Veneto

Veneto is the region in northeastern Italy that stretches from the Adriatic lagoon of Venice up through the Dolomites, and it holds far more than its famous capital. Venice itself deserves its own visit, but the rest of Veneto offers a quieter, equally rewarding version of Italy.

Verona, of Romeo and Juliet fame, has a Roman arena still used for opera, plus a well-preserved medieval center. Padua has one of Europe's oldest universities and Giotto's frescoed Scrovegni Chapel. Vicenza is dense with Palladian architecture, its villas and basilicas shaping the look of Western civic buildings for centuries after.

Inland, the Prosecco hills around Valdobbiadene and the vineyards of Valpolicella make for good slow travel — wine tastings, cycling, small towns with almost no tourists. Further north, the Dolomites rise sharply near Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo, offering hiking and skiing against dramatic limestone peaks, a stark contrast to the lagoon flatness near Venice.

Food shifts from seafood on the coast to risotto, polenta, and hearty mountain fare inland. Getting around by train is easy between the main cities; the mountains and wine country require a car.

Overall: Veneto rewards going beyond Venice, with Roman history, Renaissance architecture, and Alpine scenery all within a couple hours' drive.