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Sights to See in the Veneto Region of Italy

by Alesha Wilson
(Wilmington, NC)

Northern Italy is an industrialized region, and the hub of all that industry is in Veneto. However, the area is rife with beautiful cultural attractions, and some have been there for centuries. Thus, tourism is one of the main industries in Veneto, and everyone wants to go here.

Where to go while in Veneto? There are plenty of choices, and yours could depend on which province you want to visit first. The provinces of Veneto are Belluno, Padova, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice, Verona and Vicenza.

If you want to experience art at its fullest and walk the same roads where famous scientists and scholars like Galileo Galilei used to walk each day to work, it’s probably best to visit the province of Veneto, specifically the municipality of Padua. You’d want to visit the University of Padua, as well as the picturesque streets lined with Romanesque arches. To Shakespeare fans out there, the city of Padua may be the most familiar, as this city was featured in The Taming of the Shrew.

One particular attraction you have to go to when in Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel, which features the frescoes created by Giotto, one of the artists who made huge contributions to the Italian Renaissance era. A trip to the chapel will not take up the entire morning, as it is relatively close to the city. The entire tour inside will take less time as only 15-20 minutes are allowed for each group of twenty-five guests. You’ll spend the time in hushed reverence, as you look at the brainchild of one of the greatest artists who ever lived.

Teatro Olimpico is located in Piazza Matteotti, Vicenza, Italy. Most tourists travelling around Italy put this attraction in their itinerary for good reason. The theater was the last masterpiece that the great architect, Palladio, made. This theater is one of the last three Renaissance theaters left in the world.

Nature lovers and hikers have a lot of elevated land to cover in the national park in Belluno. The Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi is a nature reserve that offers hiking trails offering picturesque views. Some of the mountains are right on the border between Italy and Austria, and are indescribably beautiful, as most hikers would tell you.

A trip to Veneto, Italy would not be complete without a ride on the Grand Canal in Venice. This is the biggest body of water in the city and being on it is one of the best experiences any tourist would wish to have.

The spectacular view of islands on both sides of the canal, as well as the alleyways where some restaurants are located, can be the defining moment of your vacation. In the hour or so that you will spend on the boat, you will catch a glimpse of the local way of living in Italy, from the way people interact to how the buildings are designed.

In general, tourists take the local water bus to get around. The fare is inexpensive and the water bus is slow enough for tourists to appreciate the beauty of Venice.