Places to holiday in Veneto

A weekend break in Veneto allows you access to the fabulous cities which have gained most notoriety as holiday destinations. Venice, Verona and Vicenza are all on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The most popular destination for Veneto holidays is Venice. Made of 122 islands, 150 canals and 400 bridges in a shallow lagoon, Venice is a unique city. It has an incredible wealth of artistic and cultural heritage and there are some fantastic restaurants in Venice and Venetian apartments. The rural residencies of Venetian nobles were designed and painted by famous architects of the day, and had vast gardens for entertaining. Many of the Villas of Venice, like the Villa Barboro and Villa Cornaro are available for viewing. By hiring a gondola, a guide can take you to see many of the sights, including Doge’s Palace, the Basilica di San Marco. Ca d’Oro and The Arsenal.

Verona also has many buildings of great historical importance. The Roman amphitheatre is still largely intact, and is even used for opera and theatre during the summer. The medieval architecture, like that of the Basilica de San Zeno Maggiore, is considered some of the best achievements of Romanesque architecture in Italy.

Vicenza has the highest concentration of historic buildings in Italy, and boasts the oldest surviving indoor theatre (the Tetro Olimpico). The city is also famed for its gold. Goldsmiths in Vicenza produce half of Italy’s gold ware.

Padova and Treviso can also boast a wealth of historic art. The most complete set of frescos by Giotto are in Padova, and the ornate vaulted ceilings in Treviso are essential viewing for lovers of Romanesque-Gothic architecture.

Belluno is a mountainous province containing the National Park of Belluno Dolomites. The town of Belluno sits majestically in the mountains looking over the lush valley of Piave, and the villages dotted along its sides. It is also the place for skiing in the winter. The resort of Nevegal is very close, and offers good skiing, and excellent cross-country tracks.

Veneto Weather

Due to the geographical variations across Veneto, there is no strict rule for the climate in this part of Italy. Venice has warm summers, with average temperatures around 26 C, but harsh winters. In the mountain areas it does get very cold, and snow is usually abundant.

Travel to Veneto

The Marco Polo International Airport (VCE) in Venice services the area, and there are regular flights from the UK.