A JOURNEY IN VENETO

Once known as the “X Regio Romana”, the Veneto region was controlled by the Eastern Roman Empire. It was then, between the 2nd and the 6th centuries B.C., that most of the beautiful venetian cities were founded.

Later, between the 11th and 15th centuries, the “Comune” system was introduced by some noble families that enstablished the role of “podestà”.

Meanwhile the “Serenissima Repubblica” of Venice was born and gradually became one of the greatest power of the Italian peninsula. Thanks to its authority, the Seren Republic gave birth to a common style that influenced both culture and architecture.

X Regio Romana

To eat or not to eat?

-Spritz, an aperitif made of wine and prosecco

-Bigoli, a typical kind of pasta

-Tiramisù, an italian deliciousness

-Baccalà, also known as “salt cod”

 TRACES OF THE HISTORY

•Archaeological remains of the Roman presence can especially be found in Verona: for instance the “Arena of Verona” a Roman amphitheatre in Bra Square.

• ‘’Ponte Pietra’’: or Stone Bridge an original Roman bridge.

THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD: TRACES OF GOTHIC STYLE CAN BE SEEN IN MANY CHURCHES AND PALACES IN VENICE

Saint Mark’s

• Saint Mary of The Frari

• Ca’ D’oro • The Doge’s Palace

TRACES OF GOTHIC STYLE ARE ALSO THE BEAUTIFUL GIOTTO’S FRESCOES INSIDE THE SCROVEGNI CHAPEL IN PADUA

• Traces of the Medieval form of town government called “Comune” and later on “Signoria” are present in the heart of all Veneto cities.

• The Lords’ square was the centre of government, while Market square was the commercial centre of the town with the merchants’ buildings displaying their owners’ wealth. One such building is Cappelletti’ s house in Verona, better known as Juliet’s House.

The Renaissance period: Many Renaissance painters from Veneto worked and contributed to the magnificence of many churches and buildings in the centuries between 14th and the 18th.

• Mantegna in San Zeno’s Church in Verona

• Donatello in Saint Anthony’s Basilica in Padua

• Veronese in Doge’s Palace in Venice

• Tiziano in Saint Mary of the Frari in Venice

• Tintoretto in Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice

.. and many more.

VENICE

One of the most important cities in Veneto is Venice. In this beautiful town we can find the famous Saint Mark’s Basilica and its square, the big lagoon, the typical gondole, the traditional Carnival, the International Cinema Festival, the prestigious Ca’ Foscari University and, last but not least, the Fenice theatre.

The emblem of the city and has always been the center of his public life is the famous Piazza San Marco, the only square in Venice (all others are called fields), which is the result of a long process of adaptation to the functional requirements and representative of the Venetian community. It is almost rectangular, against the background of the Basilica of St. Marco, with the isolated tower, the tallest in the city.

PADUA

Another important city is Padua. In this city there are some important buildings and places like the Saint Anthony’s Basilica, the Scrovegni Chapel, Prato della Valle - the biggest square in Europe - the University, one of most ancient in Italy.

The actual Basilica is the result of three different reconstructions, which took place over a period of about 70 years: 1238-1310.In St. Anthony's time there was the little church Santa Maria Mater Domini, which was then integrated into the Basilica and is now the Chapel of the Black Madonna. Next to this, in 1229, the Friary sprang up, which was probably founded by St. Anthony himself.

St. Anthony died in 1231 in Arcella, in the north of the city where his body was transported and buried in the little church Santa Maria Mater Domini.The construction of the first nucleus of the Basilica, a Franciscan church with only a single nave and a short transept, began in 1238; two lateral naves were added and it was eventually transformed into the amazing structure that we admire today.

Verona

Juliet’s house

OLYMPIC THEATRE IN VICENZA

The Olympic Theatre is a theatre designed by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio in 1580 and located in Vicenza. It is the first and oldest indoor theatre in the modern era.

The theatre still hosts plays and concerts in 1994 and was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site, like other works by Palladio in Vicenza.

THE FIVE CITIES AND MONUMENTS

ARENA DI VERONA

The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre located in the historic center of Verona.This is one of the great buildings that have characterized the Roman architecture.During the summers it is used for the famous liric festival.

CASTELVECCHIO

Castelvecchio, originally called the Castle of San Martino in Aquaro, is a castle in Verona which is currently used to house the museum. It is the most important monument of military Scaligera.

UNIVERSITY OF PADUA

The University of of Padua is one of the most famous universities in Italy, and among the oldest in the world, dating back to 1222.

On the University seal depicts the Risen Christ and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, that are the patrons of the two distinct "universitates“. Risen Christ was considered the patron saint of doctors while St. Catherine was the patron of lawyers.

DOLOMITES

The Dolomites are a group of mountain ranges of the Eastern Alps Italian, among the provinces of Belluno, Bolzano, Trento, Udine and Pordenone.

On 26 June 2009, UNESCO declared the Dolomites World Heritage

PO DELTA

The Po delta is defined as the hydraulic system of branching river through which the river Po flows into the Adriatic Sea.

The Po delta lies entirely in the Province of Rovigo or Polesine and occupies almost the entire eastern portion.

FINGER FOOD

Finger food is very tasty and

it is favorite by young people.

“SPRITZ”

People spend their afternoons meeting their friends in the bar for the aperitif, called also spritz.

PIZZA

Guys continue their evening out eating a pizza. Pizza is the most popular dish in Italy.

SOUVENIRS FROM VENETO

Food and drinks

“Colussi veneziani”typical biscuits of

Venice.

“Grappa veneta”Traditional alcoholic

drink.

ART & FOLKLORE

The carnival of Venice is a worldwide known event, and you can buy several typical

masks.

Another typical, but expensive souvenir you can get in Veneto is the artistic

Murano glass.

THE DIFFERENT SEASONS IN VENETO

Winter

In winter you can go skiing in the Alps. Around Cortina you can find

many ski slopes. If you like ice skating there are also skating

rinks.

Spring

In spring you can go either horse riding or cycling in the country, in the Euganean hills

or in the mountains. In the Alps you can go free climbing,

canyoning, rafting or jogging.

Summer

In summer you can swim at the seaside or at lake Garda ;

there you can also go windsurfing or sailing.

Autumn

In autumn you can look for mushrooms or chestnuts in the

Euganean hills. If you are a real sportsman, you can join the “Venice marathon”

in October.

CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

Venice

REEDEMER FEAST

Reedemer Feast in Venice occurs on the third Sunday of July in Venice. It is also memorable for the great show of fireworks, which takes place at Saint Mark’s Basin.

CARNIVAL

The Carnival in Venice (in February) is very

beautiful and colourful.The handmade costumes

and masks are very beautiful.

BIENNALE

The Biennale in Venice occurs every two years and in this event there are exhibitions of modern architecture and art.

CINEMA FESTIVAL

This event is between August and September in Venice.

OPERA

In the Arena of Verona there

are some performances of liric operas, like “Tosca” or

“Aida”, in spring and

summer time.

The chess match occurs every two years during the second week of September in Marostica.In this match the chess pieces are humans.

CHESS MATCH

LOCAL TOWN FAIRS

In spring and summer there are fairs in Veneto where people taste the tipycal local food. Very important in this land is the celebration of patron Saints.

Gli Studenti della IV DBelluso Luca

Boccafoschi EmanueleDi Gioia CristinaFazio Giovanni Liotta Valentina

Manola IvanaNicotra Gabriele

Privitera MargheritaSicurella Christian

Liceo Statale“Enrico Boggio Lera”

Catania - Italy