Veneto

Pietro nel mondo

Belluno Padua Rovigo Treviso Venice Verona Vicenza

Even though I have never lived here, I am half Venetian; this makes me feel at home every time I come here. This region has everything:

unique mountains like the Dolomites, dream hills like Valpolicella, plains, low coasts with immense golden beaches, a

lagoon, territories like Polesine, immortal cities like Venice, rich in charm like Verona and Padua, a myriad of small towns

with dream castles and villas… And then here the Po and Adige reach their mouths, the two longest rivers in

Italy; there are more than one hundred kilometers of coast of Lake Garda, the largest Italian lake. And beautiful little-known territories like Lessinia with landscapes like an impressionist painting. Venetian cuisine is complete; among my

favorite dishes are: Risi e bisi, Risotto with red Radicchio from Treviso, Baccalà alla vicentina with polenta, and for dessert Tiramisu or Pandoro di Verona; in wines, the whites excel, with Prosecco di Valdobbiadene and Cartizze above all.

Province of Belluno

Area: 3608.86 km² Population: 197,767 Municipalities: 60

Belluno: Martyrs' Square

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Belluno

Longarone

Dino Buzzati Theatre, neoclassical style building

The new Church of Santa Maria Immacolata

Pedavena

One of the most famous breweries in Italy

Province of Padua

Area: 2145.19 Km² Population: 931,469 Municipalities: 101

Padua: Basilica of St. Anthony

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Padua

Prato della Valle, the largest square in the city with some of the 78 statues that are part of it in the foreground

Padua

The historic Caffè Pedrocchi, also known as the "Caffè without Doors" because a century ago it was open day and night, was at the time a meeting place for the Paduan elite

Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, better known as the Duomo, built in the 16th century and in whose work Michelangelo participated

Province of Rovigo

Area: 1823.50 Km² Population: 227,452 Municipalities: 50

Taglio di Po: Church of San Francesco d'Assisi

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Porto Tolle

Arquà Polesine

Rovigo

On a day in early

January I wandered around this town scattered in the Po Delta.

Thus began a fascinating journey in this land, formed by

several islands, located below the level of the Adriatic Sea; all

defended by mighty embankments. Porto Tolle is composed of three islands and

therefore completely surrounded by water. I skirt the Po of

Venice and after crossing the bridge I enter the island of Donzella where

the town hall is located in the locality of Cà Tiepolo; a few photos in

the town hall square where there is the statue of Ciceruacchio, battle name of

Angelo Brunetti, hero of the Risorgimento. I reach the

Sacca di Scardovari to admire the characteristic houses of

the mussel and clam fishermen; this lagoon for the

locals is an economic treasure; for me it is a romantic place, never seen

before. I leave this land at sunset where sun and water

meet in the triumph of nature; soon it's time to look for a trattoria where you can taste the specialties of Polesine.

An afternoon in the lower Veneto

to breathe a bit of tranquility in the flood plains of

Polesine. Wandering aimlessly I found this little village between Rovigo

and the Po River. Having left the car in the large parking lot of Piazza

Giovanni Paolo II, I visit the adjacent parish church of

Sant’Andrea Apostolo. This imposing religious building,

despite numerous renovations, retains a beautiful facade

and a superb bell tower; the interior is also worth seeing with a few

minutes of meditation in front of the stupendous high altar. A few

steps and I reach the Castle, a beautiful military architecture

often contested between the Venetians and the Este family. This fortress

surrounded by a moat, has a large park where it is pleasant

to walk; I have been there out of season but it seems to be often

the scene of important events. Leaving the town I stop to observe from the outside the current Villa Pasqualini Canato, which in the Renaissance past was an Estense Hunting Lodge.

I spent a day in

this quiet town, easy to get around by car. In the evening

I parked conveniently a stone's throw from the center near the

historic Porta San Bortolo; the menu of the chosen restaurant had

low prices... too bad they were mini portions; which added

to a good Morellino di Scanzano, to be able to have a decent dinner

made a nice sum. A walk in the area closed to

traffic; passing by Piazza Garibaldi with the elegant and illuminated

Palazzo della Camera di Commercio, and with the statue of

the Hero of the Two Worlds in the center. After passing the Town Hall you enter the

large square, the heart of the city with the nineteenth-century monument to

King Vittorio Emanuele II and the important Palazzo Roncale and the ancient

Palazzo Roverella. I continue in the relaxed winter atmosphere up to

the monument to Giacomo Matteotti; behind him what remains of the

medieval part of Rovigo: the Castle and Torre Donà.

Province of Treviso

Area: 2479.26 Km² Population: 878,545 Municipalities: 94

San Polo di Piave: Neo-Gothic Papadopoli-Giol Castle

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Noventa di Piave

Oderzo

Town Hall

Piazza Grande with the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista

San Polo di Piave

Parish Church of the Conversion of St. Paul

Metropolitan City of Venice

Area: 2477.50 Km² Population: 834,940 Municipalities: 44

Quarto d'Altino: Church of San Michele Arcangelo

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Chioggia

Cavallino Treporti

Roncade

Street near the marina

Beach in front of the Cavallino Lighthouse

Villa Giustinian, Venetian villa surrounded by medieval walls

Mestre

Historic center, in the background the Clock Tower built in the 12th century

The very central Via Piave

Galleria Matteotti, designed and built in Liberty style

Venice

Grand Canal

The Barefoot Bridge

Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth

Province of Verona

Area: 3096.76 km² Population: 927,231 Municipalities: 98

Verona: the Arena

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Gardaland

Sommacampagna

Lasize

A few

years ago I spent a summer day in one of the most

famous amusement parks in Italy. Everything was easy, from buying

tickets online, to convenient parking, to free access to

every attraction. And here comes the best part, because to get on the little

train that goes all the way around the park there is an endless line. With a

little patience I also get the chance to enjoy the ride that

for a few minutes makes me feel like a child again. From there to the Jungle Rapid,

where between waterfalls and sprays of water launched from cannons

controlled by spectators I cool off a bit on this torrid

afternoon in July. In search of strong emotions I get on the Blue

Tornado, a "plane" that tosses me around, turns me upside down, upsets me. A

break to eat a pizza in one of the many refreshment points

inside the park, and off to try other rides. One of the

most exciting attractions was Mammut, a small roller coaster

with thrilling acrobatics. It gets dark, they turn on the lights and I take a

romantic ride on giant teacups; a last walk in the

Park that slowly becomes empty and time to get back on the highway

that takes me home.

A few

kilometers from the city of Verona I visited this large

agricultural and industrial center. Parking near Villa Bocca

Trezza, walking along the very high fence wall, I headed

towards the nearby city center. Arriving at the entrance of

this eighteenth-century villa, better known here as "Mille e una Rosa", I came across two

plaques: one recalls that this

place during the Risorgimento gave home to illustrious people;

during the First War of Independence to the Duke of Genoa

Ferdinando di Savoia son of King Carlo Alberto, during the

III War of Independence to Alberto Arciduca d'Austria; a ritual photo

among the commemorative plaques. A few steps and I find myself in front of the

Parish Church of Sant'Andrea apostolo patron saint of the city.

It's lunchtime and nearby I find a trattoria where

I can have lunch in the courtyard under a cool pergola. Polenta and

salted cod to lick your lips; I accompanied them with a glass of

Bianco di Custoza, a wine produced from the vineyards around the

hamlet of the same name southwest of Sommacampagna. In the afternoon, complete relaxation

walking in the shade of the large trees of the Villa Venier park.

One

summer Sunday I visited this village on the Venetian shore of

Lake Garda. At the entrance to the village there is a huge

parking lot where I left my car. From there, in a couple of minutes I

found myself in front of a beautiful city wall inside

which there is a maze of streets with shops of all kinds. I pass in front of

the parish church dedicated to Saints Zenone and Martino; on the

beautiful neoclassical entrance, there are two large niches with

the statues of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Zeno. I reach Piazza

Vittorio Emanuele, the small city lounge at the end of which is

the Town Hall, which on the facade facing the small

port reads “Lasize Primo Comune d’Italia”. I pass by the

Porta del Lion, so called because on the wall there is a

marble sculpture depicting the Lion of Saint Mark, symbol

of the Serenissima Republic of Venice. After a mint granita,

enjoyed in front of the beautiful Scaligero Castle, I lie down on a

large concrete bench on the lake shore; on the horizon,

ever larger and larger every minute, a boat appears, shuttling

from one shore of Lake Garda to the other. It is sunset when I leave the

fortified village to return home.

Bardolino

Tourist port on Lake Garda

Hotel Catullo with the remains of the Medieval Fortification next to it

Francesco Lenotti Lakeside

Spiazzi

Verona

Sanctuary in the rock Madonna della Corona

Juliet's Balcony

Fortified bridge over the Adige River

adjacent to the Castelvecchio Fortress

Province of Vicenza

Area: 2720.42 Km² Population: 854,568 Municipalities: 113

Vicenza: Lords Square

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Asiago

Lonigo

Vicenza

Piazza Carli: in the foreground the Fountain of the Faun

Church of the Most Holy Redeemer called the Cathedral

Captain's Palace