Tour Vicenza and Veneto

[Don Lowrance]

I am going to Vicenza in November. I would like recommendation on where to eat, stay and what Veneto towns to visit. Special sights. Any help would be appreciated.

Don Lowrance

[Sebastiano]

Originally Posted by Don Lowrance

I am going to Vicenza in November. I would like recommendation on where to eat, stay and what Veneto towns to visit. Special sights. Any help would be appreciated.

Don Lowrance

hi Don, great choice Vicenza Padova-verona are all beautiful cities and worth visiting.Should you not be using a car it's one of the few tours that are feasable without a car as there are good direct rail connections between them and venice of course.You can take a look thru google if you digit città di vicenza you'll find a lot of useful info.Also if you take a look at Vicenza Turismo, Guida della citta' - Veneto, Italy - Primitaly then click on the right on vicenza città del palladio a good page concerning monuments and museums comes up all in english.
this MAY not sound very exotic but there is an excellent Sheraton in Padova on the outskirts,even as Sheraton 's go this one is very nice great personell
rooms A1, BAR SUPERB barman used to work in Harry's bar in venice a great professional from other times,breakfast excellent,but restaurant only average better to eat out also a bit expensive,sited JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM MOTORWAY at Padova ovest,only 5 mins city center and 30 kms from Vicenza,but don't forget Padova is lovely too.In any casr between Vicenza-padova-venice is only about 30-40 mins by train.Also this area in November could be quite cold so take appropriate clothes.i 'd advise only visiting venice as opposed to staying there given the high costs also food is generally better on mainland than venice.If you like sea food and are around Padova in a rather out of the way place out of the city along a sea/land canal near Mira try restaurant" Da Nalin "it's really great ( not cheap) but fresh fish not frozen
you may need to book SEVERAL DAYS beforehand as it's popular with local people.Also in centre of Padova a classic restaurant quite formal" l'isola di Caprera" also great fish but meal also possible very careful cuisine and presentation.Also recommend a trip on a boat along the river Brenta between venice and Padova where the shores of the river are dotted with Palladian villas absolutely beautiful (riviera del brenta).Also try a day trip to Bassano del Grappa where the italian alpine regiment built the wooden bridge across the river ( still in use today)you may actually get drunk on this bridge trying the amazing varieties of Grappa from the area at the bar on the bridge (i think they only sell grappa there)anyway lots to do see have a good trip.

[Don Lowrance]

Thanks Sebastino;

that is the type of advice I needed. I will be driving a car from the Marco Polo airport. I want the freedom to go to places easily and I very much enjoy good food. I will put Da Nalin on my list of "must eat at" places. The river trip sounds like fun.

Don

[Sebastiano]

Originally Posted by Don Lowrance

Thanks Sebastino;

that is the type of advice I needed. I will be driving a car from the Marco Polo airport. I want the freedom to go to places easily and I very much enjoy good food. I will put Da Nalin on my list of "must eat at" places. The river trip sounds like fun.

Don

hire a car by all means but bear in mind that this area very low lying more or less at sea level or less is prone to fogs especially in the late fall so some days you might be advi9sed to leave the car etc.

[Helen&Francesco]

Hello Don,

I lived in Padova for 12 years (until a couple of years ago) & I'm more than happy to help with any questions you may have.

I'm sorry but I don't agree with Sebastiano as regards the Sheraton hotel which is just outside Padova. It's a modern building literally on the side of the motorway & isn't 'typically' Italian at all. Surely one of the pleasures of visiting Italy is staying in a more central location, going down to the square & watching the world go by while having a drink. Let me know what kind of price range you have in mind for a hotel & I'll give you some suggestions.

I do, however, agree with Sebastiano's comments on hiring a car - a lot of Italian city centre's are almost impossible to park in (& very expensive). A lot of them are only accessible to resident permit holders. It may be better to use public transport & hire a car on a couple of days when you want to visit smaller/out of the way places. Also Sebastiano is right about the fog - it can be terrible at that time of the year. It doesn't usually affect the city centre's but it can make driving from one place to another very difficult - a lot of locals leave the car at home & take the train. It might also be an idea to keep the fog in mind if you plan to do the river trip!!

Places to visit:

Venice, Padova, Treviso, Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, Asolo, Verona, Lake Garda - the list goes on. How long will you be there?

While in Vicenza you really must go to the Teatro Olimpico - it's a really beautiful old wooden theatre (I believe the oldest surviving in Europe although I may be wrong). It's really interesting because although it's wooden it's painted to look like it's built of stone & although it's indoors the ceiling is painted to look like the sky. Also the stage was built in perspective - it really is unique & not to be missed. (I think it's closed on Mondays)

In & around Padova I recommend: The Giotto paintings in the Scrovegni Chapel, Prato della Valle, Sant'Antonio's basilica (they have his tongue & voice box on show!!!), the baptistry at the duomo, the fruit & vegetable market in Piazza delle Erbe, the covered market under Palazzo della Ragione ... again the list goes on. You could also go to the thermal pools in Abano Terme just outside Padova - you can go in the evening & swim (or just drift) in the pool outside under the stars - it really is a wonderful experience. Again, I can recommend pools/hotels if you like. You could also drive round the Euganean hills (they used to be volcanic & are the most amazing conical shapes) & visit the small towns/villages such as Este, Acqua Petrarca. Also there are some wonderful trattoria in the hills. If you like I can give you some names.

If you want to PM me with a little more detail of your trip/what you like doing I'll help as much as I can.

You've chosen a wonderful area to visit,
Helen

[Don Lowrance]

Hi Helen;

thank you very much for the detailed information. We will be in Vicenza for 5 nights (Nov. 15th) at an International Dental Conference. After that we want to travel around the Veneto visiting historical sites and the beautiful country. We may just stay in Vicenza and take day trips. I think this part will be 5-7 days. The thermal baths sound wonderful. I love that. We want to eat at authentic restaurants and hotels.
I would appreciate you list of "must visit town and sights" in the area. Also the names of restaurants (as well as local cuisine) that you recommend as well as a hotel in Vicenza (100-130 euros, matrimoniale or doppia, la colazione compresa.

The conference will be at the Jolly Hotel where rooms are reserved. It looks very sterile.

Oh, the dental conference is having a reception at the Teatro Olympico. :)

Regards,

Don

[Helen&Francesco]

Hello Don,

Please excuse the delay in replying I've been very busy working!! I don't know Vicenza well enough to recommend hotels & restaurants but I should have some info coming via friends who are from there originally but now live in Padova - I'll forward it to you as soon as I receive it.

In the meantime, here are some more suggestions for your stay.

You could go on a day trip to Bassano del Grappa, Asolo, Marostica ...

Bassano del Grappa : as Sebastiano said has an interesting old bridge & you really must try grappa in the bar on the bridge - spent many a Sunday morning in there having a hair-of-the-dog. There's one grappa called 'tagliatella' which is smoother & doesn't leave you unable to speak for 20 minutes afterwards. You could also visit the Nannini grappa museum which shows you how the stuff is made. Bassano is also famous for it's ceramics - there are some good shops just near the museum. Hubby (an Italian chef) says when in Bassano you should eat asparagus (not sure you're going in the right season) & try bigoli in salsa or al ragú. Bigoli are a type of very fat spaghetti typical to this area & the 'salsa' is usually made with anchovies & onions!!!

Asolo is a beautiful little town on a hill. Robert Browning lived there for a while. It has a castle at the very top of the hill - the walk or climb up there is very steep, the view is good but there are only the outside walls of the castle so I'm not totally convinced it's worth it unless you particularly like steep paths up hills!! In the centre of Asolo there are some good restaurants in the main square or just off it. You should also walk along via Robert Browning - there are some nice shops, an amazing old-fashioned food store & at the end an old water trough with a wonderful sign (I'll let you discover for yourself what it says!!)

Marostica is another small town which is famous because it has a giant chess board where the locals play chess with human chess pieces. It's really spectacular but if I remember right they only play in September. However the town's nice if you want to stop off for a walk around & a drink in the square.

There are also some villas in this area but I can't remember any names.

Castelfranco Veneto - wonderful medieval walls like many towns in this area. Birth place of the painter Giorgione - I remember visiting the museum next to the duomo & it was really interesting.

Another day trip could be to the Colli Euganei, as I mentioned before you can visit:

Arqua Petrarca - named after the writer Francesco Petrarca. You can visit his house which is small but very beautiful.

Este & Montagnana - more walls!!

Villa Sceriman in Vó Euganeo is a very nice vineyard. You'll need to check the opening times but the wine is very good. They serve cheese, cold meats & bread which you can enjoy outside in nice weather or inside if it's colder. Just one word of warning - try to avoid going there on a Sunday as it's very popular with American soldiers from the base in Vicenza - nothing against American soldiers but it can be very crowded & you wait ages to get served.

There are loads of traditional trattoria/ristorante in the hills which generally specialise in grilled meat - la grigliata mista.

If you go to the Euganean hills don't forget the thermal swimming pools - this is a good one:

Therapeutic Swimming Pool Hotel Therme Italy Thermal Hotel Therme Petrarca Padova Wellness Abano Montegrotto Terme

As I said before it's great to go after dark & swim outside under the stars - a couple of words of warning: a lot of steam comes of the pool when it's cold outside & it's easy to lose people in the mist!! You'll need to wear a swimming hat - please don't let this put you off. Do not plan to do anything afterwards - these pools leave you feeling incredibly relaxed but sap all energy from you!!

One or two things to add about Padova:
Padova is known as the city with 'Il caffè senza porte, il prato senz'erba, il Santo senza nome.' or 'the caffè with no doors, the meadow with no grass, the saint with no name.' - I'll explain - the caffè with no doors is Caffè Pedrocchi which was a popular haunt for intellectuals & political activists who went there to discuss whatever it was they discussed & it never closed - probably the very first 24/7! The meadow with no grass is Prato della Valle - it's a square not a meadow - it's very beautiful & actually does have some grass but hey, does that matter? And the saint with no name is Sant'Antonio the patron saint of Padova who everyone just calls 'Il Santo' (they don't use his name!). So when in Padova you really must visit these places.

Some restaurants in Padova are:
La Corte dei Leoni - fantastic wine selection PagineGialle.it | LA CORTE DEI LEONI di BOCCARDO srl

La Vecchia Enoteca
PagineGialle.it | RISTORANTE LA VECCHIA ENOTECA

Osteria Dei Fabbri (Via Fabbri, 13. tel: 049 650336)
One of my favourites - try asking for the 'fragolino' wine (Fragolino - Wikipedia) This probably won't be on the wine list as it's not legal to sell it but if you ask .... It's made from a grape that tastes of strawberries & is really special. It's a sweet wine so order it with dessert. It's usually red but you sometimes find white - which can be even better.

Ristorante Zairo (Prato della Valle tel: 049 663803)
Both a restaurant & a pizzeria - impressive setting & excellent food.

After dinner you could try a sorbetto (drink made with lemon sorbet & vodka) or a digestivo - both are meant to help you digest!!! Taste good even if they don't work.

Other wines to try include prosecco, marzemino, amarone, novello (the new wine which is available from November 6)

Then of course there's Venice to visit!!

Lake Garda- Pechiera del Garda, Desenzano del garda, Sirmione (very beautiful but perhaps a little spoilt by tourism, if it's a nice day you caould take a boat around the penisola), 'Il Vittoriale degli Italiani' the home of Gabriele D'Annunzio - a very eccentric writer/politician/war hero(?!!) is an interesting place to visit if you have time on your hands, which you probably won't!!

Verona has a wonderful arena but I'd personally prefer to visit smaller places - it depends on whether you've seen an arena before or not!!

You can find more information about all these places on Wikipedia (you'll need to search in Italian for some of the smaller places).

A good guide book is 'Venice & the Veneto' DK Eyewitness Travel Guides.

OK - I've rattled on more than enough. You've probably guessed by now that I'm quite enthusiastic about the area. Wish I was coming with you!!

Feel free to ask any more questions,
Helen

[Helen&Francesco]

Hello Don,

Here are some restaurant recommendations for Bassano from friends who know the place well:

Ristoranti a Bassano zona centrale:
OTTONE
TERRAGLIO
BORGO
AL PONTE
…sono tutti ottimi ristoranti, comunque a Bassano si mangia bene