Veneto

This is a visual guide to the best of Italy's Veneto region illustrated with over 200 photos, however, Venice is not included as the unique city has already been published by the author in a separate book, Venice Today, illustrated with over 120 photos. Veneto is set in the north-east of Italy bordering with Lombardy to the west, Emilia-Romagna to the south, Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the east, Trentino - Alto Adige to the north even Austria in its northernmost corner. Around 57% of Veneto's territory is situated in the Po Valley, some 30% is made up of mountains in the north and the remaining 13% are hills. The lush countryside especially to the south is carpeted with vineyards. Tourism has always been strong in Veneto, Venice alone drew over 13 million visitors in 2023, about the same as in 2019, who stayed overnight. An estimated 60 million come to Veneto each year generating €12 billion of revenue in recent years. Unsurprisingly Veneto has more tourist facilities than any other region in Italy except Emilia-Romagna. The Adriatic coast beyond Venice is home to popular seaside resorts including Jesolo, Bibione and Caorle. The eastern shore of Lake Garda lies in Veneto, half of the 200 km stretch is dotted with beaches and pleasant lakeside promenades and cafés not to mention theme parks like Gardaland.

There are seven provinces in Veneto including Venice; Belluno in the mountainous north, is the home of the majestic Dolomites and renowned ski resorts such as Cortina d'Ampezzo. Besides the provincial capitals like Verona, Padua, Vicenza and Treviso, packed full of sights, monuments, museums, art galleries, ancient churches and more there are also small towns like Monselice and Este in the Padua province, or Asolo, 32 km from Treviso, well worth a visit not to mention castles such as 16th-century Catajo 10-11 km from Padua, historical villas like Valsanzibio, also close to Padua, and Palladian villas in the vicinity of Vicenza. Abano Terme and Montegrotto, still in Padua province, have been spa resorts since before Roman times.