Visit Veneto - Tourism and travel tips for your vacation or weekend.

The northeast Italian region of Veneto is a crucible of art, history, culinary delights and superior wine culture.

Foodies will enjoy the freedom to choose the fruits of the farms, land, sea and woodland in this eclectic region spanning forests, plains, lakes and beaches. Sparkling wine lovers should head to the Prosecco hinterland of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano in the province of Treviso, where the DOP vines grow on gently rolling hills, yielding the sparkling wine that's taken the world by storm. For a taste experience, ask for the premium, revered variety Cartizze growing on 1000 foot high Prosecco vineyards. Lovers of red wine should head to the province of Verona and enjoy the sublime taste of Valpolicella.

Further north, the Vicenza area promises to delight visitors with its Baccala alla Vicentina dish, a rich meal of stockfish served with hearty polenta (maize meal). The Asiago plateau is famed for its cheeses, such as tangy Asiago DOP and Morlacco del Grappa, and hearty drinks thanks to prized Grappa schnapps and wine varieties like the delicious Merlot dei Colli Berici and fruity, delicate white Breganze Bianco (Valle del Brenta).

Regional capital Venice offers much in the way of foodie delights- try the Sarde in Saor, a tasty spiced sardine dish of spaghetti or penne, accompanied by earthy red Orto di Venezia. Travellers to the northernmost Veneto province, Belluno, will enjoy instead warming meal of polenta served with garlic and herb mushrooms, baked cheese or venison, accompanied by the northern wine varieties of Cabernet and Marzemino.

The Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei) are a series of hills in Italy to the south of Padua. They stretch from 300 to 600km high and some of the highest peaks are visible from Venice.

Containing a range of natural springs, they have become popular for spa breaks with a host of wellness activities on offer including hot-tubs and mud-baths.

In addition, the Euganean Hills Regional Park (an area covering 18000 hectares) is a favourite with travellers looking for outdoor pursuits, historical sites and natural plant and animal life.

In addition to the many activities in the hills, there is also a collection of wineries which produce a range of Cabernets, Chardonnays, Merlots, Moscatos and Pinots from their grapes, in addition to tours and tastings throughout the area.

The mountainous Veneto region in Italy is well known for the many lakes that can be found in the area, which range from the large Lake Garda to the many smaller lakes that provide a beautiful backdrop to any holiday.

Visitors can explore the ancient architecture of Venice or the more modern attractions of Treviso before looking to spend some time exploring the natural beauty of the lakes of the region and their amazing history. The largest and most famous lake in the area is Lake Garda, which is the oldest area of human habitation in the area and can be explored for its history in terms of fossils and ancient buildings.

Touring the lake by boat is a great way to see the stunning architecture of the houses built by the rich and famous of Europe over the centuries set against the mountains that surround the lake. A little more excitement can be found with the various sports available on the lake and around it. The region is now known for its mountain biking, hiking and plentiful winter sports.

Whether choosing to explore Garda or Lake Fimon the wildlife is only part of the story of any holiday. The area is known for producing some of the finest wines, olives and fish dishes in Italy and a large number of restaurants, cafe's and inns allow the Mediterranean influenced dishes to be sampled at their freshest and finest in classically Italian meals.

If you are starting to think about your next summer holidays and you are hoping for a warm place where you will be able to enjoy cultural places as much as some good rest on an amazing beach, get ready to fly all the way to Italy.

Many people don't know this, but Veneto, the region where Venice is located, has a lot more to offer to its tourists apart from gondole, canals and amazing architecture: a huge amount of paradisaic beaches.

A town called Caorle could be your first destination once you arrive to Veneto. This town is seriously gorgeous and is filled with lots of extremely colorful buildings which will make walking through it a great experience. Beaches are extremely quiet so they are ideal to relax under the strong Italian sun and they can also be the best place to go to if you are traveling with kids.

Another great town you must absolutely visit is Chioggia. There isn't a lot to see there, but you will find a great beach in it. Although you will have to pay to access it, there you will find various services as well as a lot of restaurants where you will have the best fresh fish, lots of cool bars to have a couple of drinks at night and even a couple of spas where you can go if relaxing on the beach isn't enough for you.

Then there is also Bibione, another great town for you and your children. The beach there has extremely transparent water and fine sands and, the best thing, is you won't have to pay a thing to access it. Also, the water isn't too deep, which means you will let your children be as carefree as they want without you having to worry much. And, if you want them to have as much fun as possible, take them to one of the many mini-clubs you will find there so they can make some new friends. Also, in Bibione you will find a couple of water parks which will keep the whole family happy and entertained. 

And if you are looking for some great beaches where you will be able to to practice some sport, you must go to Lido di Jesolo, which is very close to Venice. There, you will get the chance to hire boats and kayaks, rent all the equipment needed to do some scuba diving and, of course, practice some beach volley on the fine sands of Lido di Jesolo.

And last, but not least, if you want to relax some more, try going to Rosolina Mare where you will find nine kilometers of unspoilt beaches. They are never too crowded, which means you will find enough space to lay on the sand and go for a relaxing swim in its turquoise waters.

Lago di Garda (known as Lake Garda in English), is a beautiful, picturesque area found in the north of Italy, about halfway between Venice and Milan.

Thanks to its mild Mediterranean climate, Lago di Garda (the largest lake in Italy) is extremely popular with tourists both from Italy and further afield. It certainly is a charming place to visit with its lush olive groves, its orange and lemon trees, and its bright blue waters.

As well as guided tours around the famous lake itself, there are plenty of other things for everyone to enjoy. If you love to be outdoors, why not learn a new skill such as sailing or windsurfing on the lake? If you are already an expert you can take part in competitions too.

If architecture and history are more your idea of a perfect day out, you can’t miss the extraordinary Castello Scaligero; the building dominates the skyline with its 31 metre high tower. Lake Garda is stunning no matter what the time of year or the season, but perhaps the best time to visit is May, June or September. In these months, although it is still lovely and warm, it is not as hot as in the height of summer.

Equally, the evenings remain warm unlike in the winter when the temperature can drop suddenly.