Bed and breakfast VENICE HOUSE ZIMMER - CAMERE - ROOMS NEAR VENICE ITALY

Padova is 23 Km from the b&b. Padua and its county form the heart of the Po valley as it stretches in the Veneto region, and are laid between the Venice lagoon, the hills, and the foothills of the Alps. They represent one of the most lively and dynamic centres - culturally and economically - in north-east Italy. A city with a great tradition, Padua boasts famous monuments of enormous historical and artistic interest. The classic town route offers the opportunity to visit the most interesting monuments and places in just one day. It starts from the square Piazza Eremitani where there stand the Scrovegni Chapel, Giotto's masterpiece; Musei Civici Eremitani (the Eremitani Town Museum with an archeological section, and a picture gallery with works painted from 1300 to 1700 including Guariento's "Armed Angels", a Crucifix by Giotto, and works of art by Bellini); the Eremitani Church (that preserves frescoes by Guariento, Giusto de' Menabuoi and Andrea Mantegna); and Palazzo Zuckermann, the house of a Museum of the Applied and Decorative Arts, and of the Bottacin Collection. Please be informed that the visit to the Scrovegni Chapel must be booked not less than 48 hours in advance. People who have not booked can enter only if there are unsold tickets for the day. Access is allowed to 25 people per shift, with shifts lasting 15 minutes in the technological room, and 15 minutes inside the Chapel. University of Paduahoused in the Bo Palace. This university is one of the oldest in Europe, and it contains the renowned Anatomy Theatre (from the 16th century) and Galileo Galilei's chair. The tour then continues to Palazzo della Ragione and its surrounding squares (Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Frutti, and Piazza dei Signori) that host a colourful market daily. The Cathedral of Padua, called Duomo in Italian, is not far away. Beside the Cathedral there rises its Baptistery, which preserves wonderful frescoes by Giusto de' Menabuoi. Do not miss a visit to Museo Diocesano. Located in the old Palazzo Vescovile (the Bishop's palace), the museum of the Padua See of the Catholic Church preserves precious paintings, sculptures, and jewellery that formed the rich Treasure of the Cathedral, and then religious vestments, illuminated manuscripts, and incunabula. The visit includes the Chapel of Santa Maria degli Angeli with frescoes dating to the end of the 15th century, and the wonderful Salone dei Vescovi, a wide hall with a walled surface exceeding 900 square meters fully covered by frescoes portraying the first 100 Bishops of Padua.

Easily accessible by train or car from the b&b. Venice and its mainland are particularly rich of museums and historical buildings of great artistic and cultural importance. Here you can choose among a wide variety of museums, churches, palaces and villas. In this section you can find suggestions and general information not only on museums, churches and palaces in Venice historic centre, the famous islands of Murano and Burano, but also what you cannot afford to miss in the areas surrounding Venice, such as the villas along the Brenta river and the beautiful landscapes the Miranese area, and of course less famous islands in Venice Lagoon. The heart of Venice is the wonderful Piazza San Marco - the most elegant in Europe - surrounded by outstanding buildings: the impressive bell tower and the Cathedral - with its five portals of marble and mosaic decorations (foreshadowing the luxury of the interiors); the Ducal Palace, a symbol of the golden age of the Serenissima; Torre dei Mori (the clock tower), the engineering masterpiece that has been telling Venice the time for centuries; and the Napoleonic Wing, site of the Correr Museum. Not far away is Campo Santo Stefano, with the church of the same name (i.e. St. Stephen's), one of Venice's biggest. Also from the piazza, the visitor can see the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and the high bell tower that rises from the monumental structure of the old Benedictine monastery, a masterpiece realized by important architects of the time, including the renowned Andrea Palladio. Venice is the best of outdoor museums, and it can be toured by boat or by gondola, most teasily along the Canal Grande, the main Venetian thoroughfare. The Canal begins at Punta della Dogana, the old harbor of the Most Serene Republic, with its peculiar triangular shape that is now, like Palazzo Grassi, a Contemporary Arts Center. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is another must-see, exhibited in the Palazzo Venier de’ Leoni; it is considered the most important collection of the 20th Century. Among other important museums are the Gallerie dell’Accademia, housed in the majestic structure of the Scuola Grande de la Carità (inside is a church of the same name and a monastery); and Ca’ Rezzonico, one of the most beautiful buildings from the Renaissance and home to the Museum of 18th-Century Venice. On the right bank of the Grand Canal - also accessible by crossing the Ponte del Rialto - it is possible to reach the districts of San Polo, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro, where some of the most famous campi of Venice are surrounded by wonderful religious buildings and palaces: San Rocco, with one of the old Grandi Scuole di Venezia and the church dedicated to the Saint; the renowned Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, one of the most important Franciscan structures; San Polo; San Giacomo dall’Orio with the church of the same name at its center and decorated with wonderful Venetian Renaissance artworks; San Sebastiano masterfully decorated by Paolo Veronese; San Pantalon; San Nicolò dei Mendicoli with one of the city's oldest churches; and Santa Maria della Salute.

Treviso is a tranquil oasis where a peaceful walk lets visitors admire the sober elegance that characterizes every corner of this charming “città cortese” (courteous city). In the city center stands the Duomo, surrounded by its old defensive walls; it is a superb example of the complex stratification of architectonic styles. Such is due to the numerous restoration works implemented over the centuries. Borgo Cavour leads to the Luigi Bailo Civic Museum and its archaeological collection, an interesting art gallery with pieces by great Venetian artists, in addition to a Modern art collection. The elegance of Treviso Province matches that of the city, with its villas constructed during the times of the Venetian Republic. Along the Terraglio River and towards Mestre lie numerous of these villas: Villa Fabrizi Franchetti, a Venetian-style aristocratic mansion surrounded by a wonderful park; Villa Taverna, with its beautiful Italian-style garden; Villa Trevisanato, within the green of a small wood and an example of the harmonious landscapes of architect Antonio Caregaro Negrin; and Villa Furlanis, based on a design by Palladio. The past has left its mark all over the Province, and many cultural routes offer a journey into the past, through the places touched by World War I, the architecture of the Renaissance and Middle Ages, all the way back to relics from the period of Roman domination. There is a reason why the small town of Asolo is defined as the “city of a hundred of landscapes."

Bassano del Grappa is definitely worth a visit. The small picturesque town at the foot of the Monte Grappa is famous for its unique wooden bridge and as the capital for the production of the famous grappa brandy. But the place has much more to offer: beautiful ceramics, dishes of honey, asparagus, mushrooms and more. No wonder the small town is visited by many tourists who appreciate the ambiance and the variety of Bassano del Grappa. The little idyllic town of Bassano del Grappa will inspire you with a variety of unique attractions comparable to those of many other larger cities. Beautiful old squares, narrow streets and walkways and beautiful palaces adorn the cityscape. Most of the city’s life is situated around the two squares Piazzale della Libertà and Piazza Garibaldi. Here you will find the imposing Ezzelino tower, also called Torre Civica, from the 13th century and the beautiful brick church of San Francesco with beautiful frescoes inside – including the "Madonna and Child" by Martinelli. The cloister of the Franciscan convent houses the Museo Civico, which contains numerous exhibits of archaeological finds of Roman, Greek and Apulian pottery and writings as well as valuable paintings by local and Venetian artists. A landmark and an absolute highlight of any visit to the city of Bassano del Grappa is the covered wooden bridge Ponte degli Alpini, also known as Ponte Vecchio, connecting the two banks of the Brenta river.

While the pretty little town of Asolo offers its visitors only a few outstanding tourist attractions, there are many romantic and interesting places. The Piazza Maggiore with its beautiful Renaissance fountain, the Via Roberto Browning with long arcades and wall frescoes from the 15th century and the Palazzo della Ragione with the City Museum are well worth seeing as is the castle of Caterina Cornaro (now the Eleonoar Duse Theatre) and the Castello Rocca from the 12th century. In the cathedral of Santa Maria di Breda, which is built on the foundations of a Roman bath complex, there is a masterpiece by Lorenzo Lotto: the altarpiece “The apparition of the Virgin.” The Casa Duse, the house of the actress Eleonora Duse, is located in the northwestern part of the town. The famous actress was buried at the cemetery of the upper district of Sant’Anna, where the writer Freya Stark was also laid to rest. Also noteworthy are the many magnificent villas on the way there.

Do not pass up a visit to Possagno, dominated by the majestic Temple that is dedicated to its most distinguished citizen, the great Canova; and by the Museo Canova Gipsoteca, an exhibit of the plaster casts of Canova's masterpieces.

An impressive medieval fortress city awaits visitors in Castelfranco Veneto. The historic centre is surrounded by a completely preserved brick wall, moats and five watch towers. The fortress was built in the 12th century by Treviso to defend the city against the rising Padua. The citizens of Castelfranco received free housing within the city walls under the condition that they defend the city with their weapons – with this trick Treviso tried to ensure that the bulwark would stop possible attacks. Nevertheless, the fortress was taken in 1246 by Ezzelino IV da Romano from Vicenza and in 1329 by Cangrande I della Scala from Verona. The historic centre invites visitors to go on a short walk but offers no great attractions. Castelfranco Veneto is the birthplace of the Renaissance painter Giorgione (1478-1510). His supposed birthplace is located next to the cathedral. In the right chapel choir of the cathedral is one of Giorgione’s masterpieces, the altarpiece “Pala di Castelfranco”. It shows the Madonna with saints Francis and Liberalis.

Noale is certainly one of the most interesting towns in the Veneto for the important evidence of the past among which the Rocca dei Tempesta and the gates and towers of the castle. From its history closely entwined with that of Treviso and Venice, from its past as an important commercial and political center notary Noale has inherited a cultural and artistic heritage of great interest. Extolled by historians as the beautiful country, vague and painted Noale retains its churches and historic buildings that line its streets a truly exceptional artistic.