Did you know that Italy is the country with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

In fact, in Italy we can find as many as 55 sites recognized as "heritage of humanity" and 12 registered in the representative list of intangible cultural heritage.

The Veneto region is home to 9 of these noteworthy cultural and natural treasures, let's see some of them in this article:

1. Verona
The famous tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is not the only story that makes the city of Verona remarkable.

This city, included in the UNESCO list in 2000, was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. and houses their best preserved remains in Italy such as the Arena, the Roman Theater, the Pietra bridge, the Gavi arch, the Leoni and Borsari gates, just to name a few.
Reachable from the Residence in about an hour by car, Verona lends itself to being an excellent day trip if you want to savor the rich culture of our chief town.

2. Venezia and its lagoon

Venice, an inestimable art, culture and landscapes treasure, it´s the centre of a lagoon that was born from many little islands, like Murano and Burano.

In a possible visit to the city recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, it is essential to visit the Grand Canal, St. Marco's Square, St. Marco's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Rialto Bridge.

It is a unique city in the world, which represents an unsurpassed example of the reciprocity between man and the natural environment that surrounds him, making it definitely worthy of a visit even in just a day by taking the train from Peschiera del Garda.

3. Vicenza and the palladian villas

In 1994 the City of Vicenza was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its uniqueness linked in particular to the work of the architect Andrea Palladio.

This fascinating city hosts the Palladian Basilica, the Chiericati palace, the Olympic Theater and 24 Palladian villas, the highest expression of Andrea Palladio, an artistic genius.

To reach this extraordinary city of art, it is possible to go by car in about an hour and a half

4. 14th-century Padua frescoes

To make the city of Padua worthy of UNESCO recognition are the cycles of frescoes by world-famous artists such as Giotto, Guariento, Giusto de 'Menabuoi, Altichiero da Zevio, Jacopo Avanzi and Jacopo da Verona, all located within 8 monuments in the Old Town:

• the Scrovegni Chapel (one of Giotto's most extraordinary works)

• the Church of Santi Filippo and Giacomo alle Eremitani

• the Palazzo della Ragione

• the Cathedral's Baptistery

• the Chapel of the Carrarese Palace

• the Basilica and the Convent of the Saint

• the Oratory of San Giorgio

• the Oratory of San Michele

Reachable in about two hours by car, Padua lends itself to being a perfect destination for fans of italian art history.

5. The Prosecco hills

The Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are located in a small hilly area in the province of Treviso, where the positive interaction between man and the environment has created a unique cultural landscape.

It is an enchanting panorama made up of vineyards, forests, small villages and agriculture, all of which can be visited in a day along the Prosecco Route: 50 km of villages, breathtaking views and cellars where you can enjoy tastings and purchases.

About 2 and a half hours from Torri del Benaco, the Prosecco hills are excellent for a pleasant day trip immersed in nature and enjoying good wine and gastronomy.

6. Pile-dwelling sites in the Alps

111 pile-dwelling sites dating back to between 5000 and 500 BC were recognized in 2011. and divided between Italy, Austria, France, Germany and Slovenia.

In the province of Verona we can find two locations: one in Peschiera del Garda and one in Tombola, near Cerea.

In the province of Padua, on the other hand, an important site has been identified in the Laghetto della Costa in Arquà Petrarca, at the foot of the Euganean Hills, meanwhile in the province of Trento you'll be able to find Fiavè's pile-dwelling site, with the possibility to access a museum.

The closest site to the Residence is in Peschiera, reachable by bus or car in about 40 minutes.

7. Le Dolomiti

The Dolomites are of worldwide significance for the variety of spectacular landscapes made up of spiers, pinnacles and rock walls, karst systems, glacial morphologies and a precious Mesozoic fossil deposit.

The province of Belluno is the one that can boast the majority of the Dolomites in general and the UNESCO systems, being affected by five of the nine systems:

1. Pelmo and Croda da Lago

2. Marmolada

3. Pale di San Martino, Pale di San Lucano, Belluno Dolomites and Vette Feltrine

4. Northern Dolomites

5. Friulian and Oltre Piave Dolomites

About three hours from Torri del Benaco, the Natural Park of the Dolomites is a wonderful destination for the more adventurous in the mood for high altitude walks with thrilling views.