Around Italy: Veneto, From Venice and the Dolomites to Prosecco Hills and Palladian Cities

Around Italy: Veneto, From Venice and the Dolomites

Veneto stretches from the Adriatic Sea to the Dolomites and contains some of the most famous landscapes and cities in Italy. Venice dominates the international imagination, but the region also includes Verona, Padova, Vicenza, Treviso, the Prosecco hills, Valpolicella, Lake Garda, Asiago, Bassano del Grappa, and a deep agricultural and culinary culture.

Venezia

Venice is one of the world’s most extraordinary cities. Built across islands in a lagoon, it developed into a maritime republic whose commercial networks reached the eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

The Venetian Republic

For centuries, La Serenissima was a major European power. Trade, shipbuilding, diplomacy, banking, and naval strength created enormous wealth and a distinctive political culture.

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal passes through the historic heart of Venice, lined with palaces that reveal centuries of aristocratic competition and commercial prosperity.

The Lagoon

Venice cannot be understood without its lagoon. Tides, marshes, islands, fisheries, transport, and environmental systems shaped the city from its origins.

Murano Glass

Murano became internationally famous for glassmaking. Furnaces and workshops developed specialized techniques that produced chandeliers, mirrors, vessels, beads, and decorative glass exported around the world.

Burano

Burano is known for brightly colored houses and a historic lace tradition. Its small scale provides a striking contrast with monumental central Venice.

Cicchetti and Bacari

Venetian bacari are small wine bars traditionally serving cicchetti. These small bites may include seafood, vegetables, cured foods, polenta-based preparations, crostini, and countless seasonal combinations.

Sarde in Saor

Sardines are fried and marinated with onions, vinegar, and often raisins and pine nuts. The sweet-sour preservation method reflects Venice’s maritime and trading history.

Baccalà Mantecato

Salt cod is transformed into a creamy spread through careful cooking and emulsification with olive oil. It is one of Venice’s classic cicchetti foods.

Risi e Bisi

Rice and peas create a dish that sits somewhere between risotto and soup. It reflects the importance of rice cultivation on the Venetian mainland.

Risotto al Nero di Seppia

Cuttlefish ink gives this risotto its dramatic color and deep marine flavor. Properly made, the ink should taste of the sea rather than merely provide visual effect.

Fegato alla Veneziana

Calf’s liver and onions are one of Venice’s great savory combinations. Slowly softened onions balance the mineral intensity of liver.

Padova

Padova is one of Veneto’s major university cities and has a deep religious and artistic heritage. The Basilica of Saint Anthony and the Scrovegni Chapel are among its greatest landmarks.

Prato della Valle

This monumental elliptical square and canal is one of Europe’s largest urban spaces and a symbol of Padova.

Verona

Verona combines Roman monuments, medieval streets, Renaissance palaces, and a strong wine culture. The Arena remains one of Italy’s great ancient amphitheaters and still hosts performances.

Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza delle Erbe occupies the site of the Roman forum and remains the heart of the historic city.

Valpolicella

The hills north of Verona produce Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone, and Recioto from native grapes including Corvina and Corvinone.

Amarone

Amarone uses grapes dried after harvest to concentrate sugars, flavor, and structure before fermentation to dryness. The best examples balance richness with acidity and complexity.

Recioto

Recioto preserves residual sweetness and represents the older wine tradition from which Amarone developed.

Soave

East of Verona, Garganega produces Soave. Serious examples can show citrus, flowers, almonds, herbs, and mineral character and can age surprisingly well.

Vicenza

Vicenza is inseparable from architect Andrea Palladio. His buildings and villas transformed European architectural history.

Teatro Olimpico

Palladio’s Teatro Olimpico is one of the world’s most extraordinary surviving Renaissance theaters.

Palladian Villas

The countryside around Vicenza contains villas that became models for architecture across Europe and North America.

Baccalà alla Vicentina

Despite the name baccalà, the traditional dish uses dried stockfish. Long, slow cooking with milk, onions, oil, and anchovy creates a delicate but deeply flavored result.

Treviso

Treviso is a refined city of canals, arcades, frescoed buildings, and a strong food culture.

Radicchio di Treviso

The long red-and-white chicory associated with Treviso can be grilled, roasted, used in risotto, or eaten raw. Its bitterness is one of Veneto’s great vegetable flavors.

Tiramisù

Treviso is strongly associated with the modern history of tiramisù. Mascarpone, coffee, cocoa, eggs, sugar, and biscuits became one of Italy’s most famous desserts.

Prosecco Hills

Between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, steep vineyard hills produce the region’s most prestigious Prosecco.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene

Glera is the main grape, but quality depends on territory, yield, farming, and winemaking. The steepest vineyards require significant manual labor.

Asolo

Asolo combines a beautiful hill town with another important Prosecco territory.

Bassano del Grappa

Bassano sits beneath the mountains on the Brenta River. Its covered wooden bridge is one of Veneto’s most recognizable landmarks.

Grappa

The spirit takes its name from Monte Grappa and became closely associated with northeastern Italy. It is distilled from grape pomace, transforming a winemaking byproduct into a complex spirit.

The Dolomites of Veneto

The province of Belluno contains some of the region’s greatest mountain landscapes.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina belongs administratively to Veneto. It combines Ladin heritage, dramatic Dolomite peaks, skiing, climbing, and a long history of international tourism.

Lake Garda

The eastern shore of Lake Garda belongs to Veneto. Towns such as Malcesine and Bardolino combine lake scenery, wine, olive oil, and mountain views.

Asiago Plateau

The Asiago plateau has a strong Alpine dairy tradition and is associated with Asiago cheese.

Bigoli

Bigoli are thick strands of pasta traditionally made with a press. They work particularly well with anchovy, onion, duck ragù, and robust sauces.

When to Visit

Spring and autumn are excellent for Venice, Verona, Vicenza, and wine country. Summer brings the Dolomites and Lake Garda. Winter offers skiing, mountain food, and a quieter side of Venice.

What Makes Veneto Special

Veneto combines one of history’s great maritime civilizations with agricultural plains, Renaissance cities, Alpine valleys, and famous wine territories. Venice may be the icon, but the real region is far broader: Amarone, Prosecco, Palladio, radicchio, tiramisù, Murano glass, Dolomite villages, and working towns all belong to the same complex identity.

Around Italy by ZAFFERANO & CO.

Chef Gianluca