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Veneto: A Journey Through Forgotten Mountain Villages
In addition to the romantic city on the water—which is in danger of losing its magic due to the influx of tourists—there is so much more to experience in the Veneto region. The region stretches from Belluno, near the Dolomites, to Rovigo, near the Po Delta in the south—an area ideal for birdwatching. Veneto is one of Italy’s most visited regions, but in much of the area, you don’t really notice that yet. Read here to find out why you should visit those lesser-known spots in Veneto.
9 UNESCO Sites in Veneto
Veneto has many walled cities due to its strategic location near Austria and Germany. For example, Citadella, located between Vicenza and Padua. Throughout the region, you’ll see the flag of Veneto featuring the winged lion, the symbol of St. Mark and the Republic of Venice. The region boasts no fewer than 9 UNESCO sites.
Charming mountain villages in the Altopiano Asiago
The Asiago Plateau lies at an altitude of 1,000 meters. It is a mountainous region that is flat at the top. The Altopiano Asiago is also known as the “Altopiano dei 7 comuni.” Asiago, Enego, Foza, Gallio, Lusiana, Roana, Rotzo, and Conco are the seven authentic mountain villages located in the area. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from Venice, and the journey offers stunning views of varied landscapes. The area is interesting in all seasons; in the fall, the forests turn beautiful colors, and in the spring, the green fields are in bloom. The area is known for its delicious Asiago cheese and its many agritourism farms.
Asiago
The town itself is fairly new—it was completely destroyed during World WarI —but that doesn’t make it any less charming. A car-free town center with a colorful shopping street serves as the backdrop twice a year (in the spring and fall) for the transport of cows to and from the mountains. This is done to provide the cattle with the freshest possible grass in every season. In winter, the town is an ideal base for winter sports in the mountains.
Stargazing in Asiago
The Asiago Astrophysical Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the University of Padua. It is located on the Asiago Plateau and features a massive telescope that can be visited by appointment. During your visit, you’ll receive an explanation of how the telescope works and its capabilities. Moreover, it is very dark there, and on a clear night, you can see many stars with the naked eye.
Bassano del Grappa
In addition to the grappa produced there, Bassano del Grappa is famous for the Ponte Vecchio, also known as the Ponte degli Alpini (Bridge of the Soldiers), a bridge designed by Andrea Palladio in memory of the soldiers of World WarI. White asparagus is grown in Bassano and is often served with risotto. Bassano has a rich cultural heritage and is home to many artisans and artists.
Cherries from Marostica
Marostica is a small village built on a hillside. At the foot of the village stands a castle with a wall that extends all the way to the second castle at the top of the village. You can climb parts of the wall. In the village square—Piazza degli Scacchi—there is a life-size chessboard made of black-and-white tiles, where a live chess game is held every two years. This tradition dates back to 1454. The village is also known for its delicious cherries.
Active in Veneto
The area offers plenty of opportunities for walking, hiking, and biking, and in the winter, skiing and cross-country skiing.
Cycling on Monte Grappa
Just north of the Asiago Plateau lies Monte Grappa, a mountain rising to 1,775 meters that borders the Prosecco Hills. The Brenta River flows between the two mountain ranges, passing through Padua on its way to Venice. Throughout the villages, monuments and museums serve as reminders of the battle that took place here during World WarI. Monte Grappa is the highest peak in the area. Cycling is very popular on and around Monte Grappa, and motorists are mindful of the many cyclists who must use the main thoroughfare. The area is often part of the Giro d’Italia in Italy.
Fall Market in Lusiana
In early October, the mountain village of Lusiana hosts the Pomo Pero, a village festival celebrating the apple and pear harvest. The event features a market with local products, among other things, to promote the importance of local produce and culture. Lusiana is the only village in the area that survived World War I.
Aperol Spritz
The popular aperitif Spritz originates from this region. The drink was created by adding sparkling water to wine from Austria and Germany that was considered too strong. Later, Aperol or Campari was added, and it became the Aperol Spritz.
Accommodation Tip in Veneto
Sweet Hotel is located in Longa di Schiavon, near Vicenza. It’s centrally located for exploring Veneto by bike and is a stylish place with a great restaurant.
Accommodation Tip in Veneto
Just outside Belluno and close to the Dolomites, you’ll find the unique Villa di Modolo: 7 rooms and apartments in the old “latteria” of a centuries-old villa with a rich history.
Tours in Veneto
On the Asiagoguide.com website, you can book one-day or multi-day tours ranging from evening walks to fossil hunts or searches for World War I relics, as well as guided tours explaining the region’s flora and fauna (in English).
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
Hiking across smoking volcanoes: an organized hiking tour of the Aeolian Islands On Vulcano, you know you’ve arrived before you even set foot on shore. The sulfur already hangs over the harbor. A smell that hovers somewhere between a match and a boiled egg—and one you...
Sleeping in nature in Sardinia: handpicked accommodations, booked directly with the owner A unique place to stay in Sardinia. No nameplate on the door, no reception desk. Instead, an owner who pours you a glass of local wine upon arrival and tells you which trail is...
A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!
Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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Get inspired
Are you looking for the most beautiful hiking and biking routes? Or do you want information about traveling by train or advice for the most beautiful road trips through nature. Get inspired for your next trip in green; ideas for planning your own trip or opting for an organized trip.
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