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About Veneto
Most people speed through the Veneto on their way to our favorite Italian city, Venice. From the train, the landscape sometimes looks flat and unappealing, yet its small cities are fascinating treasure troves of art and beacons of fine living, and only a few miles to the north the Alps begin, their foothills dotted with charming towns and lined with picturesque world-class vineyards. Because the average traveler aims only to see the city on the lagoon, the rest of the region is blessedly devoid of tourist crowds, and yet, consider what they are missing:
Verona, home to Romeo and Juliet, one of the prettiest and most historical little cities in the whole country. Vicenza, the memorable "laboratory" for a man who may have been the most influential architect in history, Andrea Palladio. Treviso, birthplace of radicchio and our all-time favorite town in Italy. Soave, a fairy-tale castle town whose name you may already know from your local wine shop. Abano, a classic 19th-century thermal spa town. Chioggia, a mini-Venice with all the canals and none of the crowds. Lake Garda, flanked by lemon and olive groves, with the snowy Alps reflected in its silvery waters. Teensy Marostica, where you can watch a human chess game whose living pieces are garbed in Renaissance costumes. Bassano del Grappa, the sub-alpine home of white asparagus. Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of Europe's classiest ski resorts. Valpollicella, a verdant valley strewn with countless family wineries. Padua the Erudite, where lovers of Renaissance painting can see Giotto's memorable fresco cycle.
These and many other delights await you in this issue of our newsletter, along with lots of practical information to help you get the most out of logistically-challenging Venice. Come with us on a tour of the region, and perhaps you too will decide to linger a while on your way to La Serenissima. Veneto In Italy.com
Venice.
Venice, the capital of Veneto, according to a latest census in 2004, has a population of more then 270,000. It is located in the north-east part of Italy on numerous small islands that belong to the Venetian Lagoon. The City of Bridges stretches along the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers. Out of the 270,000 inhabitants, about 62,000 live in the historic center or ciy of Venice. About 176,000 live in the mainland or "Terraferma" behind the lagoon such cities like Mestre and Marguera: and the rest live on either one of the one-hundred islands throughout the lagoon. Also known as a magnetic point for sweethearts, lovers, artists, and poets, Venice is a magic city, which stretches across numerous small islands. It is often refered to as the city of "gondole" as the city is surrounded by canals. Gondolas are the most famous and romantic means for experiencing the city and is the symbol of Venice that has made it recognisable all over the world. You can find renting fees for gondolas on the web site gondolavenezia.it.
The city's main transportation method is boats as the city is surrounded by canals (150 of them), and another method is by foot. The causway built in the 19th century,allowed the train to reach the city of Venice from the Mainland. Thanks to this causeway, you can park your motor vehicle at the entrance of the city, and from that point you can reach the historic center by foot or boat. Also, another type of boat that it's a symbol of Venice, it's the "vaporetti" or waterbuses or taxis. Just like any motor land-bus, these water buses also have lines that pick/drop-you off at different points of the city.
Among other symbols the city manufacturing of glass in the Murano island, has made it one of the biggest producers of glass in Europe and the unique high-quality materials and crafsmanship they use are unmatchable. About Venice.org |
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