VENETO

Veneto is one of the 20 Italian regions .

It has got apopulation of about 5 million people.

Veneto is the 8th largest region in Italy. It is located in the north-eastern part of Italy and is bordered to the east by Friuli Venezia Giulia, to the south by Emilia-Romagna, to the west by Lombardy and thenorth by Trentino Alto Adige.

Veneto can be divided into three areas: the mountainous area, the flat and and the hilly area.

GEOGRAPHY

29% of its surface is mountainous. The mountain chain is called Dolomites.

56% consists of plain, divided into the higher plain and the lower.The lower plain is rich in water sources and cultivated; it is the most populated part of the region.

The coasts of the Adriatic Sea are characterized by the Venetian Lagoon, a flat terrain with ponds, marshes and islands.The Po Delta, to the south, forms sandbars and dunes along the coastline.The delta and the lagoon are stopping-points for migratory birds.

The climate changes significantly from an area to another.

“Nordic” on the mountain,Continental on the plains;

Milder along the Adriatic coast, around the Garda Lake and in the hilly areas.

CLIMATE

The lowlands are oftencovered by fog.

Precipitations are scarce near to river Po and more abundant at higher altitudes.

ECONOMYHistorically, Veneto was a poor agricultural region, as well as a lad of mass emigration. But, since the 1970s it has seen impressive development.

The Agriculture of Veneto is among the most productive in Italy, specially in fruit-growing and vine-growing.The main products include maize, green peas, apples, cherries, sugarbeets, forage, tobacco, soia bean.Fishing is quite important in coastal areas.

AGRICULTURE

Veneto is one of Italy's most important wine-growing areas, producing well-regarded wines, such as Prosecco, Valpolicella, and Soave.The Veneto region produces more bottles of DOC wine than any other area in Italy.

In the last 30–40 years industrialisation transformed the landscape, especially in the plains.

INDUSTRY

The regional industry is especially made of medium-sized businesses, active in sectors as food products, wood and furniture, textiles and clothing, gold jewelry and electronics.

CULTUREVeneto hosts one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Padua, founded in 1222.

Most people in Veneto speak standard Italian. However, Venetian dialect is very frequently spoken.

Venice and Verona, are important Italian musical centres, home to a vibrant musical lifeThe ancient Arena is today an open air theatre and hosts a famous lyrical festival in summer.

RELIGIONVeneto converted to Christianity during the Roman rule

The Patriarchate and the town of Venice claimed St. Mark the Evangelist as patron.The same saint, symbolised by a winged lion, had became the symbol of the Venetian Republic and is still represented on many civic symbols.