• Padua
• Euganean Hills
• Vicenza
• Riviera del Brenta
• Bassano & Marostica
• Eastern Veneto Region
• Venetian Lagoon and its islands
• Eastern Veneto Region Walks with Wine Tasting and local products

I organize bike, bus and walking tours to discover some unspoiled little towns in the Eastern Veneto region. These towns were owned in the past by Venetian aristocrats, who usually spent their summer in this area which is famous for its wine and some very old seaside towns, such as Caorle with its typical byzantine round shaped bell tower and its old yet well-preserved fishing village

There is the old Roman town Concordia, founded in 42 B.C., on the Via Annia extending from Adria to Aquileia, in which remains of the Roman Basilica “apostolorum”, a real open air museum, are still visible

We’ll stop in Portogruaro, a walled town with three watchtowers which were once the ancient entrance gates into the town; the fourth gate has since been destroyed . Venetian merchants once lived here in the elegant Gothic and Renaissance palaces built on both banks of the Lemene river which crisscrossed the town. The most important cultural monuments are the two water mills, the town hall in Venetian Gothic style, the cathedral, the St. Johann church, the salt stores and the Concordia museum which today houses the most important remains from Concordia Sagittaria

Another town along our itinerary is Sesto al Reghena (Friuli region) with its still- preserved medieval town and the Abbey , Santa Maria in Silvis, which dates back to the 8th century and is decorated with frescoes from the 15th century realized by master Antonio da Firenze and the master of the Cathedral. The theme of the stories in the frescoes was inspired by the life of St Benedict and St Johann

Finally we will visit Villa Bornancin in Cinto Caomaggiore, which was once a fortified town. A well preserved portion of the medieval city wall topped with ghibelline decorations is still visible in the front garden of the villa.

Villa Bornancin www.villabornancin.it was built in 1827 and has belonged to the same family for over 100 years. It is an elegant B&B with two big halls which are used to organize events and receptions. Inside the villa there is a charming tempera painting which dates back to the 19th century by painter Tiburzio Donadon. In both halls about 100 guests can be accommodated. The hall’s and room’s furniture is still the same that originally my great grandfather Nicolò Bornancini, once an industrial business man and mayor in Cinto, had put in. The villa is surrounded by a park conceived before the construction of the villa with different kinds of hundred-year- old plants. It is said that painter Gregorio Lazzarini, the first teacher of the great Tiepolo, usually spent time in this park with his easel. In the main hall of the villa and in the antique wine cellar, guests can try some typical products prepared by our caterers and they will be in a fantastic atmosphere of the end of the 19 century, with furniture that dates back to that time, similar to that described by romantic writer Ippolito Nievo who wrote in the 19 century in his novel “ Le Confessioni di un Italiano” of his visit to a castle in which some pieces of the furniture were very similar to Villa Bornancin’s.

• Length of the visit 1 FD ( a full day 6 hours)the journey lasts approximately 20-30 km
• Transport: city bike, private bus, walk tour

• The Sesto al Reghena Abbey
• Wine Tasting or dinner or a stay at Villa Bornancin