The Veneto region offers travelers all manner of adventures from the cultural, intellectual sort right down to the seat-of-your-pants thrilling variety. Whether planning your itinerary entirely around a particular activity like a week-long cycling holiday or a language immersion course, or if you're trying to offset your museum and church-heavy itinerary with some off-the-beaten track activities, there are a tremendous number of opportunities to help you broaden your experiences, live the culture and acquaint yourself with the locals. This book focuses on exploring the Veneto's wine zones while highlighting cultural adventures, sports adventures, adventures for the soul, family adventures, driving adventures and many other types of activities to help you discover more about the land, and about yourself. Writers, painters, historians and philosophers have long been inspired by the dramatic landscapes of the Veneto Region and, by translating astute observations on canvas or in print, have captured the beauty of a land and a people that have evolved over many centuries. Situated in Italy's northernmost zone, few other regions boast such diverse landscapes. From the low sandy coastline where the Veneto meets the Adriatic Sea, to the mighty Alpine peaks, rolling hills, thermal springs and lagoon systems, the varied landscape makes for lively getaways any season of the year. Veneto, a name that derives from Veneti, a pre-Roman people who once inhabited the area, is divided into seven provinces: Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice, Verona and Vicenza. During Venice's golden age, aristocrats brought their wealth to the Veneto countryside and commissioned architects to build agricultural estates and country homes. Today, more than 4,000 villas remind us of that period, the most famous of which were designed by 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio. The Veneto's depth, however, extends far beyond its artistic treasures. Vineyard-clad hills throughout the Veneto produce internationally acclaimed wines including Valpolicella, Soave, Bardolino and Custoza. From grappa, Bassano del Grappa's distilled liquor, and Valdobbiadene's sparkling Prosecco wine, to Asiago's cheese from mountain dairies, and seafood from the lagoon, the Veneto is a food- and wine-lovers' delight. This guide tells you about the wine-growing regions especially: the Euganean Hills, Prosecco, Soave, Cistoza, Bardolino, Valpolicella, Bassano del Grappa - how to visit the vineyards, taste the wines, trying the best restaurants, and the best places to stay in each region. All of the details you need to know are here so your trip will be unforgettable.
