The cities of Veneto

Venezia, but that’s not exactly a secret.

Also in the area but not in Veneto are Mantova and Trento.

We will stay in Verona and take day trips to the other 3 cities for 5 days.

We have been to Venezia several times so are exploring elsewhere. We will head to Bologna afterwards for another 5 days.

Based on your course, I wouldn’t do Trento then. Mantova would still be on the table. Another option is Ravenna (not Veneto).

We planned a trip exclusively to the Veneto a few years ago with a focus on Palladian architecture. We had been to Venice many times and wanted to explore this surrounding area. It was a great trip!
A highlight was returning to Bassano del Grappa with its Alpine feel. And each of the other cities all had beautiful Palladian Villas to visit. Study Palladio and Palladian architecture before you leave for this trip.

We really enjoyed the historical center of Treviso for six nights one September. It feels like a small town unless you walk into the newer sections. Many streets in the lovely old part of Treviso are either pedestrian-only (often narrow and porticoed) or have so little traffic they are usually full of people walking. This makes Treviso a wonderfully relaxing town to be in. Many buildings have frescoed walls and look quite Venetian. There are small canals and bridges and there were flowers everywhere. Several museums and churches with the late medieval/early Renaissance art I like best. Walk on top of the encircling walls, too.

Here's some of the wire mesh art of Mario Martinelli in Treviso --- it's like street art but it's real art that looks like shadows on the city walls: https://www.mariomartinelli.it/en/ombre-rete/

Hello annktravels, and welcome to the boards,

Verona a lovely, arty, traffic free old town city with kind of a faded grandeur and cafe culture. But parking - especially around the old town - can be brutal so you should make sure you have parking sorted out if you are going have a car there.

If you like modern art - and better yet a mix of modern and old and modern art - don't miss the under prompted Palazzo Maffei just off Piazza Erbe in Verona. Verona also has an intact Roman Arena and Theater - which includes a small but very interesting Archeological Museum set partially in an old Monastery.

If you have any interest in Roman ruins do not sleep on Brescia which has amazing Roman ruins and combine that with the nearby Santa Giulia Museum. The basement level of the Santa Giulia is actually in situ Roman baths and some of the interior museum walls are existing Roman walls. The town has a series of connected piazzas and is topped by a castle. I personally found Brescia much like Padua but more to my tastes, but if you are looking for Palladian architecture then it can't compete.

Lake Garda is also very close. The lower part of the lake is served by train and is very touristy but getting north to places like Malcesine or smaller towns on the coast that are only reachable by car can cut down on the tourist factor.

Hope that helps, have a great trip,
=Tod

The Veneto is so full of special places, but for my usual list of fav places Verona is a bit far west. I hope you don't wind up driving too much.

Another vote for Bassano del Grappo with the bridge, and getting up into the foothills of the Alps near there, easy drive.

Do you like classical sculpture, and funereal memorials? The studio of Canova is northwest of Padova - all his pieces are there in plaster casts. A fabulous display, but a bit far from Verona.

Do you drink - or have any interest in - Soave? Just off the autostrada.

And all the Palladian buildings, including the Rotunda in Vicenza.

My base in the area is Vicenza.

Ciao fellow travelers! You have all given me valuable information and I am so grateful. This forum is wonderful. My only regret is that we haven’t given ourselves enough time in the Veneto. But we never do! I will keep checking back to this list and again, thank you very much.