5 travel ideas around the Dolomites and Lake Garda

1. Fascinating reflections on the water: welcome to Venice

Will the lure of Venice ever fade? We strongly doubt it, which is why a trip to this legendary marvel on the lagoon is always good news. The floating city is best approached by water, taking in all the grandeur of such an unthinkable masterpiece, lavish palaces magically resting on water in a series of original geometries, perspectives and vanishing points. Once there, you can get lost along the many calle, going up and down the more than 400 bridges in the six sestieri making up the historic centre, walk into a church to discover a 17th century altarpiece, stand in St. Mark’s square and gaze in awe at the vast piazza, then admire the shiny mosaics in the Basilica, with evocative Palazzo Ducale crowning the scene. Everything you do in Venice seems to come with its fair share of dreamlike aura, and there is always a new corner to peruse, a fascinating palazzo to marvel at or an artisan shop you can find funky artworks in. Head to the Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore for a close encounter with several works by Jacopo Tintoretto and other Venetian artists – in the sublime Benedictine abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore, designed by Andrea Palladio  - then go up its belltower for exquisite views of the city.

Visit the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, a temple of beauty with a cloister by Palladio, a labyrinth with 3200 boxtrees, and a pleasant wood decorated with art installations. You could also explore the magnificent Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Dorsoduro: the incredible legacy of a pioneering American collector, this is a temple of modern art with works by Picasso, Magritte, Kandinsky, Severini and Balla, among the many on display. Book lovers will revel at the Libreria Acqua Alta in the Castello quarter, an offbeat bookstore with several vintage titles gathered in a fabulous display; you may even approach it directly by boat.  Venice is cinematic beauty, a ”splendour of miscellaneous spirits”, in Ruskin’s words, and a treasure to be savoured with gentle delight.

3. A territory inside a bottle: Prosecco

The quintessential aperitivo choice for most Italians and around the world, Prosecco is a sublime drink that lives as an expression of the territory it stems from. The Prosecco hills, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, are nestled between the Prealps and the Piave river, to the northwest of the Veneto region; the area is so rich in dramatic landscapes and sublime vineyards that it has attracted writers and poets across the centuries. The Strada del Prosecco (Prosecco Wine Road) is the oldest of its kind in Italy – it was established in 1966 – and connects the towns where this delicious wine is produced: Valdobbiadene, Conegliano and Vittorio Veneto are only a few of the pretty towns along the road. Art lovers may also know Conegliano because of local Renaissance artist Cima da Conegliano and his works depicting scenes from the life of Christ, Madonna and Child or various saints; it is, however, certainly Bacchus enthusiasts who love to explore the area as this is, in fact, where Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG originates. Cartizze, closer to Valdobbiadene, is perhaps the most prized area producing Prosecco: the precious Prosecco Superiore di Cartizze grows on a mere 106 hectares and each one of them is listed on the Stock Exchange for a value exceeding one million euros. (!) Bear that in mind next time you savour this heavenly delicacy, which boasts more complexity and a greater depth of flavour.

Prosecco is culture and passion and this sparkling wine can only be produced in select parts of north-eastern Italy; generally made by refermenting the wine in steel tanks, a technique known as Charmat Method, Prosecco also comes in a semi-sparkling and a still version and it features several levels of sweetness, from Brut, Extra-Dry, Dry to Semi-sec.

Touring the area is, however, not only a feast for Bacchus lovers as you will also find several exquisite landmarks: the pretty square in Serravalle by Vittorio Veneto, the 17th century Camaldolese hermitage in Rua di San Pietro di Feletto, and old mill, as the one in Refrontolo, known as the Molinetto della Croda, and luxurious villas: Villa Brandolini d’Adda in Solighetto, close to Pieve di Soligo, is home to the Prosecco Consortium. In Conegliano you will also find the Cerletti Wine School: the oldest one in Italy, it was established in 1876 and some of the most renowned wine experts learnt the tools of the trade here. Let’s join in the fun and raise a glass!