Discovering Italy: Veneto, Region Five of Our Weekly Series

Artistic depiction of a Venetian lagoon at first light; this is an illustration, not a photograph.

Discovering Italy, Region Five

We began with Sicily, then traveled through Piedmont, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna; now our fifth stop is Veneto. Here, a lagoon city, historic towns, vineyard hills, and the Dolomites all belong to one remarkable region. So where does a place that holds a lagoon, a Roman arena, a mountain range, and a landscape of wine hills fit into one story?

A region shaped by coast and mainland

Veneto’s story begins with a long divide between its coast and continental interior. After the fall of the Western Empire and the Lombard invasion, the mainland came under Lombard rule while the coastal area became the birthplace of the Republic of Venice, from 697. Over time, the two parts of the region would be connected by politics, trade, and culture.

From the year 1000, feudal structures began to break down, and free communes developed into powerful lordships. Ezzelino III da Romano became lord of Verona, Vicenza, and Padua. Later, Venetian rule reached inland, and important families of the Republic commissioned Palladio to design the magnificent villas that still shape the countryside.

The region’s history continued through changing rule and conflict. Napoleonic and Austrian rule ended after the Third Italian War of Independence in 1866. During the First World War, Veneto was a battleground again, and the Piave area held out for months. For a concise overview of this history, visit Italia.it’s Veneto guide.

Venice and the lagoon

Venice is inseparable from its lagoon. The city’s island setting, the smaller Venetian islands, St Mark’s Square, and the Grand Canal offer a sense of place unlike anywhere else. UNESCO recognizes Venice and its Lagoon as a World Heritage property, reflecting the close relationship between the city and its watery landscape.

Venice’s traditions also carry the region’s history into the present. The Venice Carnival has been a public holiday since 1296 and includes the Flight of the Angel from St Mark’s Campanile. The Feast of the Redeemer, held on the third Sunday in July, marks the end of the plague of 1575 to 1577. And on the first Sunday in September, the Historical Regatta brings races to the Grand Canal.

Verona and its Roman layer

Verona is often introduced as the city of Romeo and Juliet, but its historic centre also tells a story that stretches across many centuries. Roman remains include the Porta Borsari, Arco dei Gavi, Ponte Pietra, Roman theatre, and the Arena, the Roman amphitheatre among the city’s Roman remains and one of the best preserved in Italy.

The City of Verona was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 under criteria (ii) and (iv). UNESCO notes how the city’s urban structure reflects its evolution over 2,000 years. Its layers of Roman monuments and Renaissance art make Verona a place to take your time. The stonework has plenty to say, even if you arrive with Romeo and Juliet in mind.

Artistic depiction of a Roman amphitheatre arcade in Verona; this is an illustration, not a photograph.

Vicenza and the Palladian villas

In Vicenza, Palladio’s work gives the city and surrounding countryside a distinctive architectural rhythm. The Olympic Theatre and Palladian Basilica are among the city’s notable works, while villas designed for leading families of the Republic of Venice bring a sense of order and elegance to the landscape.

The UNESCO World Heritage property City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto recognizes this architectural legacy. As you explore the city or picture the villas in their gardens, it becomes clear how a single architect’s work can help define a region’s identity.

Artistic depiction of a Palladian villa and garden in Veneto; this is an illustration, not a photograph.

Padua and Giotto’s frescoes

Padua is known as the city of Sant’Antonio, and its artistic heritage offers another memorable stop. The Scrovegni Chapel is covered entirely by frescoes painted by Giotto. The chapel forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles.

Beyond the chapel, Prato della Valle gives Padua a grand civic space. Italia.it describes it as Europe’s fifth largest square. Together, the frescoes and the square show two different sides of the city: carefully painted scenes within a chapel and a broad, open space at the heart of urban life.

The Dolomites on the northern edge

Veneto’s northern landscapes bring a striking change of scale. In the province of Belluno, Cortina d’Ampezzo sits within the Dolomiti Superski area, while the Three Peaks of Lavaredo and Lake Misurina are among the region’s notable mountain sights. Lake Sorapis, at almost 2,000 metres, adds another vivid point on the map.

The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage property. Here, the region’s story opens outward from cities and architecture to mountain peaks and lakes. Veneto does not ask you to choose between art and nature. It gives you room to appreciate both.

Treviso and the Prosecco Hills

Near Treviso, the Prosecco Hills of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano offer a cultural landscape shaped by vineyards. The hills have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. The property covers 9,191.2 hectares and is defined by hogback hills, small vine plots on narrow grassy terraces called ciglioni, and vineyards of Glera grapes. The terraces have been in use since the 17th century, while the locally developed bellussera vine-training technique dates to the 19th century.

Artistic depiction of a terraced vineyard in the Prosecco Hills; this is an illustration, not a photograph.

A taste of Veneto

Veneto’s food traditions reflect its many landscapes and local products. Polenta is often served with codfish, and bigoli, a fresh pasta popular across the region, is good with duck or fish sauce. In Venice, baccalà mantecato is a preparation of salt cod whipped until creamy.

Treviso’s Radicchio Rosso comes in two variants, Precoce and Tardivo, both produced in the area for centuries. Risotto al radicchio brings the vegetable into a simple, satisfying dish. The region is also known for Grana Padano DOP and Asiago cheese, which dates back to the year 1000. Verona’s Pandoro carries a tradition dating to the 13th century.

Two wines named in the region’s food traditions are Prosecco di Valdobbiadene and Amarone della Valpolicella. Amarone is defined by its method: the grapes are left to dry before fermentation. And what about tiramisu? Its origins are debated, but Treviso has long been associated with the dessert. That connection is worth sharing, even when the story is not settled.

For the italian american chicago community, Veneto is also a place where family history often begins. Many families in the area trace a branch of the tree to Venice, Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Treviso or the mountain towns of Belluno. If you are looking for a chicago italian american club that pairs professional connection with shared heritage, CIAP is a good place to start those conversations.

Continue the journey with CIAP

Veneto offers a lot to explore, from lagoon traditions to mountain landscapes. Which part would you want to discover first, and where should our journey take us for Region Six? Tell us in the comments, and stay in touch with Chicagoland Italian American Professionals. You can meet local professionals through our Business Directory or learn about CIAP membership. Monthly breakfast meetings resume in January 2027. For more information, email Salvatore.