Summer

In the first half of the sixteen century the town of Bovolone (in the province of Verona) became an important pilgrimage destination as a result of the strong popular devotion to a marble statue of the Madonna and Jesus child on a throne (both wearing a belted tunic thus giving this name to the Shrine). 

According to historical chronicles, there were so many votes, offerings and votive panels donated to the Virgin that it was decided to build a church, completed in 1650 and known from then on as the Shrine of the Madonna of the Belt.

In the Padua area Christianity and the enormous devotion of Paduans is testified to by an invaluable religious architecture.

The Shrine of St Augusta at Serravalle, the ancient part of Vittorio Veneto (province of Treviso), is the final spot of an interesting journey, to make on foot, which starts from the Via Calcada, behind the apse of the Serravalle Cathedral. From here you ascend a monumental stairway built on the ruins of the ancient town gate "Porta del Terraglio", demolished in 1931. It takes around half an hour, going steadily, to reach the top.

On the summit of Mount Berico, the south-west hill that dominates the city of Vicenza, stands the best known and most popular Venetian sanctuary dedicated to the cult of Our Lady. Its origins are linked to the appearance of the Blessed Virgin in these sites: the first time in 1426, the second time the following year, when Vicenza was facing a terrible plague. Tradition has it that on both appearances of Our Lady, a young girl was asked to be the spokeswoman for a request: the construction in that site of a Church dedicated to Her, with the promise of ending the plague. So it was.

Chiampo is a small town in the province of Vicenza which in the last ten years has become famous for its intense religious Marian movement which has developed around the Pieve and Lourdes Cave. The Pieve was constructed around the year one thousand but the actual building dates back to 1962. All that remains of the old church is the statue of the "Madonna with Child" in painted marble from 1480, and the baroque altar from 1743 made by a Veneto artist.

However the focus of popular worship is the Lourdes Cave which is reached along a lovely path of cypress trees.

The Colli Euganei offer a unique environment where there are hermitages and sanctuaries, linked by roads and paths of faith where one can surround oneself in a deep spirituality.

It is not often that we come across places where there is a sort of magical fusion between art and nature, between history and tradition, and where there is no lack of opportunity to spend wonderful moments in the open air.

All this is possible at the Sojo Park, in the town of Lusiana Conco (Vicenza). It is an oasis of green which features around sixty sculptural installations created by a variety of internationally famous artists.

In Mezzaselva di Roana there is a Park that attracts visitors and protects the territory where nature and art merge. This is the SelvArt Park, on the Plateau of the Sette Comuni in Vicenza province. The 30 permanent outdoor installations created by internationally famous artists, are in the heart of Kantregar forest and give voice to the forest through materials recovered from the environment. 

The easy 2-hour route of abgout 3 km is open all year round and admittance is free. To know more about Selvart, visitors may be accompanied by the Park guides.

One of the most interesting female characters in the story of the Repubblica Serenissima (The Most Serene Republic of Venice) is Caterina Cornaro, born in Venice in 1454. Caterina was married to the King of Cyprus and Armenia but, after his death, was forced to abdicate in favour of Venice. The Republic of Venice repaid her by bestowing the stronghold of Asolo to her, where she established a very refined court.