also served as home to St. Anthony, the beloved saint called simply "il Santo" ("the Saint") by the inhabitants of the town.
[edit] The Serenissima: The Republic of Venice
As the barbarians were interested in the wealth of the mainland, part of the Venetian population sought refuge on some of the isolated and unoccupied islands in the lagoon, from which the city of Venetiae or Venice was born. After a period of Byzantine domination in 8th century, Venice became an independent maritime Republic ruled by its elected dux or doge.
The Republic became a commercial superpower and its influence lasted through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In fact, the Venetian Republic enjoyed 1100 years of uninterrupted influence throughout the Mediterranean. By the 16th century, the Venetian Republic dominated over Veneto, Friuli, parts of Lombardy and Romagna, Istria, Dalmatia, the Ionian Islands of Corfu, Cefalonia, Ithaca and Zante. From the 13th to 17th centuries it held the island of Crete and from the mid-15th to mid-16th century, the island of Cyprus. Venetian mainland holdings led to Venetian involvement in European and in particular, Italian politics. Cities had to be fortified, one impressive example being Palmanova in Friuli. However, the wise rule and prosperity brought by the Serenissima made the cities of the terra firma willing subjects. Eastern Islands served as useful ports for Venetian shipping. However, as the Ottoman Empire grew more powerful and aggressive, Venice was often put on the defensive. Ottoman control of the eastern Mediterranean and the discoveries of sea routes to Asia around Africa and of the Americas had a debilitating effect on the Venetian economy.
See also:
[edit] The French and Austrian Periods
In 1797, Napoleon invaded the territory of the Venetian Republic. Overwhelmed by more powerful forces, Doge Ludovico Manin resigned and retired to his villa at Passariano in Friuli and the thousand year old Republic disappeared as an independent state. This proved very unpopular in the mainland cities where sympathies were strong with the Republic of Venice. By the Treaty of Campoformio signed on October 17, 1797 part of the Venetian mainland was handed over to Francis II of the Holy Roman Empire and a western part was annexed to the French backed Cisalpine Republic. The territory soon reverted back to Napoleon in 1801. However, after his ultimate defeat in 1814, the Congress of Vienna handed Veneto over to the Austrian Empire, the successor state to the Holy Roman Empire still ruled by Francis. Thus, Veneto would remain under Austrian rule, except for some cities which declared their independence in 1848, until it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
[edit] The Italian Period
In 1866 after the Third War of Independence and a controversial referendum Veneto was annexed to Italy. In an effort to Italianize the population, Venetian language was not officially recognized and public servants were recruited from other regions.
Due to uneven economic development reducing many to poverty, the 19th century and the first half of the 20th became a period of emigration. Millions of Venetians left their homes and their native land to seek opportunites in other parts of the world. Many settled down in South America, especially in the Rio Grande do Sul region, in Brazil; others in Australia; Canada; and the United States of America. After the Second World War, many Veneti emigrated to Western European countries. In many of these places their descendants have maintained the use of their ancestral Venetian dialects.
Those who remained in Veneto would experience the turmoil of two World Wars. In 1915, Italy entered the First World War on the side of the France and the United Kingdom, after extricating itself from its alliance with Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Veneto became a major battlefront. After the Italians suffered an enormous defeat at Caporetto in November of 1917, the combined Austro-Hungarian and German forces advanced almost unhindered through Veneto towards Venice until reaching the Piave River. The river prevented further advancement. Between October 24 and November 3, 1918, Italy and its Allies launched the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The battle's outcome aussured Italy's victory. The armistice was signed at Villa Giusti near Padua.
[edit] Population
[edit] Demographics
The regions counts 4,8 million inhabitants, called Venetians (in Italian Veneti). This makes Veneto the fifth most populated region in Italy.
Nearly 3 Millions of Venetians were forced to leave their country between 1861 and 1961 to escape poverty [2]. Many emigrated to South America, especially Brazil, after World War Two they moved to other European countries. Due to its impressive economic growth, Veneto has turned into a land of immigration and has been attracting more and more immigrants since the 1990s. In 2006 the Italian national institute of statistics ISTAT estimated that 350.000 foreign-born immigrants live in Veneto, equal to 7,2 % of the total regional population.
[edit] Languages
Most of the people of Veneto speak standard Italian. However, there is widespread usage of Venetian language. Venetian dialects are classified as an Italo-Western Romance language. Scholars distinguish between an Eastern or Coastal (Venice) group, a Central (Padua, Vicenza, Polesine) group, a Western (Verona) group, a North-Central (Treviso) group, and a Northern (Belluno, Feltre, Agordo, Cadore, Zoldo Alto) group of dialects. All dialects are mutually intelligible to varying degrees.
Ladin is spoken in parts of the province of Belluno, especially in the municipalities of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Livinallongo del Col di Lana, Colle Santa Lucia. A German dialect is spoken in Sappada (Plodn in German). German-speaking enclaves in Asiago were eradicated during Fascism. Moreover, in the area around Portogruaro people speak Furlan.
As the region does not enjoy a special status of autonomy, minority languages are not granted any form of recognition. Anyway a motion to recognize Venetian as an official regional language has been approved by the regional Parliament[3].
[edit] Religion
Veneto soon converted to Christianity. The region venerates as its patrons the second century bishop St. Hermagoras and his deacon St. Fortunatus, both of Aquileia and both marytrs. Aquileia became the metropolitan see of Venetia. Aquileia had its own liturgical rites which were used throughout the dioceses of Veneto until the later Middle Ages when the Roman Rite replaced the Aquileian Rite.
In 2004 over 95% of the population claimed to be Roman Catholic. The region of Veneto along with the regions of Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol form the ecclesiastical region of Triveneto under the Patriarchate of Venice. The Patriarchate of Venice is an archdiocese and metroplitan see of an ecclesiastical region which includes suffragan episcopal sees of Adria-Rovigo, Belluno-Feltre, Chioggia, Concordia-Pordenone, Padua, Treviso, Verona, Vicenza, and Vittorio Veneto.[6] The Archdiocese of Venice was elevated to an honorary Patriarchate by the pope on October 8, 1457 when the Patriarchate of Grado was suppressed. The first patriarch of Venice was Laurence, a nobleman of the Giustiniani family. During the twentieth century the patriarchs were usually appointed cardinal, and three cardinal patriarchs, Giuseppe Sarto, Angelo Roncalli, and Albino Luciani were elected pope: Pius X, John XXIII, and John Paul I, respectively. The Patriarchate of Venice claims St. Mark the Evangelist as its patron. The symbol of the winged lion became the typical symbol of the Venetian Republic.
[edit] Culture
Veneti are very proud of their culture.
[edit] Identity
Veneto is my fatherland. Even if there exists a Republic of Italy, this abstract idea is not my Fatherland. We Venetians have travelled throughout the world, but our Fatherland, that for which we would fight if it were necessary to fight, is Veneto. When I see "River sacred to the Fatherland" written on the bridges spanning the Piave, I am moved, not because I think of Italy, but rather because I think of Veneto.
—Goffredo Parise, Il Corriere della Sera, February 7, 1982
Veneto is also the cradle of Venetism, a political movement that appeared during the 1970s and 1980s, demanding real autonomy for the region, considered as a nation separated from Italy, and promoting Venetian culture, language and history. This is the political background in which the Liga Veneta (Venetian League) was launched in 1980. Other Venetist parties such as Liga Veneta Repubblica and North-East Project emerged, but they never touched the popularity of the Liga Veneta, which was a founding member of Lega Nord in 1991.
[edit] Local Festivals
Each town, often every quarter, has its patron saint whose feast day is solemnly celebrated. Many other festivals are closely linked to the religious calendar. Among these:
- Panevin celebrated around Epiphany;
- Carneval celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday;
- Pasqua (Easter Sunday);
- Saint Mark's feast day (April 25);
- La Sensa (Ascension Thursday);
- San Giovanni Battista (June 24);
- La festa del Redentór (mid July);
- Vendemmia (grape harvest in September);
- San Nicolò de Bari (St. Nicholas, December 6);
- Nadàl (Christmas)
[edit] Education
Veneto hosts one of the oldest universities in the world at Padua, which is the second oldest one in Italy after Bologna. OECD investigations[4] show that school education achievements in North-Eastern Italy (whose population comes mainly from Veneto) are the highest in Italy.
[edit] Politics
Veneto is a presidential representative democracy. The President of the Region, colloquially nicknamed Governor or even Doge, in remembrance of Venice's glorious tradition, is also the head of the regional government. Legislative power is exerted by the Regional Council, the local parliament. The statute, i.e. the regional constitution, was promulgated on May 22, 1971. Even though it recognizes the inhabitants as a "people" (i.e. a distinct people from the Italian people), the region is not granted a form of autonomy comparable to that of the neighbouring regions Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.[5] This is the reason why many municipalities have held referendums in order to be united to these regions.
Traditionally a very Catholic region, Veneto was once a stronghold of the Christian Democracy. Nowadays it is a stronghold of the centre-right coalition, which has governed the region since 1995, under President Giancarlo Galan, formerly affiliated to Forza Italia and now to The People of Freedom. The governing coalition is also composed of the Liga Veneta–Lega Nord and the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats.
Liga Veneta–Lega Nord traditionally scores considerable results in local and national elections. The mayors of Verona and Treviso are members of the party, as well as the Presidents of the Provinces of Treviso and Vicenza. In the 2008 general election Lega Nord reached 27.1% of the vote.
According to Robert Putnam,[6] the "institutional performance" of Veneto's regional government is higher than average in Italy, thus Veneto belongs to what Putnam defines as "civic North". Veneto has a long tradition of high quality public health care, which can be traced to the historical heritage of the Republic of Venice.
[edit] Presidents of Veneto
| Presidents of Veneto | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Party | Term | Legislature |
| Angelo Tomelleri | DC | 1970–1971 | I Legislature |
| Angelo Tomelleri | DC | 1971–1972 | I Legislature |
| Piero Feltrin | DC | 1972–1973 | I Legislature |
| Angelo Tomelleri | DC | 1973–1975 | I Legislature |
| Angelo Tomelleri | DC | 1975–1977 | II Legislature |
| Angelo Tomelleri | DC | 1977–1980 | II Legislature |
| Carlo Bernini | DC | 1980–1985 | III Legislature |
| Carlo Bernini | DC | 1985–1989 | IV Legislature |
| Gianfranco Cremonese | DC | 1989–1990 | IV Legislature |
| Gianfranco Cremonese | DC | 1990–1992 | V Legislature |
| Franco Frigo | DC | 1992–1993 | V Legislature |
| Giuseppe Pupillo | PDS | 1993–1994 | V Legislature |
| Aldo Bottin | PPI | 1994–1995 | V Legislature |
| Giancarlo Galan | FI | 1995–2000 | VI Legislature |
| Giancarlo Galan | FI | 2000–2005 | VII Legislature |
| Giancarlo Galan | FI | 2005–... | VIII Legislature |
Source: Veneto Region
[edit] Economy
Traditionally Veneto had been one of the poorest regions of Italy, being a land of mass emigration. Since the 1970s Veneto has seen an impressive development, making it actually the third richest region in terms of total GDP (135 billion Euros) after Lombardy and Lazio, but before Piedmont, the domicile of Fiat. According to Eurostat GDP per capita amounted to 28.643€ in 2005. [7] The unemployment rate is low, at 4,2%. The transformation into one of the wealthiest regions of the country is often called "The North-East Miracle".
On one side Veneto has become the destination of many immigrants, on the other side a large number of Venetian industries inaugurated new plants in Eastern European countries, especially in Romania. The Romanian city of Timişoara is also called "The Newest Venetian Province". [8]
[edit] Agriculture
Though its importance has been decreasing for the past 20-30 years, agriculture continues to play a significant role in the regional economy. The main agricultural products include maize, green peas, vegetables, apples, cherries, sugar beets, forage, tobacco, hemp. Veneto is one of Italy's most important wine-growing areas, producing well-regarded wines, such as Prosecco and Valpolicella. Cattle-raising and fishing are quite relevant too.
[edit] Industry
In the last 30-40 years industrialization transformed the appearance of the landscape, especially in the plains, where hundreds of industrial complexes have been built. The regional industry is especially made of small and medium-sized businesses, which are active in several sectors: food, furniture, textiles, but also chemistry, metal-mechanics and electronics. As a consequence handicraft is very strong: Murano glass, laces of Burano and gold production in Vicenza.
Large metallurgical and chemical plants were built in Marghera and Mestre, where you also find important shipyards.
Fashion industry is extremely strong: Benetton, Geox, Diesel are Venetian brands. The province of Belluno hosts the biggest manufacturer of eyeglasses in the world: Luxottica.
[edit] Tourism
Though being a heavily industrialized region, tourism is one of the main economic resources of Veneto, attracting over 60 million visitors every year (a fifth of them coming from Germany). This makes it the first destination in Italy. The business volume amounts to 12 billion Euros. [9]
[edit] Main tourist attractions
Here is a selection of the main attractions of Veneto.
[edit] The cities of art
Venice: Venice and its lagoon are listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Padua: also known as the "City of the Saint"; the Orto botanico di Padova is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Verona: The city of Shakespeare's famous lovers: Romeo and Juliet. Verona has been named a UNESCO world heritage site.
Vicenza is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, together with a number of the Palladian Villas.
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Belluno the capital of the Dolomites, the bell tower was designed by Filippo Juvarra
Montagnana is a municipality in the province of Padova with perfectly conserved medieval walls
Bassano del Grappa with its Ponte degli Alpini on the river Brenta, designed in 1569 by Andrea Palladio
Marostica : The 'Chess Game' is the most important event of the town, taking place on the second weekend of September, involves over 550 participants and lasts two hours.
Asolo is known as 'The Pearl of province of Treviso', and also as 'The City of a Hundred Horizons'.
Este : The House of Este held the city until 1240, when they moved their capital to Ferrara.
[edit] Ville Venete
All over the Venetian plain, but especially in the provinces of Treviso, Padua, Vicenza and Venice, stand the famous Ville Venete. The date of construction of these villas ranges from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century. There are approximately five thousand Ville Venete, of which 1,400 are declared of historical and monumental interest.
[edit] Parks
Cansiglio is a pre-alpine massif located in the north-eastern Veneto in the provinces of Treviso and Belluno.
'Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi' is situated in the southern section of the Province of Belluno.
[edit] Lakes
The area of Lake Garda is a major tourist destination. Various towns along the lake, such as Lazise, Cisano, Bardolino, Garda (VR), Torri del Benaco and Malcesine, are popular resorts.
[edit] Mountains
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Cortina d'Ampezzo, it's situated in the province of Belluno and is one of the most exclusive mountain locations in Europe together with Kitzbühel in Austria and St. Moritz in Switzerland. It was scene of the 1956 Winter Olympics. To the north there are the Tre Cime di Lavaredo ,said to be a symbol of the Italian Dolomites. |
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Arabba lies between the Sella group and the Marmolada. |
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Sappada is in the extreme north of the region. |
[edit] Thermal baths
The thermal baths of Abano Terme are an important tourist attraction. Despite being the most famous, Abano is not the only thermal town in the area. Montegrotto Terme and Recoaro Terme are other popular resorts.
[edit] Beaches
Venice's Lido is an 11-mile long sandbar, visited by many tourists every summer.
Jesolo is one of the most important seaside resorts on the Adriatic coast, just a few kilometres far from Venice. Every year Jesolo gives accommodation to over 4.5 million tourists.
Caorle has often received awards forone of the cleanest beaches in Italy. Bibione and Eraclea are popular resorts too. Albarella island is a private island on the Lido that has some of the best beaches. Alberoni Beach is set in a nature reserve.
[edit] Wines, Spirits, Food
[edit] Wines
Veneto is an important wine-growing area. Among the best wines can be remembered: Soave, Bardolino, Recioto, Amarone, Torcolato, Prosecco, Tocai Rosso,Garganega, and Valpolicella. Other, more common wines are Verduzzo, Raboso, Moscato, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Nero, Pinot Grigio, and Merlot. Homemade wine making is widespread.
[edit] Spirits
After making wine, the alcohol of the pressed grapes is distilled to produce grappa or graspa, as it is called in the local language.
[edit] Cheese
Among the best-known cheeses of Veneto the following should be mentioned: Asiago (PDO) (from Asiago), Monte Veronese (PDO), Piave (PDO), Morlacco, Grana Padano (PDO).
[edit] Fresh & cured meats
The Sopressa Vicentina (PDO) is an aged salami, cylindrical in shape and prepared with raw, quality pork meat. It may or may not include garlic in its ingredients and comes in medium and large sizes.
Prosciutto Veneto Berico-Euganeo (PDO) is obtained from the fresh meat of a top breed of adult hogs. The aroma is delicate, sweet and fragrant.
[edit] Cereals, vegetables & fruits
Radicchio Rosso di Treviso (PGI) is a peculiar vegetable with a faintly bitter taste and a crunchy texture. The production area encompasses many town districts in the provinces of Treviso, Padua and Venice.
The Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco (PGI) has a delicate and slightly sweet taste and a crunchy texture.
Veronese Vialone Nano Rice from Verona (PGI) is a type of rice with short, plump grains, which have a creamy consistency when cooked. They are commonly used in risotto dishes and have a high starch content.
The Bean of Lamon (PGI) is particularly prized for its delicate flavour and extremely tender skin.
The White Asparagus of Cimadolmo (PGI) has a characteristic scent and a very delicate taste.
The White Asparagus of Bassano is a typical product of the northern part of the province of Vicenza.
The San Zeno di Montagna (Verona) chestnut is another remarkable product .
Marostica is famous for its cherries.
[edit] Notable people from Veneto
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