Attractions in Italy

One of the twenty regions that make up the country of Italy, Veneto is also one of the most renowned winemaking regions in both Italy and around the world. The Veneto region includes some of the most beautiful and historic cities in the country. This article looks at the Veneto wine region and shows why many wine of the month club members find this area and the wines produced there so intriguing.

The Cities Of The Veneto Region
Venezia, a city built into the sea, is like no other, haunted by the princes and poets of its noble past and by centuries of tourists. The cities of Padova, Vicenza, and Verona were originally frontier posts on the Roman trade route between Venezia and Genova. These cities eventually grew into Renaissance splendor and are wonders in their own right. The rich history of this area adds to the interest of the wines produced here for wine clubs.

In the 16th century, the region's great architect Andrea Palladio worked throughout the area. His buildings are everywhere, in the cities and in the countryside. Nature exhibits it own marvels in the region, including the spectacular Dolomite mountains in the north, the rolling Euganean hills in the south, vast Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, on the eastern border, and to the west, the Adriatic with its beaches and ports.

DOC
Today, Veneto is a thriving agricultural center, a lush land of vines, ranking third after Apulia and Sicily in wine volume but the first with classified DOC wines. Established in 1963 as a law in Italy applying only to Italian bottled wines, DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata. This law determines the areas where wineries can produce certain wines, including factors such as the grapes or the blend of grapes, the soil, the vineyard arrangements, cultivation methods, vineyard yields, vinification, length of maturation, and the blending of different vintages. Labels, bottles, winery names, and even the names of wines are also regulated under the DOC.

Areas Of Production In Veneto
There are three general areas of premium wine production in the Veneto region: the western province of Verona in the hills between Lake Garda and the town of Soave, the central hills in the provinces of Vincenza, Padova, and Treviso, and the eastern plains of the Piave and Tagliamento river basins along the Adriatic coast northeast of Venezia. Wine clubs usually feature wines from all of these areas.

Vernoa is the leader in classified DOC wines and the site of Vinitaly, the largest wine trade fair in the world. Major parts of the DOC wines in the region are Soave, Bardolino, and Valpolicella, a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara. When young, Valpolicella is a full, fruity red, but when the grapes are partly dried, they are made into Amarone, one of Italy's most noble wines adored by wine of the month club members. Bardolino is made from the same grapes as Valpolicella but is a lighter version. Similar to Soave, Bianco di Custoza is another DOC white as is Lessini Durello, a steely dry wine, usually sparkling.

The central hills produce white wines similar to Soave as well as Tocai, the Pinots, Merlot, and Cabernet, eternal wine of the month club favorites. Prosecco, a dry to lightly sweet white wine, is produced in the area, as is the renowned Venegazzu, both usually sparkling. Merlot and Cabernet Franc have dominated the eastern plains for decades, but the local red wine Raboso and white wine Verduzzo still have admirers amongst wine clubs. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay wines are also gaining ground. Rich in beauty, history, fertile land, and delicious wines, the winemaking region of Veneto, Italy is sure to remain an eternal favorite of wine clubs, wine connoisseurs, and the people who live there alike.

Italy is a magical country to visit and spend time; every region has something new to offer whether it is its food, the people, the history or its architecture. Too many people the architecture of a country is it's main attraction and this could easily be said about Italy with it's millennia old stones, sumptuous remains of mysterious Etruscan kings, witnesses to ancient pagan rites, memorials to a history whose origins is lost in the mists of time. Ancient temples that have stood for thousands of years and have amazed all those who run a hand over their immortal columns, such as the temples of Agrigento and Selinunte. Entire cities that remain like some marvellous stage set to tell us about life as it was in the distant past.

A life cut short, in ancient days, by the dramatic whim of a volcano, such as Pompeii and Herculaneum, or by the implacable advance of malaria, as in Ostia Antica and Paestum. Walls and buildings that have been witness to a boundless power, that of ancient Rome and its countless conquests. Places still capable of moving us deeply owing to the ingenuity of their construction and the peerless historical heritage that they embody. Italian squares or piazzas that seem to be picture perfect stage sets all complete with outdoor cafes to enable you to sit and watch the world un-fold in front of you. Buildings that were created to enchant and impress visiting dignities from an age gone by with luscious facades and interiors that house unimaginable riches and art treasures now have the same effect on those tourists visiting Italy.

Towers constructed to bear witness to power that now regale unforgettable panoramas to those bold enough to climb to the top. Streets resembling open-air museums. Bridges that create seem-less bonds between the banks of rivers such as the Rialto in Venice or Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Walls originally designed to defend a city have later been turned into wonderfully imposing rings that have been giving communities a sense of security for centuries. Ample flights of steps from which to savour the spectacle of a city's life. The taste for beauty is all pervasive, from the tiny village, to the old town, to cities great and small. Beauty touches every nook, every vista, everything. The ancient Italians left a world of elegant architecture and monuments behind for future generations to stare in amazement at.

Italy has a wealth of religious architecture, towers and churches launched towards the sky. Striking spires, dainty cupolas, artistic facades, and bell towers jutting up towards the blue sky and towards an Italian heaven, mysterious naves that guard artistic masterpieces ancient and modern. Visit any Italian city, town or village and you will see churches everywhere, guardians of and witnesses to a faith thousands of years old and then tiny chapels on the mountain tops, solitary shrines on street corners, statues and frescoes for the protection of the home. Small signs of popular devotion that stand as corollaries to the magnificence of the cathedrals. Italy loves religious architecture.

A series of masterpieces that tell the entire story of western architecture: from the elegant Romanesque forms of Santa Maria all' Aquila to the fanciful Gothic spires of the beautiful Cathedral in Milan, from the perfect example of Renaissance architecture in Florence Cathedral to the baroque wonder of Lecce Cathedral. Each one with its trusty bell-tower at its side to announce its presence; including the most famous one in the world: the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Firenze (Italian for Florence, as it is popularly known) is one of the most picturesque towns that Italy has to offer, with a rich tradition, and finger licking cuisine, Florence was once the capital of the kingdom of Italy. Florence was also officially declared a world heritage site by UNESCO and is known as the home of the Italian renaissance. Florence is a city that is synonymous with art and architecture, and there are specialized historic tours that discuss just the various events and places that are linked to Firenze, and not just art and architecture, Florence is fast becoming known for its quaint streets and its classy bed and breakfasts.

Things to do in Firenze

The biggest tourist attraction in Florence is the cathedral also popularly known as the Duomo, the cathedral has a massive dome like structure, and is not just a regular tourist attraction, but is also a place that most religious tourists should visit. Located in the heart of the city, is the statue of Neptune which is another tourist attraction, the water even today is provided by aqueducts systems similar to the ones used thousands of years ago in the Roman empire.

The Arno river has some of the most beautiful bridges located on it, and a walk through Florence is not complete without visiting some of the beautiful river bridges. The biggest contributing factor to Florence's destination as a spot that is loved by art lovers, is the fact that Firenze has art galleries that are dedicated to specialized art forms like painting, sculptures and more. It is a pretty good idea to enroll yourself with one of the specialized museum tours that take tourists to all the major museums that make Florence the special place it is.

Bed and breakfasts in Florence

Apart from the popular hotels that are located in Florence, more and more tourist recently have chosen to live in the quaint and comfortable bed and breakfasts that are located in and around Florence, the most attractive thing about these bed and breakfasts is that they are well known for their authentic Italian experience, and are also becoming more and more popular for the authentic Italian cuisine that they offer. No trip to Italy is complete without experiencing an Italian bed and breakfast.

The biggest advantage that bed and breakfasts have over Italian hotels, is that they are reasonably priced, and depending on your preferences you can either get a bed and breakfast that is located in the heart of Florence, of if you like the quiet countryside you can check yourself into some of the extremely popular bed and breakfasts that are located on the outskirts of Florence. Almost all bed and breakfasts are equipped with modern amenities like televisions, individual phones in each room, and some classical bed and breakfasts actually offer you swimming pools and patios to enjoy your time under the Tuscan sun.

So if you are planning a trip to Florence, you must look up some of the popular bed and breakfasts, and enjoy the authentic experience of Italian cuisine and an Italian bed and breakfast.