Province of Venezia

The Province of Venezia is a place where water defines both geography and culture. Located in northeastern Italy within the Veneto region, it includes not only the city of Venice but also an extensive and fascinating area of land and islands around it.

This wider province is a mosaic of historical towns, peaceful countryside, working fishing ports, beaches, and wetlands. Each area tells a different chapter of a story shaped by centuries of trade, migration, and artistic excellence.

Find a hotel in Veneto

Province of Belluno, Veneto

The lagoon beyond Venice: timeless island life

While Venice is the centerpiece, the Venetian Lagoon contains more than a hundred islands, many of which lie within the province. Murano, Burano, and Torcello are the best known, each with its own unique personality and cultural heritage.

Murano is famous for its glassmaking traditions, still practiced in local furnaces. Burano enchants with its vividly colored fishermen's houses and intricate lacework. Torcello, once more important than Venice itself, offers haunting ruins, ancient mosaics, and peaceful canals far from the tourist crowds.

Chioggia and the southern shores

At the southern end of the Venetian Lagoon lies Chioggia, a charming town often called "Little Venice" for its canals and bridges. Unlike its famous neighbor, Chioggia remains a working fishing port with a strong sense of identity.

The town is known for its seafood markets, colorful waterfront, and relaxed atmosphere. Connected to the coastal resort of Sottomarina, it also offers sandy beaches and a lively summer season, making it a dual destination for culture and seaside fun.

Jesolo and the Adriatic coastline

On the Adriatic coast, the Province of Venezia boasts some of Italy's most popular seaside resorts. Jesolo is the most famous, known for its long sandy beach, lively promenade, and family-friendly attractions.

Nearby Cavallino-Treporti offers a quieter alternative, with eco-tourism, campgrounds, and easy boat access to the lagoon islands. These areas provide a blend of beach life and traditional hospitality, drawing both Italians and international visitors in summer months.

Towns and villages of the mainland

The province’s mainland stretches inland from the lagoon, dotted with historic towns, rural hamlets, and agricultural land. Mirano is one such town, offering elegant villas, green parks, and a relaxed lifestyle with Venetian flair.

Noale and Dolo, once part of the Republic of Venice’s inland defense system, reveal the charm of canalside living and medieval architecture. These towns maintain their local traditions through festivals, markets, and seasonal cuisine based on local produce.

The Riviera del Brenta: villas and waterways

One of the province’s cultural highlights is the Riviera del Brenta, a stretch of the Brenta River lined with aristocratic villas built by Venetian nobles in the 16th to 18th centuries. These countryside estates served as summer retreats and symbols of power.

Among the most famous are Villa Pisani in Stra and Villa Foscari, also known as La Malcontenta. Visitors can explore these beautifully preserved estates, often featuring original frescoes, formal gardens, and reflections of Palladian design.

A landscape of wetlands and biodiversity

The Venetian Lagoon and surrounding wetlands are ecological treasures. Much of this landscape is protected, supporting a rich variety of birdlife, fish, and rare plant species. The WWF Oasis of Valle Averto, near Campagna Lupia, is one such haven.

Here, visitors can enjoy guided walks, birdwatching, and insight into the balance between nature and tradition. The lagoon environment is also central to local fishing and aquaculture, which sustain many of the province’s culinary traditions.

Local cuisine: a celebration of land and sea

Food in the Province of Venezia reflects both its geography and history. From the sea come dishes like sardines in saor (sweet and sour marinade), cuttlefish with polenta, and a wide variety of shellfish and mollusks.

Inland, you'll find risottos made with wild herbs, duck, or radicchio, along with simple but flavorful pasta dishes. The province also produces excellent wines, such as Lison and Piave DOC, and traditional desserts like bussolai biscuits from Burano.

Festivals and living heritage

The Province of Venezia is rich in folklore and seasonal events. Each town celebrates its own traditions with processions, music, historical reenactments, and religious festivals. In Chioggia, the annual Fish Festival celebrates the sea and local cuisine.

In Noale, the Palio draws crowds with costumed pageantry. And across the region, Carnival festivities reach into villages and smaller communities with masks, parades and local flair, showcasing a living connection to the Venetian spirit.

A destination of contrasts and harmony

What makes the Province of Venezia extraordinary is its diversity. It combines world-famous attractions with quiet, rural traditions. It moves to the rhythms of the sea and the land, of ancient canals and modern beach resorts.

It is a place where you can witness master glassblowers in the morning, walk through Romanesque churches in the afternoon, and end your day with a seafood dinner beside the Adriatic. For travelers who look beyond the city, this province offers true discovery.

An invitation to explore more deeply

The Province of Venezia offers more than a glimpse of Italy’s beauty, it invites you to slow down, to explore the spaces between landmarks, and to embrace its gentle contrasts. It is a destination of quiet richness and sensory pleasures.

From lagoon to land, from the past to the present, the province is full of stories. For those who are willing to travel just a little further than Venice itself, the rewards are unforgettable, authentic, and truly Venetian.