If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Veneto region of northern Italy on the Gulf of Venice. Venice is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. But the Veneto region is a lot more than this great city. With a little luck you’ll avoid tourist traps, and return home feeling that you have truly visited Italy. This article examines southern Veneto tourist attractions. Our companion articles describe northern Veneto, the Shakespearean city of Verona, and the university city of Padua.

Over the centuries Vicenza passed from one occupier to another. In the Sixteenth Century was the home of Andrea Palladio, perhaps the most influential person in Western architecture. About two dozen of his Veneto villas compose a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Palladio was a major influence on Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and many state capitol buildings. Read the rest of this entry »