Italian Regions and Cities: Northern Italy

Veneto, a region of wonder, with cities of art of undisputed beauty, as well as the most pristine nature

Veneto is home to exquisitely beautiful cities that float on water, Renaissance frescoes, and Ancient Roman ruins, not to mention outstanding natural beauty. The region boasts one of Italy’s most stunning lakes, the Dolomites mountain range, and the Prosecco hills covered in vines. A diverse region, Veneto has something to entice most travelers.

Venetian cuisine represents a journey as long as the history of Venice, in which talents, traditions, products, flavours and raw materials have met, giving life to masterpieces, such as Tiramisù, Pandoro, Prosecco and spritz, of worldwide fame.

Situated in north-eastern Italy bordering Austria, the region is rich in art cities, Unesco world heritage sites and other great destinations: Venice and its lagoon, Verona and Padua, the Palladian Villas and the city of Vicenza, the Dolomite National Park, the Gardaland theme park, the spa facilities at Abano Terme, the memorial sites of World War One.

Right at the beginnings of Venice and its Republic Saint Mark the Evangelist was chosen as patron saint, side by side with the Virgin.

The Liguria region of north-west Italy is one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in Europe, with resorts and towns including San Remo and Portofino and numerous picturesque villages including the stunning villages of the Cinque Terre

Liguria is a coastal region in northwest Italy located along the Ligurian Sea. It is bordered by France to the west, Piedmont to the north, and Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany to the east. Liguria is located at approximately 44°30’0.00″ N 8°49’59.88″ E and the current President of Liguria is Giovanni Toti, who took office in 2015. The region Liguria is known for its dramatic rocky coastline dotted with fishing villages and hillside towns, and its cuisine features seafood, olives, and pesto. The region’s major port city is Genoa.

Genoa, Italian Genova, ancient (Latin) Genua, city and Mediterranean seaport in northwestern Italy. It is the capital of Genova provincia and of Liguria regione and is the centre of the Italian Riviera.

Saint Catherine of Genoa, original name Caterina Fieschi, (born 1447, Genoa [Italy]—died Sept. 15, 1510; canonized 1737; feast day September 15) was an Italian mystic admired for her work among the sick and the poor.

Trentino–Alto Adige/Südtirol, autonomous regione (region), northern Italy, comprising the province (provinces) of Bolzano-Bozen (north) and Trento (south).

The region of Trentino-Alto Adige is very much about the mountains.

Trentino is sure to amaze you with its immense natural heritage, the spectacular splendour of the Dolomites and fascinating sites steeped in history

Trentino-Alto Adige is Italy's northernmost region. It consists of two self-governing provinces, Trentino in the south and Südtirol, the northern province bordering Austria--and to the west by Switzerland--called Alto Adige by the Italians. South Tyrol is mountainous and covered by forestland.

Trentino is one of the few Italian region not touched by the sea, with a mostly mountainous territory including the majestically beautiful Dolomite group, and a great number of small lakes.
Historically under the domain of Austria for long centuries, and in the Northern part as a consequence the German language is still spoken, therefore the region is officially bilingual. Famous for its production of apples and wines, Trentino has a greatly developed tourist industry, with renowned winter resorts.

During the “Feste Vigiliane”, Trento celebrates its patron saint. This cultural highlight includes parades, historic reenactments, typical dishes and much more

Valle d’Aosta holds the titles of smallest and least populated region in Italy.

The Aosta Valley is a paradise for visitors seeking outdoor experiences in nature while exploring history and traditions

Valle d’Aosta, region, northwestern Italy, containing the upper basin of the Dora Baltea River, from its source near Mount Blanc to just above Ivrea. The region is enclosed on the north, west, and south by the Alps.

Aosta Valley: medieval fortresses and ancient traditions on Europe's highest peaks

The Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta in Italian; Vallée d’Aoste in French) is a mountainous autonomous region in northwestern Italy. It is bordered by France to the west, Switzerland to the north, and by Piedmont to the south and east. The regional capital is the town of Aosta.

Valle d'Aosta is the smallest Italian region, situated along the Italian border with France and Switzerland.
Unforgettable are the astounding castles on top of high rocks and one of the few casinos authorized in Italy, in the elegant center of Saint Vincent.

The patron saint of the city and diocese of Aosta, Saint Gratus (5th century), was the second bishop of the capital city of the Valle d’Aosta. He succeeded Eustasius, with whom he probably shared a Greek origin.

Lombardy: a dynamic land immersed in the present and reaching toward the future, but with an extraordinary heritage of art and nature

Lombardy, Italian Lombardia, regione of northern Italy. It is bordered on the north by Switzerland and by the Italian regioni of Emilia-Romagna (south), Trentino–Alto Adige and Veneto (east), and Piedmont (west). Administratively, Lombardy consists of the provincie of Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantova, Milano, Monza e Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio, and Varese. The capital is Milan.

Lombardy is located in northern Italy and is known for its beauty, culture, cuisine, and many attractions. It has several nicknames like “The Industrial Heart of Italy” due to its prosperous economy. Lombardy is situated between the Alps and Po Valley at 45°35′N 9°55′E. It borders Switzerland plus the Italian regions of Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige. The current president of Lombardy in 2023 is Attilio Fontana.

St. Angela Merici, Virgin
March 21, 1474 – January 27, 1540
Feast Day: January 27th

All about Saint Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan: sites and symbols of the celebrations

St. Ambrose, Latin Ambrosius, (born 339 ce, Augusta Treverorum, Belgica, Gaul [now Trier, Germany]—died 397, Milan [Italy]; feast day December 7) was the bishop of Milan, a biblical critic, a doctor of the church, and the initiator of ideas that provided a model for medieval conceptions of church–state relations.

Saint of the Day – 9 December – Saint Syrus of Pavia (1st Century) the First Bishop of Pavia, Italy, Confessor, miracle-worker, Defender of the Faith, Evangeliser. His birthplace is unknown but he died at Pavia where his relics are enshrined in the City’s Cathedral.

Friuli–Venezia Giulia, regione (region) of northeastern Italy, bordering Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the south, and the Veneto region to the west. It has an area of 3,030 square miles (7,847 square km), comprising the province (provinces) of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, and Trieste.

San Giusto di Trieste - also known as Saint Justus of Trieste - died on this day in 293 after being found guilty of being a Christian, which was illegal under Roman law at the time.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is an autonomous region of north-eastern Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia, a crossroads of the Latin, German and Slavic cultures.

Emilia-Romagna, regione, north-central Italy. It comprises the provincie of Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio nell’Emilia, and Rimini. The region extends from the Adriatic Sea (east) almost across the peninsula between the Po River (north) and the Ligurian and Tuscan Apennines (west and south). It is bounded by the regions of Veneto and Lombardy on the north, Piedmont and Liguria on the west, and Tuscany, Marche, and the Republic of San Marino on the south. Bologna is the chief city and regional capital.

Cultivated fields near Brescello, Emilia-Romagna regione, Italy.Emilia-Romagna: cultivated fields
Palazzo del Podestà (left) and Palazzo dei Banchi on the Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna regione, Italy.Bologna: Palazzo del Podestà

Region of Emilia-Romagna: A Journey Through Italy’s Culinary and Cultural Heartland

Emilia Romagna, a region of unrivalled charm, with immense artistic beauty and unparalleled hospitality

Bishop of Bologna. The son a Roman praetorian prefect named Petronius in Gaul, he was most likely a Roman official who went to Palestine and visited the holy places. I

The territory of Emilia-Romagna consists of a wide plain south of the Po river, and a more mountainous area near the border with Tuscany, with the peak of Monte Cimone (2165 m).

The region is mostly mountains and hills, on the north-western border of Italy with France and Switzerland; surrounded by some of the highest mountains in Europe, such as the Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa, it is occupied to the East by the Pianura Padana, crossed by the largest river in Italy, the Po, and its many tributaries.

Piedmont, Italian Piemonte, regione (region), northwestern Italy, comprising the province (provinces) of Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Torino, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, and Vercelli.

Italy's second-largest region is arguably its most elegant: a purveyor of Slow Food and fine wine, regal palazzi and an atmosphere that is superficially more français than italiano. But dig deeper and you'll discover that Piedmont has 'Made in Italy' stamped all over it. Emerging from the chaos of the Austrian wars, the unification movement first exploded here in the 1850s, when the noble House of Savoy provided the nascent nation with its first prime minister and its dynastic royal family.