Northeast Italy is Venetia, the lush "terra firma" acquired by the Venetians during the Renaissance so they could spend their twilight years amid art and delight. That delight is still tangible in the country villas and superb art cities of the Veneto; and Nature has added her own masterpieces: Venice's lagoon, fabled Lake Garda, and the rosy Dolomites. Beyond these, Cadogan's guide takes you deeper into this stunning region, uncovered frescoed castles, rare Carolingian churches, wine roads and strudel in the Alto Adige, while East of Venice, beaches follow the coast all the way to multicultural Trieste, where spies spied, Joyce jotted, and pasta shares the menu with goulash and "blijeki."""