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Veneto

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Template:Infobox Region of Italy

Veneto or Venetia, is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population exceeds 4.7 million, and its capital is Venice. Once the cradle of the renowned Venetian Republic, then a land of mass emigration, Veneto is today among the wealthiest and most industrialized regions of Italy. Veneto's natural, historical, and artistic beauty makes it, by far, the most visited region of Italy, with about 13.5 million tourists every year (2006)[1]. Spoken languages are Italian, Ladin and Venetian (a motion to recognize Venetian as an official regional language has been approved by the regional Parliament[2]). The Regional Constitution, approved by the Italian Parliament in 1971, also recognizes Veneto inhabitants as a "people" ("popolo" in Italian)[3].

Geography

Veneto is located in the northeastern part of Italy, bordering on the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy, the autonomous Italian regions of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the nation of Austria. It lies between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea and is crossed by the rivers Po, Adige, Brenta and Piave.

Provinces

Provinces of Veneto
Provinces of Veneto

The Veneto itself is subdivided into seven provinces:

History

The Venetic Period

Between the 2nd and 1st millennia B.C., the region was inhabited by the Euganei. According to ancient historians, the Veneti (sometimes called the Paleo-Veneti), came from the Balkans at the time of the Fall of Troy, led by prince Antenor, a comrade of Aeneas. In the 7th-6th centuries B.C. the local populations of Veneto entered into contact with the Etruscans and the Greeks. Venetic culture reached a highpoint during the 4th century B.C. These ancient Veneti spoke Venetic, an Indo-European language akin to, but distinct from Latin and the other Italic languages. Meanwhile, the Veneti propsered through their trade in amber which they acquired from the Baltic and were well-known for their breeding of horses. Este, Padua, Oderzo, Adria, Vicenza, Verona, and Altino became centers of Venetic culture. However, over time, the Veneti began to adopt the dress and certain other customs of their Celtic neighbors.

The Roman Period

During the third century B.C., the Veneti, together with the Cenomani Celts on their western border, sided with the Romans as Rome expanded and struggled against the Insubri and Boi Celts. During the Second Punic War (218 B.C. – 202 B.C.), the Veneti even sent a contingent of soldiers to fight alongside the Romans against Hannibal and the invading Carthaginians and Veneti were among those slaughtered at the Battle of Cannae (216 B.C.). In 181 B.C., a Roman triumvirate of Publius Scipio Nasica, Caius Flaminius, and Lucius Manlius Acidinus led three thousand families, mainly from Samnium but supplemented by native Veneti, to found a Latin colony at Aquileia as a base to protect the territory of the Veneti from incursions of the hostile Carni and Istri. From then on, Roman influence over the area increased. Thus, in 169 B.C. more colonizing families were sent from Rome to Aquileia. In 148 B.C. the Via Postumia was completed connecting Aquileia to Genua. In 131 B.C., the Via Annia joined Adria to Patavium to Altinum to Concordia to Aquileia. Gradually, the Roman Republic transformed its alliance with the Veneti into a relationship of dominance. After the 91 B.C. Italic rebellion, the cities of the Veneti, together with the rest of Transpadania, were granted partial rights of Roman citizenship according to the Lex Pompeia Transpadanis. Later in 49 B.C., by the Lex Rubria de Gallia Rome granted full Roman citizenship to the Veneti. Such citizens would have benefitted from the Via Claudia completed in 46 B.C. and connecting Altinum to Tarvisium to Feltria to Tridentum (modern Trento). [From Tridentum it continued north to Pons Drusus and south through Verona to Mutina (modern Modena).] After the Battle of Philippi (42 B.C.), which ended the Roman Civil War, the lands of the Veneti, together with the rest of Cisalpine Gaul, ceased to be a province and the territory of the Veneti, which included modern Friuli, became region X (Venetia et Istria) of a new entity named Italia (Italy). Aquileia became its capital. Meanwhile, under the Pax Romana, Patavium (modern Padua) became one of the most important cities of northern Italy. Other Venetic cities such as Opitergium (modern Oderzo), Tarvisium (modern Treviso), Feltria (modern Feltre), Vicetia (modern Vicenza), Ateste (modern Este), and Altinum (modern Altino) prospered and Romanized adopting the Latin language and Roman culture. Thus, by the end of the first century A.D., Latin had finally displaced the Venetic language.

The Middle Ages

Already in 166 A.D., the Quadi and Marcomanni had briefly invaded Venetia. In the fifth century, both Alaric the Goth and then Attila and the Huns devastated the area. Attila laid siege to Aquileia and turned it into a ruin in 452 A.D. Many of the mainland inhabitants sought protection in the nearby lagoons which would become Grado in the east and Venice more to the west. On the heels of the Huns came the Ostrogoths who not only invaded, but settled the land. During the mid-sixth century, Justinian reconquered Venetia for the Eastern Roman Empire. An Exarch was established at Ravenna while a military tribune was set up in Oderzo. Byzantine rule would not last long. Starting in 568 A.D, the Lombards crossed the Julian Alps. These invaders subdivided the territory of Venetia into numerous feuds ruled by Germanic dukes and counts (essentially creating the division of Veneto from Friuli). The invasion provoked another wave of migration from the mainland to the Byzantine controlled coast and islands. In 667, A.D. the Lombards conquered the Byzantine base at Oderzo and took possession of practically all of Veneto (and Friuli) except for Venice and Grado. The 36 Lombard duchies included Ceneda, Treviso, Verona, and Vicenza, and within the Veneto itself, a reminder of Lombard hegemony is seen today in palace names which begin with the word "Farra." By the middle of the eight century, the Franks had assumed political control and mainland Veneto became part of the Carolingian Empire. Though politically dominant these Germanic invaders were gradually absorbed into the Venetian population over the centuries. In the late ninth century, Berengar, Margrave of the March of Friuli was elected king of Italy. Under his turmultuous reign, the March of Friuli was absordbed into the March of Verona so that Verona's territory contained a large portion of Roman Venetia. In the tenth century mainland Veneto, after suffering invasions from nearby Magyars and Slavs, was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire. Gradually, the communes of the mainland grew in power and wealth. In 1167 an alliance (called the Lombard League) was formed among the Venetian cities such as Venice, Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, and Verona with other cities of Northern Italy to assert their rights against the Holy Roman Emperor. The Second Treaty of Constance in 1183 confirmed the Peace of Venice of 1177 in which the cities agreed to remain part of the Empire as long as their jurisdiction over their own territories was not infringed upon. The league dissolved at the death of Emperor Frederick II in 1250. The period also witnessed the founding of the second oldest university in Italy, the University of Padua founded in 1222. Around this time, Padua also served as home to St. Anthony, the beloved saint called simply "il santo" ("the saint") by the inhabitants of the town.

The Serenissima: The Republic of Venice

As the barbarians were interested in the wealth of the mainland, part of the Venetian population sought refuge on some of the isolated and unoccupied islands of lagoon, from which the city of Venetiae or Venice was born. After a period of Byzantine domination in 8th century, Venice became an independent maritime Republic ruled by its elected dux or doge.

The Republic proved to be a commercial superpower, and its influence lasted through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In fact, the Venetian Republic enjoyed 1100 years of uninterrupted influence throughout the Mediterranean. By the 16th century, Venetian Republic held dominion over Veneto, Friuli, part of Lombardy and Romagna, Istria, Dalmatia, the Ionian Islands of Corfu, Cefalonia, Ithaca and Zante. From the 13th to 17th centuries it held the island of Crete and from the mid-15th to mid-16th century, the island of Cyprus. Venetian mainland holdings led to Venetian involvement in European and in particular, Italian politics. Cities had to be fortified, one impressive example being Palmanova in Friuli. However, the wise rule and propserity brought by the Serenissima made the cities of the terra firma willing subjects. Eastern Islands served as useful ports for Venetian shipping. However, as the Ottoman Empire grew more powerful and aggressive, Venice was often put on the defensive. Ottoman control of the eastern Mediterranean and the discoveries of sea routes to Asia around Africa and of the Americas had a debilitating effect on the Venetian economy.

See also:

The French and Austro-Hungarian Periods

In 1797, Napoleon invaded the territory of the Venetian Republic. Overwhelmed by more powerful forces, Doge Ludovico Manin resigned and retired to his villa at Passariano in Friuli and the thousand year old Republic disappeared as an independent state. This proved very unpopular in the mainland cities where sympathies were strongly with the Republic of Venice. In many places peasants actively attempted to resist the French invaders who arrogantly claimed to bring them liberty. By the Treaty of Campoformio signed on October 17, 1797 part of the mainland Venetian territory was handed over to the Austrian Empire and a western part was annexed to the Cisalpine Republic. The territory soon reverted back to Napoleon in 1801, but after his defeat it was handed over to Austria again. The Veneto remained in Austrian hands, except certain cities briefly in 1848, until annexed by the Kingdom of Italy.

The Italian Period

In 1866 after the Third War of Independence the Veneto was annexed. After a controversial referendum, it was occupied by Italian troops, the Carabinieri. In an effort to "italianize" the population, the dialects of Venetian were forbidden while often people's surnames and place names were changed.

Because of the conditions brought about by the new Italian government, the 19th century became a period of emigration. Hundreds of thousands Venetians made the difficult decision to abandon their native land and homes and seek more congenial circumstances in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Chipilo, Mexico; other parts of South America; Australia, Canada, and the United States of America. In many of these places their descendants have maintained the use of their respective ancestral Venetian dialect.

The First World War began shortly after the Venetian pope, St. Pius X died. After Italy entered the War, the Veneto became a major front. The flooding of the Piave River would play a major role in the Italian victory at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto which was fought between October 24 and November 3 1918 and serve as the major turning point in the War.

After the Second World War, the Venetian spirit of sacrifice and a family orientation played a major role in an economic recovery that harmoniously blended traditional agriculture, trade, and industry.

Economy

After the destruction and bombardments by the Allied forces in Second World War the Veneto region became one of the poorest places in Italy. Nevertheless, in short time, things began to turn around. Today, the Veneto, although to a large degree agricultural, is one of the most industrialized regions of Italy, with high annual economic growth and a very dynamic economy. Some Italian newspapers have called this industrialization "The Nord-Est Miracle", due to the economic boom during the last decade of the 20th century. During the last decade of the 20th century, a large number of Venetian industries opened some branches in Eastern European countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The Romanian city of Timişoara is also known as "The Newest Venetian Province", due to the high presence of Venetian industries.[citation needed]

Agriculture

The agriculture of the region has witnessed significant progress during the past 20-30 years. The territory of Veneto is still dominated by small landholdings and agriculture is mixed. The other phenomenon is part-time work in the agricultural sector; after the working-day on a factory, people cultivate their private pieces of land. The principal agricultural products include maize, green peas, vegetables, apples, cherries, sugar beets, forage, tobacco, hemp. Significant production of grapes occurs in hilly zones, leading to the creation of well-regarded wines. The region also has extensive cattle-raising and fishing.

Industry

Thanks to ancient traditional artisan activities industry takes its origins from the past century in some pre-Alpine valleys. In the last 30-40 years industrialization transformed the appearance of the landscape, especially in the plains, where hundreds of industrial complexes were built. Metallurgical and chemical plants were built in Marghera and Mestre. In other parts of the region were affirmed little and medium activities in various sectors: food, textiles, chemistry, metal-mechanics, glass, electronics, eyeglasses (exported). Artisan production is also quite strong: Murano glass, laces of Burano and gold production of Vicenza. Apart from agriculture and industry activities such as commerce, banking and tourism are also important. In province of Belluno there is the more important area of the world for the production of glances at them (Luxottica, Safilo, Marcolin ecc.).

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Demographics

A land of emigration until the 1970s, the Veneto has come to attract an influx of foreign immigrants since the economic industrial boom of the 1980s. As of 2006, the Italian national institute of statistics ISTAT estimated that 320,793 foreign-born immigrants live in Veneto, equal to 6.7% of the total regional population.

Religion

Christianity entered the region very early on. The region venerates the second century bishop St. Hermagoras and his deacon St. Fortunatus, both of Aquileia and both marytrs, as patrons. Aquileia became the metropolitan see of Venetia. Aquileia had its own liturgical rites which were used throughout the dioceses of the Veneto until the later Middle Ages when the Roman Rite replaced the Aquileian Rite.

As of 2004, over 95% of the population claimed to be Roman Catholic. The region of the Veneto along with the regions of the Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol form the ecclesiastical region of Triveneto under the Patriarchate of Venice. The Patriarchate of Venice is an archdiocese and metroplitan see of an ecclesiastical province which includes suffragan episcopal sees of Adria-Rovigo, Belluno-Feltre, Chioggia, Concordia-Pordenone, Padua, Treviso, Verona, Vicenza, and Vittorio Veneto.[4] The Archdiocese of Venice was elevated to a honorary Patriarchate by the pope on October 8, 1457 when the Patriarchate of Grado was suppressed. The saintly first patriarch of Venice was Laurence, a nobleman of the Giustiniani family. During the twentieth century the patriarch was often also named a cardinal, and three cardinal patriarchs, Giuseppe Sarto, Angelo Roncalli, and Albino Luciani were elected popes Pius X, John XXIII, and John Paul I, respectively. The Patriarchate of Venice claims St. Mark the Evangelist as its patron. His symbol of the winged lion became a typical symbol of the Venetian Republic.

Language

Most of the people of the Veneto speak standard Italian. However, there is widespread usage of the various local dialects of Venetian. Each of the Venetian dialects derive from the Latin as spoken by the Veneti with words borrowed from Germanic invaders. The Venetian dialects are classified as an Italo-Western Romance language. Variants include an Eastern/Coastal (Venice), a Central type (Padua, Vicenza, Polesine), Western (Verona), North-Central (Treviso), and Northern (Belluno, Feltre, Agordo, Cadore, Zoldo Alto). Each is mutually intelligble to varying degrees. Ladin is spoken in parts of the province of Belluno.

Culture

Veneti are very proud of their culture. Each section of the various towns has its patron saint whose feast day is celebrated. Many other festivals are closely allied to the religious calendar. Among these:

  • Panevin celebrated around Epiphany;
  • Carneval celebrated the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday;
  • Pasqua (Easter Sunday);
  • Saint Mark's feast day (April 25);
  • La Sensa (Ascension Thursday);
  • San Giovanni Battista (June 24);
  • La festa del Redentor (mid July);
  • Vendemmiare (grape harvest in September);
  • San Nicolò de Bari (St. Nicholas, December 6);
  • Nadal (Christmas).

Climate

The variations in climate are influenced by the particular morphology. Continental on the plains, the climate is milder along the Adriatic coast, around Lake Garda and in the open hilly areas. Winters are often harsh everywhere due to northeasterly winds: in the mountains, temperatures can be very low, as low as -35/-30°C in places like Marcesina, 1500m, near Asiago, or Cansiglio in Belluno area, 900m; the coastline, with Venice and just to a few kilometers from the sea, is slitghtly milder than the inner plain, but often covered by thick fog as the central and southern plain; snow is usually abundant in the mountains, where on the highest pikes it may fall even during mid summer, less frequent but not unusual at plain. Precipitation is scarce (750 mm. /year) on the lower plain, especially near river Po, more abundant (750-1,100 mm./year) on the upper plain; the highest values (up to 3,200 mm./year) are recorded in the Bellunese Prealps, near Pasubio and on the Asiago plateau.

Main tourist attractions

The Veneto region ranks first in the tourist sector in Europe, with about 60 million tourists every year.

The cities of art

Venice: The kaleidoscopic scenario born of an amazing, intricate and harmonious communication network of water and stone casts light and shadows unique in the world upon a city already singular for its art, history and culture. Venice and its lagoon are listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Verona: The city of the most famous lovers in history: Romeo and Juliet.It is one of the cities that has better preserved its artistic heritage in Italy. Verona has been named a UNESCO world heritage site.

File:Padua 3.jpg File:Padua 4.jpg

Padua: also known as the City of the Saint, is a city of huge importance for its cultural, historical and economic aspects and the Orto botanico di Padova is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

File:Vicenza 1.jpg File:Vicenza 3.jpg

Vicenza is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, together with a number of the Palladian Villas.

Belluno the capital of the Dolomites, the bells tower by the architect Filippo Juvarra

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Montagnana is a commune in the province of Padova with great famous perfectly conserved medieval walls

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Bassano del Grappa with its wooden covered bridge or Ponte degli Alpini on the river Brenta, designed in 1569 by the architect Andrea Palladio

File:Marostica 1.jpg

Marostica : The 'Chess Game' event takes place on the second weekend of September and it involves over 550 characters and lasts two hours.

File:Asolo 1.jpg

Asolo is known as 'The Pearl of province of Treviso', and also as 'The City of a Hundred Horizons'.

Este : The House of Este held the city until 1240, when they moved their capital to Ferrara.

Ville Venete

File:La Rotonda little.jpg File:Villa cornaro.jpg

All over the Venetian plain, but especially in the Provinces of Treviso, Padua, Vicenza and Venice, there stand numerous remarkable artistic rural constructions, the Ville Venete. The dates of construction of these villas range from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. There are approximately five thousand Ville Venete, of which 1,400 are declared of historical and monumental interest.

  • CISA : The Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio (Palladio Centre and Museum) in Vicenza is an independent Foundation, supported by the Veneto Regional Government and by the Italian state

Parks

Cansiglio is a pre-alpine massif located in the northeastern Veneto within the provinces of Treviso and Belluno.

Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi is situated in the southern section of the Province of Belluno, it has beautiful landscapes, waters, woods typical of Dolomites.

Link: [Official Web Site]

Lakes

Punta San Vigilio

Lake Garda has boasted of a mild climate and a Mediterranean-type environment since the days of Pliny and Catullus. The area is a major tourist destination. Various towns along the lake, such as Lazise, Cisano, Bardolino, Garda (VR), Torri del Benaco and Malcesine, have become resorts.

Mountains

File:Cortina-panoramica.jpg

Cortina d'Ampezzo, it's situated in the Belluno's province, is probably among the three most exclusive mountain locations in Europe and it is well-known for its first-class hotels and shops. It was host to the 1956 Winter Olympics. Many travel to Cortina for winter sports. Just north is the Tre Cime di Lavaredo said to be a symbol of the Italian Dolomites.[5]

File:Arabba 01.jpg

Arabba lies between the Sella group and the Marmolada.

File:Auronzo003.jpg

Auronzo is in the upper Cadore.

File:Sappada.jpg

Sappada is in the extreme north of the region.

Rivers

The most important rivers of the Veneto are the Piave (sacred river), the Brenta, the Bacchiglione, the Livenza, the Po, and the Adige. Smaller rivers include the Meschio and the Sile.

Thermal bath

The thermal baths at Abano Terme are also an attraction. Although the most famous, Abano is by no means the only thermal town in the area. It is however one of the prettiest and most tranquil.

Beaches

Venice's Lido is an 11-mile long sandbar, home to about 20,000 residents, greatly augmented by the (mainly Italian) tourists who move in every summer.

Jesolo is one of the most important seaside resort on the Adriatic coast, just few kilometers far from Venice. With a sandy beach more than 13km long, Jesolo is one of the longest beaches in Italy. Every year Jesolo accommodates over 4.5 million tourists.

Caorle: it is extremely pleasant to spend some time swimming in Caorle’s beautiful blue sea or sunbathing in its golden beaches, often awarded for being one of the cleanest beaches in Italy.

Bibione The clear and gentle Adriatic Sea, offer to Bibione a wide beach of golden sand. It is 10 km long, Bibione is also an important and fully equipped thermal resort

Eraclea is a small and tranquil paradise right in the middle of pine forests.

Food and wines

There are some fine wines from the Veneto region of Italy, these include: Soave, Bardolino, Recioto, Amarone, Torcolato, Prosecco, Tocai Rosso,Garganega, and Valpolicella. Other common wines include Verduzzo, Raboso, Moscat, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Nero, Pinot Grigio, and Merlot. Homemade wine making is widespread. From the pressed grapes grappa is made.

See also: Wines of Veneto and Wineries in the Veneto

Among the well-known cheeses of the Veneto are: Asiago (PDO) (from Asiago), Monte Veronese (PDO), Piave (PDO), Morlacco, Grana Padano (PDO).

Garda and Veneto olive oils (PDO) are other remarkable products of this region.

Fresh & cured meats

The Sopressa Vicentina (PDO) is an aged salami, cylindrical in shape and prepared with raw, quality pork meat. It may or may not include garlic in its ingredients and comes in medium and large sizes.

Prosciutto Veneto Berico-Euganeo (PDO) is obtained from the fresh meat of a top breed of adult hogs. The aroma is delicate, sweet and fragrant.

Cereals, vegetables & fruits

Radicchio Rosso di Treviso (PGI) is a peculiar vegetable with a faintly bitter taste and a crunchy texture. The production area encompasses many town districts in the provinces of Treviso, Padua and Venice.

The Radicchio Variegato di Castelfranco (PGI) has a delicate and slightly sweet taste and a crunchy texture.

Veronese Vialone Nano Rice from Verona (PGI)  : a white rice with short, plump grains, which have a creamy consistency when cooked. They are commonly used in risotto dishes and have a high starch content.

The Bean of Lamon (PGI) type is particularly prized for its delicate flavour and extremely tender skin.

The White Asparagus of Cimadolmo (PGI) has a characteristic scent and a very delicate taste.

The White Asparagus of Bassano is a delight of northern Vicentino, is a shoot which has not yet broken the earth and owes its characteristic whiteness to its brief underground existence.

The S.Zeno di Montagna (Verona) chestnut (PDO) with its sweet taste.

Cerries of Marostica (PGI) in those the pulp varies in consistency from crisp to soft and the flavour is finely graded from sour to sweet.

Miscellaneous

According to Robert Putnam,[4] the "institutional performance" of Veneto's regional government is higher than average in Italy, thus Veneto belongs to what Putnam defines as "civic North". Veneto has a long tradition of high quality public health care, which can be traced to the historical heritage of the Republic of Venice.

Veneto hosts one of the oldest universities in the world at Padua, which is the second oldest one in Italy after Bologna. OECD investigations[5] show that school education achievements in North-Eastern Italy (whose population comes mainly from Veneto) are highest in Italy and comparable to France and Sweden.

Veneto is also the name of the main battleship class which Italian navy possessed during World War II. The Veneto class battleship includes Vittorio Veneto and Rome. Both ships were damaged in the famous Taranto raid of the British Royal navy and participated in most of the major sea battles between Britain and Italy in the Mediterranean.

Notable people from the Veneto

Notes and references

  1. ^ [1] Regione Veneto: Statistical Report 2007: 1.2 Production Sectors - Tourism
  2. ^ [2] By statute of the Regional Parliament
  3. ^ [3] By statute of the Regional Parliament
  4. ^ Putnam, R. D. Making Democracy Work. Civic traditions in modern Italy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993.
  5. ^ Oecd-Pisa 2005, Il livello di competenza dei quindicenni italiani in matematica, lettura, scienze e problem solving - Prima sintesi dei risultati di Pisa 2003, pag.7, also available on www.invalsi.it; see also lavoce.info, La scuola non è uguale per tutti

External links

45°30′N 11°45′E / 45.500°N 11.750°E / 45.500; 11.750 Coordinates: Extra unexpected parameters

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