This journey through the fertile plains of Venice's hinterland begins in the legendary city of Verona, famous as the setting for the tale of Romeo and Juliet. Due to its strategic siting on the River Adige the city has been important for centuries and has been named an UNESCO heritage site because of its many historical buildings. The city is also the backdrop for the most famous open air opera season, held in the Roman Arena. The Roman Theatre also survives, situated in a panoramic spot on the Adige. Amongst the other important buildings to visit is the, much altered, Cathedral, the Church of San Zeno (the crypt of which was the venue for Romeo and Juliets' wedding), the Church of San Fermo Maggiore with its modern bronze door and the Church of Santa Anastasia. In the museum of the imposing medieval, Castelvecchio there is a stunning collection of art, including work by Canaletto and Titian. The castle was built by the Scaligeri and through the fencing which surrounds the Arche Scaligere you can see the Gothic funerary monuments of the family.
Vicenza, another ancient city, was fought over many times but flourished under Venice's rule. With nearly 100 palaces in the city, it has been described as "Venice on land". The main features are the Corso Palladio, flanked by palaces on each side, and the open air meeting place, the Piazza dei Signori. The Basilica Palladiana, which occupies the whole of one side of the piazza is the work of the famous late Renaissance, architect Andrea Palladio. This city has been designated a World Heritage Site because of the many buildings by this architect. Palladio's designs were based on Greek and Roman architecture and amongst the fine examples of his work here are the Palazzo delle Ragione, the Loggia dei Capitani, the Palazzo Chiercuti and the Theatro Olympico. Palladio built his famous Villa Rotonda near Vicenza.
En route to Padua, make a diversion to see three smaller towns, Montagnana, Este and Monselice. The medieval walls of Montagnana are some of the best preserved in Europe. Set in these walls there are no fewer than 24 polygonal towers and 4 gates. Franco Zeffirelli used Montagnana as a set in his film "Romeo and Juliet".
The ancient little town of Este has a chequered history. For the Veneti and the Romans this was an important town but it was destroyed by the Barbarians. It flourished again when Azzo II d'Este built a castle here. In the 10th century, like so many Medieval towns, it was wracked by plague. You can see Tiepolo's depiction of St. Thecla ridding the town of the plague in the cathedral. Besides the cathedral, the Church of San Martino and the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie are worth visiting.
Monselice is another picturesque hill town. Flint quarried here gave the town its name in Roman times and can be seen in many of the buildings including the keep high on the Rocca hill. The town was a major stronghold. In the castle, built by Ezzelino III is a major collection of weapons and armoury. The Duodo family built seven churches here along what was to become an important pilgrimage route. The family's villa and that of the Nani can be glimpsed along the route to the sanctuary, "the Sette Chiese".
Finally you reach Padua, home to both an ancient university and modern business. Padua has always been a wealthy city and this is reflected in the treasures to be found here. The biggest attraction are Giotto's frescos in the Cappella degli Scrovegni, but there are many other great buildings and works of art to be seen. The most famous of the Paduan churches is the seven copulared Basilica of St Antonio which houses the bones of the saint and frescos by Donatello. Donatello also sculpted the statue of the Venetian General Gattamelata which stands in front of the Basilica. More frescos can be found in the Scuola del Santo (by Titian) and the St, George Oratory (by Altichiero). The Baptistery also houses important frescos by Guisto de Menabuoi. The nearby catheral was remodelled after a design by Michaelangelo. The Palazzo delle Ragione is remarkable for its great hall and has the largest roof unsupported by columns. One of the best known symbols of Padua is the elliptical Square'.
