Cities

The cities and towns of Veneto are among the most beautiful reasons to explore the region. Venice is its incomparable jewel, shaped by centuries of history, art and life on the lagoon. Padua combines one of Europe’s oldest universities with magnificent churches, arcades, lively squares, and the extraordinary Prato della Valle. Verona is known around the world for its Roman Arena and the story of Romeo and Juliet, but behind these famous landmarks lies a city with a remarkably rich history of its own.

Closer to the Adriatic coast, the atmosphere changes completely. Chioggia is a colorful lagoon town of canals, fishing boats, bridges, and narrow streets. It is sometimes compared to Venice, but has an unmistakable character of its own. Caorle is smaller and wonderfully picturesque, with colorful houses, narrow streets, a historic cathedral, and its distinctive cylindrical bell tower just a few steps from the sea.

Mestre shows yet another face of Veneto. Often seen primarily as the gateway to Venice and one of the region’s major transport hubs, it is also a city in its own right. Its modern architecture includes the striking brutalist Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Also worth noticing is Ospedale dell’Angelo, one of Italy’s most modern hospitals, whose glass interior, filled with greenery, feels more like a vast botanical garden than a traditional hospital.

Portogruaro has the elegant atmosphere of a small Venetian town, with arcaded streets, canals, historic palaces, and watermills along the Lemene River. Just a few kilometers away, Concordia Sagittaria takes visitors much further back in time. Its history reaches back more than two thousand years, with remains of the Roman city of Iulia Concordia alongside early Christian and medieval monuments.

And these are only some of the places worth discovering. Vicenza, Treviso, Belluno, Rovigo, and many smaller towns reveal other parts of Veneto’s history and identity. Some are famous throughout the world, while others can still feel surprisingly undiscovered. Together, they show just how much there is to see beyond Venice and the best-known destinations of northern Italy.