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Northern Italy
The Veneto Region
Veneto or Venetia (Vèneto), is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 4.8 million, and its capital is Venice. Once the cradle of the renowned Venetian Republic, then a land of mass emigration, Veneto is today among the wealthiest and most industrialized regions of Italy. It is also the most visited region of Italy, with about 60 million tourists every year (2007). Besides Italian, most people speak Venetian.
Vicenza
Vicenza, a thriving, vibrant city with a population of nearly 150,000, lies at the foot of the Dolomites and is a 45-minute drive west of picturesque, historic Venice. Caserma Ederle is on the east side of Vicenza, not far from the Vicenza East (Est) exit off Autostrada (A4) which runs from Venice to Milan and is a short bus ride, or even a leisurely walk, from downtown.
In addition to the many shops, restaurants and open air markets, Verona is bursting with historical structures all within walking distance of each other, including a 2,000-year-old Roman arena, castles and medieval piazzas. Visit city of Vicenza official website 
Venice
Venice (Italian: Venezia) is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Venice is world-famous for its canals. It is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. The islands on which the city is built are connected by about 400 bridges. In the old center, the canals serve the function of roads, and every form of transport is on water or on foot. In the 19th century a causeway to the mainland brought a railway station to Venice, and an automobile causeway and parking lot was added in the 20th century. Beyond these land entrances at the northern edge of the city, transportation within the city remains, as it was in centuries past, entirely on water or on foot. Venice is Europe's largest urban car free area, unique in Europe in remaining a sizable functioning city in the 21st century entirely without motorcars or trucks. Visit city of Venice official website
Italian Festivals
Venice Historical Regatta (Regata Storica)
Dating back to the second half of the 13th Century, the Venice Historical Regatta is a spectacular competition whose origins are firmly entrenched in the history of Venice. The Regata storica takes place on the first Sunday of September in Venice. The historical regatta takes place on the Sunday afternoon. It begins with a ceremonial parade along the Grand Canal of historical boats manned by Venetians in period costume. The most important rowing races are between the various neighborhoods of Venice.
Venice Carnival
The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy. Carnival starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. Masks have always been a central feature of the Venetian carnival.
Viareggio Carnival
The carnival of Viareggio (Italian: carnevale di Viareggio) is a carnival event yearly held in the Tuscan city of Viareggio, in Italy. It is considered amongst the most renowned carnival celebrations in both Italy and Europe. Its main characteristic is given by the parade of floats and masks, usually made of paper-pulp, depicting caricatures of popular people, such as politicians, showmen and sportsmen; the parade is held on the Viareggio avenue located alongside the local beach.
Dolomiti Mountains
The Dolomites (Italian: Dolomiti) are a section of the Alps. The Dolomites are famous for skiing in the winter months and mountain climbing, daily excursions, climbing and Base Jumping, as well as paragliding and hang gliding in summer and late spring/early autumn
Asiago
Although probably best known internationally as the origin of Asiago cheese, Asiago was also the site of a major battle between Austrian and Italian forces on the Alpine Front of World War I. It is a major ski resort destination as well as the site of the Astrophysical Observatory of Asiago, operated by the University of Padua.
Padua
Padua (Italian: Padova) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. To the city's south west lies the Euganaean Hills, praised by Lucan and Martial, Petrarch, Ugo Foscolo, and Shelley.
The city is picturesque, with a dense network of arcaded streets opening into large communal piazze, and many bridges crossing the various branches of the Bacchiglione, which once surrounded the ancient walls like a moat. Padua is the setting for most of the action in William Shakespeare's comical play The Taming of the Shrew. Visit city of Padua official website
Turin
Turin is a major city as well as a business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River surrounded by the Alpine arch. The city boasts a rich culture and history, and is known for its numerous art galleries, restaurants, churches, palaces, operahouses, piazzas, parks, gardens, theatres, libraries, museums and other venues. Turin is well-known for its baroque, rococo and neo-classical French-style architecture.
The Lombardy Region
Milan
Milan is renowned as one of the world capitals of design and fashion. Milan is regarded as the true fashion capital of the world and annually competes with other major international centres, such as New York, Paris, Rome and London. Some of the finest Italian fashion houses, such as Gucci, Prada,Versace, Missoni, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Valentino, Trussardi, and Moschino, to name a few, are headquartered in the city.
The Last Supper is a 15th century mural painting in Milan created by Leonardo da Vinci. It represents the scene of The Last Supper from the final days of Jesus as narrated in the Gospel of John 13:21, when Jesus announces that one of his Twelve Apostles would betray him.
The Emilia Romagna Region
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, in the Po Valley, between the Po River and the Apennines, exactly between the Reno River and the Sàvena River. Home of the oldest university in the Western world, "Alma Mater Studiorum", founded in 1088, Bologna is one of the most developed cities in Italy. Bologna often ranks as one of the top cities related to quality of life in Italy.
Bologna is renowned for its culinary tradition. It has given its name to the well-known Bolognese sauce, a meat based pasta sauce called in Italy ragù alla bolognese but in the city itself just ragù as in Tagliatelle al ragù. Situated in the fertile Po River Valley, the rich local cuisine depends heavily on meats and cheeses. As in all of Emilia-Romagna, the production of cured pork meats such as prosciutto, mortadella and salame is an important part of the local food industry. Well-regarded nearby vineyards include Pignoletto dei Colli Bolognesi, Lambrusco di Modena and Sangiovese di Romagna. Tagliatelle al ragù, lasagne, tortellini served in broth and, the original Bologna sausage, are among the local specialties. Visit city of Bologna official website
Explore the Lakes of Italy
Lake Como (Lago di Como in Italian) is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. At over 400 m (1320 ft) deep it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe and the bottom of the lake is more than 200 metres (656 ft) below sea-level. The lake is well-known for the attractive villas and is a popular tourist destination. It is a venue for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Lake Garda (Italian Lago di Garda or Benaco) is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern Italy, about half-way between Venice and Milan. It is in an alpine region and was formed by glaciers at the end of the last ice age. The lake and its shoreline are divided between the provinces of Verona (to the south-east), Brescia (south-west), and Trento (north). Being easily accessible from the north via the Brenner pass, the lake is a major tourist destination, including a number of exclusive hotels and resorts along its shore. Scenes from the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, were shot at Lake Garda.
Lake Maggiore (in Italian: Lago Maggiore or Verbano, the Roman Lacus Verbanus) is the most westerly of the three large prealpine lakes of Italy and the second largest after Lake Garda.
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