Italian Winter Holidays - The Veneto Region

Italian Winter Holidays - The Veneto Region

Please don't expect mild winter weather in Veneto in northeastern Italy.
But there you can still enjoy yourself while waiting for spring. The city of Verona is home to The International Horse Show on the second weekend of November. When they say international, they mean it. Try not to miss the costumed parade on opening day. Venice commemorates its deliverance from the 1621 plague with the Festival della Salute celebrated on November 21 at the Madonna della Salute Church.


For about a month starting in early December Venice hosts the Natale di Vetro, Christmas in glass on Murano Island. The festival starts by honoring San Nicolo the patron saint of glass blowers. There's a glassworks regatta, a glass blowing school including sessions for children, exhibitions, and even a wine tasting by invitation. The seaside town of Bibione presents a Living Nativity Scene at the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in December.

Treviso's annual Radicchio Festival is also held in December. That would be a good place to answer the burning question: What wine with Radicchio? My offhand answer is an Italian Pinot Grigio. For Christmas markets try Campo Santo Stefano in Verona and Venice. Check the dates carefully; these markets may close earlier than you think.

Venice is a fine place to celebrate New Year's Eve, especially if you're in love. The choices include expensive restaurants and a public celebration on St Mark's Square that includes music, a giant fireworks display, bellini brindisi (toast), and a huge group kiss at midnight.

An estimated 60 thousand people participate in this group kiss and the companion one held in Piazza Ferretto in Mestre, Venice.
On New Year's Day some souls a dip in the waters of Venice's Lido Beach. Be warned, it's pretty cold. But it may cure you of your hangover. According to legend a white haired witch known as La Befana arrives by broomstick during the night of January 5 and fills stockings with toys and sweets for the good children and lumps of coal for the bad ones.

On January 6 Venice sports the Befana races in which men dressed as La Befana race boats on the Grand Canal.
Verona hosts an international display of nativity scenes in its Arena all throughout January. For the first half of January the seaside resort of Jesolo boasts sand sculpture nativity scenes in the Piazza Marconi made by top international artists. Charitable donations are requested.
And wherever you go and whatever you do, check out the fine Veneto wines including Bardolino, Recioto di Soave, and Soave Superiore.

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