A guest house near Venice and Padua, Italy - the Alcova del Doge is situated in Mira-Venice in the heart of the Brenta River countryside.
All of Veneto was dominated by the Republic of Venice from 1420 to 1797: the unique and familiar Venetian atmosphere is present throughout the whole region. In the hills and the lowlands, the countryside is full of 1500s Erette Villas that once belonged to Venetian nobles, who used them for their summer vacations or those who moved from the mainland to farm the land. Mainly built in Classical style, they were designed by Andrea Palladio, the famous architect who is also responsible for designing the Redentore Church on the Giudecca Island in Venice.
In the north of the region you can visit the magnificent Dolomites, at the heart of which lies the superb ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. In the south of the region, you will find a beautiful natural oasis where you can go for long nature walks, bike or boat rides. With miles of sandy beaches on the Adriatic Coast, Jesolo is one of the major destinations for young people from all over Europe, especially famous for entertainment and its nightlife.
The Venice Lagoon, a unique ecosystem, has a surface of 50 square kilometres and is connected to the Adriatic Sea by three harbour openings, among which is the S. Nicolò of the Lido where fabulous cruise ships enter to cross the S. Marco basin to go to the marina docks.
North of the island are situated the island of Murano (famous for its glass works), Burano (a picturesque fisherman's village with beautifully coloured houses), and Torcello (the first lagoon settlement where you can find splendid Byzantine mosaics in its Cathedral). Venice is located south of the lagoon: a wonderful city, built on 118 islands, separated by 160 canals and crossed by more then 400 bridges. Tradition has it that is was born in the fifth century as refuge for the people living on the coast during the Barbarian invasions. It was a rich and powerful marine republic until the end of the 18th century.
The Brenta Riviera is set on the banks of the river that flows from Padua to the Venice Lagoon. Populated as early as the fifth century AD, its importance grew in 1400 when Venice extended its dominion to all of the Veneto hinterland. The Venetian Patricians bought large estates on the Brenta Riverside and, fascinated by the beauty of its landscapes, they turned it into a holiday location. From 1500 to 1700 they built imposing villas such as the Foscari Villa in Malcontenta, the Valmarana and Widmann Villas in Mira and the Pisani Villa in Strà, a real Ducal Palace on the mainland, where you can find its famed maze of Renaissance style hedges.
A superb adventure in one of Italy's most beautiful and historic regions - for more on this guest house near Padua and Venice, Italy just click below.
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