Let’s Go To…. Veneto!

Our tour of Italy continues with the region of Veneto, located in northeastern Italy, directly north of Emilia-Romagna. Veneto is the 4^th most populated region of Italy and is divided into seven provinces. Stretching from the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea, Veneto is one of the most geographically diverse regions making up the country. It also shares the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda, with two other regions.

Picturesque canal in Venice

Venice is the capital city of Veneto and is famous for its canals that connect more than 100 small islands in the Adriatic Sea’s Venice Lagoon. As Italy became a battleground for the Huns, Goths, Eastern Romans, and the Lombards, the Veneti tribe (where the name Veneto was derived) was forced out of the mainland areas of north-eastern Italy, seeking refuge among the lagoons. Settlers drove millions of wooden piles deep into the muddy subsoil which were then petrified by the mineral-rich silt and hardened over centuries to support the growing city. What started out as simple canals and bridges connecting the islands out of necessity became a dense network of more than 150 canals and over 400 bridges.

Trade and commerce grew- fueled by salt, fish, and control over Eastern Mediterranean routes- making Venice one of the greatest trading powers in medieval and Renaissance Europe. This seaborne empire became The Republic of Venice, given the epithet La Serenissima (the most serene), and existed from 697 CE to 1797 CE. Similarities in culinary heritage that still exist today between coastal Croatia and Venice can be attributed to this republic, as Croatian territories were a part of The Republic of Venice during this time.

Iconic Venetian gondolas

One of the islands in the Venice Lagoon is Murano, famous worldwide for its centuries-old glassmaking traditions. Other than for Murano glass, Venice has earned a spot in art history books for the Venetian style of painting. Referred to as the most important artist of Venetian Renaissance painting, Tiziano Vecellio (Titian) started his career in Venice. Giovanni Bellini, for whom the cocktail is named, was also one of the most prominent figures in the school of Venetian painting. The early adoption of oil paint on canvas made this painting style unique for the time, facilitated by Venice's trade ports providing exotic pigments and Northern European technique, thus replacing traditional tempera on wood panels.

Murano Glass

Verona, another popular city in Veneto, serves as the famous setting of Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Today, you can still watch a play in the Arena di Verona, an extremely well-preserved Roman amphitheater originally built in the 1^st century. Shakespeare sets the scene in the opening lines of this well-known tragedy with, “in fair Verona, where we lay our scene.” Shakespeare took much inspiration from Italy, using The Republic of Venice as context for Othello while the city of Padova hosted The Taming of the Shrew.

Church overlooking vineyards in Veneto

Unlike in the south of Italy, pasta isn’t the staple in Veneto, where both polenta and rice are more common. One of the region’s most famous first courses is risotto al nero di seppia or squid ink risotto. The iconic Italian espresso dessert also hails from here and was originally called “pick me up” which in Italian translates to its name- tiramisu. Not only do fan favorite dishes come from Veneto, but this region is also known for its production of popular alcoholic beverages. Prosecco, a white sparkling wine, is produced from the Glera grape grown locally in the Treviso province and named after the village of Prosecco. The area where these grapes are grown, Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene (the hills of Prosecco and the Valdobbiadene areas), is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1919, Aperol liquor was created in Padova and is still enjoyed today by people around the world, as part of the iconic Aperol Spritz.

There's more of Italy to explore! Keep an eye on the BreyerFest Blog for our next exciting destination. Arrivederci!

Tiramisu