Fodors Venice and Northern Italy

Venice. One of the worlds most novel citiesand one of the most beautifulVenice has canals where the streets should be and an atmosphere of faded splendor that practically defines the word decadent .

The Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The green plains stretching west of Venice hold three of northern Italys most artistically significant midsize cities: Padua, Vicenza, and Verona. Farther north and east, Alpine foothills are dotted with small, welcoming towns and some of Italys most distinguished vineyards.

The Dolomites. Along Italys northeast border, the Dolomites are the countrys finest mountain playground, with gorgeous cliffs, curiously shaped peaks, lush meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. The skiing is good, and the scenery is different from what you find in the Austrian, Swiss, or French Alps.

Milan, Lombardy, and the Lakes. The deep-blue lakes of the Lombardy regionComo, Garda, and Maggiorehave been attracting vacationers since the days of ancient Rome. At the center of Lombardy is Milan, Italys second-largest city and its business capital. It holds Italys most renowned opera house, and as the epicenter of Italian fashion and design, its a shoppers paradise.

Piedmont and Valle dAosta. A step off the usual tourist circuit, these regions in Italys northwest corner have attractions that are well worth a visit. Youll find here great Alpine peaks along the French and Swiss borders, a highly esteemed food-and-wine culture, and an elegant regional capital in Turin.

The Italian Riviera. Northern Italys most attractive coastline runs along the Italian Riviera in the region of Liguria. The best beaches lie west of Genoa, but the main appeal lies to the east of the city, in the beauty of the seaside cliffs and coves, and the villages interspersed among them.

Speaking the Language

People who interact regularly with touristssuch as hotel, restaurant, museum, and transportation personnelgenerally speak some English. However, even in the cosmopolitan north, although knowledge of foreign languages is increasing, often highly educated Italians speak only Italian. Many are slightly offended if a foreigner assumes they speak English without first asking politely, Parla lei inglese? If you do ask, most Italians, even those with no English, will try to be helpful. Perhaps because of their own linguistic limitations, Italians are very tolerant of foreigners who try to speak their language and do wonders in understanding fractured Italian.

Even if you speak Italian, dont be surprised if you cant understand conversations going on around you, which may be in local dialect. Because of television and mass education, now almost everyone speaks standard Italian, and in cities such as Milan dialect has almost died out, but it still thrives in the Veneto and in areas that have not had a large influx of residents from other parts of Italy. Among friends, at home, and in moments of high emotion, standard Italian gives way to the local language.