Summer

In Galzignano Terme, province of Padua, you will find one of the most impressive period gardens in Europe: the historical Valsanzibio Gardens. Located amongst the gentle slopes of the Euganean Hills, this splendid park was built in the 17th century by the Barbarigo family and surrounds the Villa Barbarigo Pizzoni Ardemani.

If you long to discover breathtaking scenery, take the route that leads to the Oasis of Ca' Mello, a freshwater wetland of around 40 hectares, located in the southern part of the Delta of the Venetian Po. This important natural area for the conservation of biodiversity stretches out to where the basin of the mouth of an old stream of the Po, now inexistent, was once situated and has existed for just over 300 years.

It is referred to as the "Botanicaln Garden of Europe" and for good reason: the slopes of Monte Baldo rise from the warm shores of Lake Garda and have exceptionally rich and varied flora ranging from the typical Mediterranean vegetation of vieyards, olive groves and oleanders to edelweiss at higher altitudes. From spring to autumn there are vast expanses of violets, primroses, daffodils, anemones, and orchids, as far as the eye can see.

The gardens of Villa Giustiniani stretch over more than five acres in the Paduan countryside. The seventeenth-century Venetian villa is located in Vanzo, a suburb of San Pietro Viminario, surrounded by century-old plants and rare trees.

The historical garden houses a large rose garden that can be toured with the owners, expert and enthusiastic "gardeners" whose family has lived in the villa for generations, and who will spell out the botanical names of the different rose varieties in addition to the history of the people who introduced them.

At the edge of the Morenic hills, near Lake Garda, stands the Sigurtà Park for a relaxing and regenerating walk through nature with its charming views and colourful panoramas. The host of floral varieties and animal species enjoy a surface area of 560,000 squared meters.

The Garden of the Giusti Palace, situated very close to the Arena's amphitheatre, is one of the jewels of Verona's Renaissance. Its history begins during the 15th century, when it was the property of the Giustis, a family of wool merchants of Tuscan origin. Through centuries and wars, every effort has been made to preserve the garden and bring it back to its former glory, even during the World War II, when many of its precious trees were suffered serious damage.

The Millecampi Valley is a wetland area of great natural interest that covers 1,608 hectares on the border between the provinces of Padua and Venice. Excursions in this open valley offer the opportunity to immerse yourself in the lagoon landscape among winding freshwater channels called "ghèbi", brackish water pools and large "barene" (salt marshes) periodically submerged by the waters at high tide.

Four bike routes to go into the most hidden and intimate points of this timeless naturalistic oasis and to get deeply in touch with its unspoiled nature.

The three waters' route

For those who are not yet familiar with it, Vallevecchia is an area of extraordinary natural and environmental value, one of the largest coastal dune systems in the Veneto region and the last stretch of undeveloped coastline on the northern Adriatic. The island covers approximately 900 hectares, more than half of which are used for experimental and low environmental impact production. Approximately 150 hectares consist of sandy beaches, lowland woods, coastal pine forests and newly formed wetlands.

In Bibione, there are natural areas with a high degree of biodiversity, such as Valgrande, a fishing valley considered an area of regional landscape conservation. Although privately owned, for some years Valgrande has welcomed visitors by offering eco-friendly excursions, protecting the environment and its natural balance.