10 Things About Venice, Verona, & Lake Garda25 Aug 2015

Venice, Verona, and the Lake Garda are three of the most beautiful places to visit in the country of Italy. Which distinguished features of each make them so special and a key attraction for tourists?

1. Venice has over 450 palaces.

Also known as a “palazzi”, the palaces of Venice were built with a mixture of classic architectural styles, such as Gothic, Byzantine, Moorish, and Baroque. A unique combination of these styles was termed Venetian Gothic, which combines the Gothic lancet arch with the influences of Byzantine and Moorish architecture.

2. “Juliet’s House” is in Verona.

If you’ve ever seen the film, “Letters to Juliet”, you might have been interested in the structure that was used to place tiny love notes over the walls of the courtyard. This building exists in Verona, although Juliet Capulet, Shakespeare’s fictional character, never actually lived here. Since it was bought by the Cappello family in 1905, its close relation to Juliet’s surname earned it the title of Juliet’s House.

3. Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy.

The mesmerizing landscapes of beaches, mountains, natural hot springs, and ancient towns make Lake Garda a popular getaway location.

4. There are over 400 gondoliers in Venice.

Also known as the “City of Romance”, Venice attracts couples to ride their famous gondolas, where it’s said that couples who kiss underneath each bridge will stay in love forever.

5. Verona is home to an ancient Roman amphitheater.

If you’ve ever taken an interest to the ancient Roman amphitheaters, the Verona Arena, which was built in the 1st century, will satisfy your curiosity. It’s famous for hosting large-scale operas.

6. Lake Garda is split between 3 provinces.

50km in length and 20km width, Lake Garda spans the provinces of Verona, Brescia, and Torento.

7. Venice was built over spongy marshland grounds.

When the structures in Venice were first built, wooden pilings were driven into the moist terrain centuries ago for support.

8. 3 of Shakespeare’s plays were set in Verona.

Shakespeare had no doubt great admiration for Verona, since he set 3 of his famous plays in this city, namely Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and the Two Gentlemen of Verona.

9. Lake Garda has historical value.

The earliest settlement on this beloved lake was said to date back as far back as 2000BC. The Battle of Lake Benacus also took place in these shores, which was fought between the Romans and the Alamnani people.

10. Venice was the birthplace of a famous opera composer.

Antonio Vivaldi was known as one of the greatest Baroque composers, as he was both a classical composer and virtuoso violinist. His musical influence spread across Europe during his lifetime.

Venice, Verona, and Lake Garda are must-see destinations when traveling to Italy. Book a custom Italian vacation with Gateway Destinations to start your Italian cultural journey today.

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