Veneto and its attractions
BELLUNO | Sospirolo
It rises on the slopes of Monte Sperone, from which its ancient Latin name sub speronem seems to come from. Some archaeological findings demonstrate the Roman origin of the village and in past times the nearby Valle del Mis and the Valle del Cordevole were important transit routes. At the mouth of the Valle del Cordevole there is one of the most important monuments in Belluno: the Certosa di Verdana. It is a monastic complex of the Carthusian Order, whose construction began in 1456. Its history is closely linked to that of the hospitales, accommodation facilities for travellers, which were located on the edge of the Valle del Cordevole route. FUN FACT: Sospirolo was the birthplace of Girolamo Segato, explorer, and naturalist of the nineteenth century, nicknamed the “Petrifier” because he perfected the mineralization technique.
PADOVA | Baone
A small town located in the southern strip of the Euganean Hills, its name presumably derives from the celebrations in honour of Bacchus, which took place in pre-Roman times. Its origins are documented by the archaeological matter found during the excavations, amongst which numerous findings of tombstones and inscriptions from the Roman period stand out. On Monte Gemola it is possible to visit Villa Beatrice, a convent transformed into a villa in the 17th century, which takes its name from the noblewoman and nun Beatrice I d’Este. Some rooms of the building house the Natural History Museum, which illustrates the flora and fauna of the Euganean territory; from here it is also possible to enjoy a spectacular view of the plain and the surrounding mountains. FUN FACT: From the square of Baone a characteristic 30 km itinerary commences dedicated to the discovery of 13 fountains immersed in the evocative landscape of the Euganean Hills.
ROVIGO | Loreo
Located in the Lower Polesine, between the Adige and the Po rivers, Loreo extends along the banks of the Naviglio, once a navigable canal. The ancient Lauretum takes its name from the laurel plant, which in the past abounded in these areas. It was always linked to Venice, which considered it a military and economic cornerstone, it is still marked today by the imprint of the Serenissima, both in its architecture and in the colour of the houses and streets. Amongst the main places to visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which houses important paintings of the Venetian school, but also the Zago theater, an Art Nouveau building inaugurated in 1891. FUN FACT: The first news of a gondola dates to a document of 1094, in which the Doge Vitale Farlier freed Loreo from the debt he owed him for a certain number of gondolas.
TREVISO | Pieve di Soligo
One of the oldest rural districts of the Piave, it rises between the hills at the foot of the Prealps and the Lierza and Soligo rivers, from which it bears its name. Thanks to its favourable geographical position, the city was defined as the “Pearl of the Quartier del Piave”. In the centre of the town the Cathedral can be found, a neo-Romanesque monument built in the early 20th century by the architect Domenico Rupolo dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta. The most valuable work of art kept inside is the Altarpiece by the 16th century painter Francesco da Milano. In Pieve you can dedicate yourself to walking and cycling routes along the banks of the Soligo river, with naturalistic excursions on the Lierza, which marks the border with the municipalities of Refrontolo and Susegana. FUN FACT: Andrea Zanzotto, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, spent his entire life in Pieve di Soligo between his lyrical verses and civil commitment.
VERONA | Grezzana
Located halfway between Valpantena and Lessinia, its name probably derived from the presence of Roman temples consecrated to the Gratiae or from the Roman name Gratianus. Its origins dates back to the 4th/5th century when a group of missionaries arrived to the valley to evangelize its inhabitants. Amongst the places of main interest the famous Villa Arvedi stands out, the largest Venetian style villa in the province of Verona. Close to Lake Garda, at the foot of the Lessini mountains, it was bought in 1824 by Giovanni Antonio Arvedi. The Baroque-style building has several interesting rooms including the Sala dei Titani, the Sala dei Cesari and the charming Italian garden, which was created as an elegant and sober ornament in 1650. FUN FACT: In Grezzana the Torre di Falasco can be visited together with the nearby caves, which, in the 17th century, were used as a refuge by brigands hired by noble families.
