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Small Towns in the Veneto

My husband and I will be spending several days in Italy, and would appreciate thoughts on what we. might do. (we will have been in Europe for 6 weeks so, by this time, we'll be winding down). We are in our 60/70s, well-traveled (love Venice and Verona but not this trip). We enjoy touring around smaller towns off the beaten path (we will have a car), history, culture and easy hiking. Although we like to drive, I'm happy to avoid larger. cities and the attendant driving/parking problems.

We will be staying at a B@B 30 mins E of Venice and I've drafted a tentative itinerary - and would grateful for any comments or suggestions.

Friday. - arrive from Slovenia
Saturday. - Udine. (1 1/2 hrs from lodging)
Sunday - Maser (Villa Barbaro) and Possagnano - perhaps Asolo (1 hr from lodging)
Monday - Sesto al Reghena - Cordovado - Lignano Sabbiadoro. (45 mins from lodging) note - selected because most sites closed Mondays
Tuesday - Conegliano and Vittorio Veneto
Wednesday - Aquileia and Trieste

Other options -- Treviso, Bassano cel Grappa, Padua and Vicenza (are they manageable with a car?), Dolomites (Belluno and Agordo), Grado, Montagnana, Pordenone/Sacile/Porcia. or Spilimbergo/San Daniele/Fagagna.

If we miss any of these, will we regret it later? Should we skip any of the towns we are thinking of? Other ideas??

Thank you so very much!!

Posted by
521 posts

Vicenza is lovely- I was lucky enough to live there for two years. It’s a small city and traffic is limited inside the historic center, but it’s definitely a place to visit if you love architecture and Andrea Palladio (architect who designed many villas). His Olympic theater is something pretty amazing. A great hotel there is Campo Marzio, right outside the historic center city walls. Vicenza is a small city and can be visited in half a day. Padova (Padua) is also a beautiful city- I used to take the train there weekly for the market. I would put it on the list as well. Treviso is charming, I have a friend who lives there and I was only there once but enjoyed strolling through the historic center. Loved Bassano too. Verona is also in that area. It might be easier to pick a homebase and just take the train to the different towns. They are all fairly near each other. I am living back in the states now, but travel to Italy every summer. I’ll be going to Trieste and Aquilea, too, for the first time in a few weeks. 😀

Posted by
521 posts

I just noticed that you mentioned Verona for another time, but wanted to mention that it is opera season in the beautiful Roman arena there.

Posted by
11676 posts

We have enjoyed spending time in the Veneto. Bassano del Grappa is a favorite.

Posted by
8 posts

Soave is a great medieval wall town . It also has a Castello, plus the home of several Soave wine makers.