KEEP CALM AND VISIT VENETO – 10 reasons to visit Veneto

Keep calm and visit Veneto is a provocative title, I know. Veneto is a wonderful region with plenty of reasons to visit, and the 10 reasons to visit Veneto I am about to tell you are just a few of them.

I have been thinking about this article for days now. I didn’t want to write about the Coronavirus but I felt sorry when I heard that many tourists are cancelling their holidays in Veneto because of it.

I know you may be worried about the COVID-19 issue, but you shouldn’t give up the idea of visiting Veneto this year and Italy in general. Authorities in Veneto are doing everything in their hands – in conjunction with national and European authorities – to contain the epidemic and Veneto is a magnificent region which is absolutely worth visiting.

10 reasons to visit Veneto in 2020

1. Veneto as the land of ART & CULTURE

If you are passionate about art & culture you have plenty of reasons to visit Veneto. From Venice to Palladian Villas and Vicenza, from Verona to Padua Veneto is a region rich in art & culture. It’s home to:

• Great architecture: think of the Vicenza ‘the city of Palladio’ and the Palladian Villas in its surrounding, Verona with its Arena and the historical city centre which dates back 2000 years,  Venice with Piazza San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and the wonderful bridges and canals and let’s not forget Padua with its Botanical Garden which is also relevant from the architectural point of view. Did you know that these are all UNESCO World Heritage sites? But every city in Veneto is of great architectural interest even if they’re not in the UNESCO list.
• Great history: think of the ‘Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia’ just to mention one thing about Veneto history.
• Great people: the explorer Marco Polo, the architect Palladio, the artists Giovanni Bellini, Andrea Mantegna, Giorgione, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Canaletto (just to mention a few of them), the writers & poets Ugo Foscolo and Carlo Goldoni and Giacomo Casanova (even though he’s more famous for his seducing abilities than for his poetry).
• Great art: from monuments to palaces, from squares to paintings Veneto has it all.

2. Veneto as the land of BEACH HOLIDAYS

If you are looking for a beach holiday look no further. Veneto has it covered. Located on the Adriatic coast, this region offers some great beaches for all kinds of travellers. Bibione, Caorle, Jesolo, Eraclea are some of the most famous seaside locations. Large, golden sand, fully equipped beaches will welcome you no matter what kind of holiday-goer you are. Are you travelling solo, with kids, with your furry friends, with your mates? There’s the perfect beach for you somewhere in Veneto.

Bibione is the perfect example of what I am saying because it’s a suitable location for all kind of holidays. You’ll find kids-friendly beaches alongside disco-pubs for young people looking for fun, stylish restaurants alongside shops and trattorias.

3. Veneto as the land of MOUNTAIN HOLIDAYS

Did you know that Veneto has some of the most beautiful mountains in Italy? Again, it’s not me saying this. It’s UNESCO. Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009. Your winter and summer holidays are covered right there. If you love winter sports or trekking or just enjoying breathtaking views from the top in Veneto you can do just that.

4. Veneto as the land of HOLIDAYS IN NATURE

There’s no just mountains or beaches in Veneto. Did you know that part of the Garda Lake is actually located in Veneto? Have you heard of Lazise or Peschiera del Garda or Malcesine among others? They’re in Veneto and if the lake was not enough to visit them – and it’s more than enough – they have some great ice-creams too. And limoncello. And olive oil.

Not lake-lovers? No worries. There’s the countryside too. Veneto has really everything you may want to experience during your holidays: lakes, rivers, hills, mountains, the sea. What else would you need?

5. Veneto as the land of STUNNING VILLAGES & BEAUTIFUL TOWNS

I have already mentioned some of the beautiful cities Veneto has, Vicenza, Padua, Verona & the stunning Venice. No wonder the entire world is in love with this city, it is truly mesmerizing.

But did you know that Veneto has less known cities, town and villages which are just as beautiful?

Montagnana with its fortified walls, Treviso which is a little gem mostly ignored by tourists, Bassano del Grappa with its difficult past during the First World War, Marostica with its castle and its chess tradition, Asolo with its historical sites are just a few of the locations worth visiting in this region.

6. Veneto as the land of FOOD

Italy is very lucky, every region, in fact, has its own specialities and typical recipes. Veneto doesn’t disappoint from this point of view.

When you visit Veneto you should try

• Baccalà alla Vicentina (Vicenza-style codfish),
• the ‘Bigoi de Bassan’ – a pasta shape typical of Bassano del Grappa, their name comes from the press used to make them
• Frittelle – they are typical of Venice and they are usually made during the Carnival period
• Tiramisù – even though its origin is still fought for between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia you cannot come to Veneto and not try it.
• ‘Sarde in saor’, literally savoury sardines. Again it’s a Venetian recipe which you can try in the ‘bacari’ – the traditional Venetian tavern/pub – together with an Aperol Spritz

• Polenta e soppressa, well you know polenta I guess. As for soppressa, it’s a typical salami from the area around Vicenza – it is produced with pork, lard, salt, pepper, spices and garlic.

And much more.

7. Veneto as the land of WINE

Veneto is home to some of the best Italian wines.

Take Prosecco for example, not only it is a DOC and partly DOCG product (which means its quality is controlled and guaranteed) but since 2019 the Hills of Prosecco of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Other wines you may know or you may want to try when you visit Veneto are Amarone della Valpolicella, Bardolino, Recioto, Soave, Lugana, etc. I could go on and on.

8. Veneto as the land of HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Looking for a relaxing or curative holiday? What about hot springs and spa? Recoaro Terme, Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme are the main centres for thermal water (but they are not the only ones, as there are other spa centres in the whole region). Here you can enjoy relax but also curative holidays.

9. Veneto as the land of FUN

Among the 10 reasons to visit Veneto, we cannot forget fun. Holidays must also be fun, don’t you agree? Well, in Veneto you can have a lot of fun in one of the amusement parks in the region.

The most famous and biggest amusement park in Italy – Gardaland – is in Veneto. With its 600,000 square meters of surface and nearly 3 million visitors per year is a must-see if you enjoy this sort of things. It has roller coasters, water rides, flat thrill rides but also family rides. So whatever level of adrenaline-seeker you are (even if that level is zero) there is the attraction for you there.

If you are a cinema lover there’s Movieland for you! Close to the Garda Lake, it hosts movie-themed attractions for the whole family.

Hear, hear. On 28^th May 2020 also Legoland will finally open its doors. Where? In Veneto of course.

Around Veneto, you’ll also find smaller amusement parks – water-themed or nature-themed – so there’s certainly a park in line with your interests.

10. Veneto as the land of GREAT PEOPLE

Last but not least, Veneto has great people. I am not from Veneto so not talking about me here. People in Veneto are friendly, generous, hospitable. They also talk a lot but hey, nobody is perfect!

They will do everything they can to make your holiday an experience you will never forget, so do not indulge and book your next holiday in Veneto.

Well, after going through the 10 reasons to visit Veneto I start thinking that one single holiday is not enough to experience everything that Veneto has to offer, but just start with one. After that, you will want to come back again and again.