Here are the 15 most colourful places in Veneto, Italy.
Bright intense colours are a joy for the eye and the soul.
Especially, if you love taking photos and/or are seeking a travel destination to feed your appreciation for beauty.
It doesn’t matter if you a photographer in constant chase of that perfect shot or a traveller who likes to explore beautiful corners of the world.
If your heart is aflutter and your finger is on the shutter when faced with a town with vividly painted facades or a natural sight where thousands of hues and shades meet in perfect harmony, this list of the 15 most colourful places in the Veneto, Italy will be just what you need.
Veneto is a region in the northeastern part of Italy. It is mostly famous for its capital – the stunning city of Venice – yet it has thousands of other worldwide famous and little-known corners that are worth a visit.
Especially if you love chasing colours!
Expect brightly painted houses, frescoed facades, churches in striking yellows and pinks, and even a former quarry that nowadays is a riot of colours.
I lived in Veneto for six years. I spent this time nurturing my love for photography and searching for colourful urban and natural landscapes. Now, I want to share with you alphabetically the most beautiful places in this corner of Italy. I hope that they will inspire your next great shot and/or your next amazing travel experience.
Have a look!
15 Most Colourful Places in Veneto, Italy to Delight Photographers and Travellers
1. Bassano del Grappa in Veneto, Italy
Bassano del Grappa is an elegant town on the banks of the River Brenta in Veneto, Italy. The Venetian Prealps serve as its dramatic backdrop. A row upon row of houses and buildings in shades of ochre, yellow, and terracotta tumble down the steep hill on which the town’s historic nucleus is built. The crystal clear waters of the river reflect the colourful ensemble beautifully.
Find a spot on or around the historic Ponte degli Alpini here for some truly striking panoramas and shots. Known also as Ponte Vecchio, the bridge is the gem in Bassano del Grappa’s crown.
Originally designed by the famous Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio (see point 3 here), throughout the centuries the bridge has been destroyed several times and then fully rebuilt.
For more colourful views in Bassano del Grappa, head to the town’s central squares. They are surrounded by tall houses that once had their facades fully frescoed. Nowadays, the colours have faded and in many places, only fragments of the original frescoes can still be seen. This gives the town a precious antiquated look and alludes to the historic events that have taken place here.
There are many things to see and enjoy in Bassano del Grappa – a place with rich multilayered history. During the Middle Ages, a bloodthirsty lord ruled over the place. More recently, World War I and World War II saw the town turned into a battleground and heavily bombed. The famous writer Ernest Hemingway was stationed here during the First World War. Bassano del Grappa features in some of his books.
Today, the town is a great destination for those seeking beauty, great views, and a pleasant way to spend a day or longer exploring Italy off the beaten track. Come here for Bassano del Grappa’s ruined medieval castle, host of refined museums, small shops selling locally made ceramics, weekly markets with fresh produce from nearby farms, and large scale events that take over the historic centre…
The potent Italian alcoholic drink grappa is produced here, too!
Above all, Bassano del Grappa is a town that appeals visually to you and delights you with its colourful presence.
2. Borghetto sul Mincio in Veneto, Italy
Borghetto sul Mincio is a medieval hamlet of ancient mills that stand over the fast-running waters of the River Mincio in Veneto, Italy. You will find it right next to the small town of Valeggio sul Mincio and just a stone’s throw away from Italy’s largest lake – Lago di Garda.
Nowadays, many of Borghetto’s mills have been converted into restaurants and boutique hotels. Their faded ochre facades are beautifully offset by the blue waters of the river and the lush greens of the nearby hills.
Each spring, lush wisteria shrubs envelop the scene in the scent of their purple blooms.
Borghetto sul Mincio is a gorgeous colourful place that attracts both photography enthusiasts and foodies from all over the world. The restaurants here serve the local delicacy – tortellini. Stuffed with different seasonal fillings, these small fresh pasta parcels are known as love knots. Their evocative name is based on a legend about a river nymph who gave a knotted handkerchief to her mortal beloved as a symbol of her undying love.
Next to Borghetto sul Mincio you can visit another beautifully colourful place. Parco Giardino Sigurta’ is officially recognised as one of the most beautiful parks in Italy and Europe. Its lush lawns, millions of tulips and roses, small ponds, and long alleys are a delight to see and photograph.
3. Burano in Veneto, Italy
Burano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon and one of the most colourful places not just in Veneto, Italy but in the whole wide world. Its iconic houses – each painted in a bright contrasting colour – feature in thousands of photographs.
Every day crowds of people flock to Burano eager to see the island’s houses and experience the delight that is to walk surrounded by so many intense colours.
Ah, if only the whole world could be this beautiful!
Burano is also famous for its centuries-old lacemaking traditions and its dishes based on freshly caught fish and seafood. The local risotto is especially tasty. It’s prepared with a flavoursome broth made with goby fish (also called go’) caught in the Venetian Lagoon.
To easily experience Burano, you can join a tour of the Venetian Lagoon. A boat will take you to the most famous islands there so that you can see their beauty for yourself.
4. Caorle in Veneto, Italy
Caorle is a lovely seaside town and resort in Veneto, Italy. Its historic centre replicates the colours of Burano and the local fresh fish dishes are equally delicious.
In addition, Caorle has sprawling sandy beaches. The Adriatic Sea’s tides leave them covered with thousands of colourful shells with beautiful and whimsical shapes.
Don’t miss the town’s round bell tower which is almost one thousand years old. Then go for a photo walk along Caorle’s historic central streets where the facade of each house is painted in a different intense tone.
A long promenade offers lovely sea views and is lined up by large boulders. Shapes and patterns have been chiselled in them by local artists thus becoming a must-see open-air art gallery.
Near Caorle, visit the historic casoni – large huts where the local fishermen lived and worked. A great way to see them is to take a boat tour of the Caorle Lagoon. Alternatively, head to Caorle’s large aquapark to swim and have fun.
5. Castelletto sul Garda in Veneto, Italy
Castelletto sul Garda (also known as Castelletto di Brenzone) is a small colourful town on the Veneto’s shores of Italy’s largest lake – Lago di Garda. With its pebbly beaches, seafood restaurants, and a pretty harbour full of fishing boats, Castelletto is a very attractive place to visit.
The buildings and houses here are painted in different intense colours. This makes the town look like a gem set between the blue waters of Lake Garda and the green slopes of Mount Baldo.
Come here to relax and to enjoy the rich palette of the town and the lush nature that surrounds it.
There are many things to do and see in and around Castelletto sul Garda. You can drive up the lake’s shores to take photos of Italy’s shortest river. You can hike to a medieval village in the hills above Lake Garda. Or you can visit other beautiful lakefront towns like Torri del Benaco, Malcesine, and Riva del Garda.
6. Cava Dipinta di Rubbio in Veneto, Italy
Cava Dipinta is a former limestone quarry near the small town of Rubbio on the Asiago Plateau – a flat-top mountain in Veneto, Italy. Together with three adjacent quarries, Cava Dipinta has been transformed into an open-air art installation by the Italian artist Tony Zarpellon. It took him almost three decades to complete his colourful project.
Nowadays, Cava Dipinta is a riot of bright colours. Whimsical faces have been painted over the large jagged boulders. Everywhere you look you see stripes of colour, splashes of colour, dots and swirls of colour.
It is a very inspiring place, the perfect example of what can be achieved when the creativity of man and nature are combined. Click here to find out how to hike to Cava Dipinta and the other three quarries next to it.
7. Chioggia in Veneto, Italy
Chioggia is a beautiful town on the southern edge of the Venetian Lagoon in Veneto, Italy. It looks very much like Venice with two important differences:
- One, Chioggia is older than Venice; and
- Two, the town attracts just a tiny number of tourists thus leaving you to enjoy its colourful beauty without the crowds that suffocate Venice.
Chioggia is a vision of small islands crisscrossed by canals and connected to the mainland by a causeway. Tall houses painted in a myriad of colours line up its streets. Large canvasses adorn the interiors of Chioggia’s many churches thus adding to the colourful palette of this lovely Italian town.
When the sun is shining and the skies are blue, Chioggia is a great place to go to in order to relax, take in the local way of life, explore the fish markets, take pictures of the photogenic clotheslines, enjoy a boat tour of the lagoon, spend some time on the beach, and eat your weight in seafood and proper Italian gelato.
From Chioggia, you can also take a boat and bicycle excursion to the nearby island of Pellestrina and even indulge in a spot of sport fishing at sea!
8. Grand Canal, Venice in Veneto, Italy
There are several entries on this list of the most colourful places in Veneto, Italy that are set in the Venetian Lagoon.
There must be something about living so close to the water that makes you want to paint your house (or your palazzo!) in a splendid hue. And while Venice is not half as outrageously colourful as Burano, the palaces that line up its central thoroughfare – the resplendent Grand Canal – comprise one of the most striking and colour-rich urban settings in the world.
As you travel along the Grand Canal, as you traverse the bridges that span its shores, as you stop for a minute to take in all this beauty and then some, you notice with your eyes, your camera lens, and your soul how incredibly colourful and yet perfectly harmonious this place is.
Here, brightly tinted facades stand next to lavish marble opulence, humble brick churches alternate with palaces covered with mosaics glinting in the sun, red awnings stretch in front of restaurants and black gondolas are tied to striped poles and left to relax under strikingly blue covers after an arduous day ferrying tourists up and down the Grand Canal.
If you love colours and have been chasing that perfect photo or unique visual experience where colour is everything, make sure that you see Venice’s Grand Canal. Three of the best ways to do it are to take a shared gondola ride or a public vaporetto down the Grand Canal and even to enjoy a panoramic tour by plane over Venice.
9. Lazise in Veneto, Italy
Lazise is one of several charming towns on Veneto’s shores of Lago di Garda. If you want to see it at its colourful best, make sure that you arrive in Lazise on the board of one of the ferries that crisscross Italy’s largest lake.
First, in the distance, you will notice a long line of bright oranges, sunny yellows, and muted ochres. The sparkling blue waters of the lake at the front and the greens and browns of the hills at the back create a beautiful natural frame for this gem of an Italian lakefront town.
Once on shore, get exploring Lazise’s curving streets. Flowers in full bloom will greet you from every balcony. Boats in blue, red, and white will be swaying in the small historic harbour. Handmade gelato will be tempting you in dozens of flavours and colours – from watermelon to choc chip mint.
To summarise it, Lazise really is a colourful dream!
There are so many different things you can do here, too. From wine and claret tastings in the historic centre to stand-up paddling in the lake. Or you can simply sunbathe on the pebbly beach and then walk along the promenade to the nearby town of Bardolino.
10. Malcesine in Veneto, Italy
There are several Lake Garda towns on this list of the most colourful places in Veneto, Italy. Malcesine is one of them and many people, including myself, will tell you that it truly is difficult to find a more charming lakefront town this side of Europe.
With steep cobbled streets dotted with gelaterias and shops selling the locally produced olive oil, with crenellated facades in burnt orange and terracotta shades, and with the stunning lakefront garden of its Captain’s Palace, Malcesine is a pure delight for those who seek happiness and colour in life.
This small town is especially charming when the pomegranate trees and jasmine shrubs are in full bloom in the late spring/early summer period. To best appreciate its beauty, see Malcesine either from:
- the hills – by taking the swish cable car to the top of Mount Baldo; or
- the lake – by walking on the lakefront promenade or by getting a ferry from the opposite shore.
This way you will see Malcesine at its very best – a colourful hilltop town with medieval roots and an imposing yet romantic castle that makes the whole scene seem plucked from a dreamy fairytale.
If you are visiting Malcesine for a day, click here to see all the things that you can do there. If you are staying in Malcesine for a few days, then you can do a day tour by boat of Lake Garda or take the ferry to the beautiful town of Riva del Garda on the northern extremity of the lake.
11. Montagnana in Veneto, Italy
Montagnana is a walled town with millennia-old roots. You will find it right next to the volcanic Euganean Hills in Veneto, Italy. With rows of houses in pastel colours and old palazzi in vibrant shades, the town is pretty as a picture and looks great in photographs.
Montagnana is also the place where some of Italy’s best prosciutto is made. Well-known for its soft texture, pink colour, and sweet taste, the local prosciutto is called Veneto Berico-Euganeo DOP. Since 1996 it enjoys a Protected Designation of Origin status.
Yet, what kept me returning to Montagnana time and time again was the beauty – so full of colour – of its streets. It is especially nice to visit on a sunny day when all the brightly painted facades, coloured wooden shutters, and elegant decorative elements make the town feel like a painting.
It is not surprising then that even Giorgione – one of the most famous artists of the Venetian Renaissance – couldn’t resist Montagnana’s charm. He sketched the town in a drawing which is now kept in a museum in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
No drawing skills are required nowadays. The beauty of Montagnana can be easily captured with a camera and, above all, with our eyes and soul. Plus, there are so many different things you can do here and so many wonderful experiences to have, too. From walking tours and cooking classes to medieval lunches and learning how to fight in medieval dress, it all makes for some great memories to cherish a lifetime.
12. Pellestrina in Veneto, Italy
Pellestrina is a long and thin island in Veneto, Italy. It separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea.
When you want to experience the colourful beauty of the island of Burano but you simply can’t face the tourist crowds, you need to come to Pellestrina.
Dotted with fishing villages, this island is so peaceful that it’s literally sedate. Yet, its houses – all painted in bright vivid colours – are a delight to see and photograph.
The best bit is that you can easily combine a visit to Pellestrina with a visit to Chioggia, too. Both are a short ferry ride from one another and both are full of colours that are offset by the sparkling waters of the Venetian Lagoon. Click to find out how to take a boat and bicycle tour from Chioggia to Pellestrina.
13. Recoaro Terme in Veneto, Italy
Once Recoaro Terme was a popular all over Europe thermal waters resort. Nowadays, this small town in Veneto, Italy is a quiet place the beauty of which talks of past glories and fame.
A walk up the high street here reveals many colourful facades for you to enjoy with your eyes and through your lens. The absolute highlight is the historic Villa Margherita with its sunflower-yellow shade.
Green mountains surround Recoaro Terme. The fast River Agno flows through its historic centre. It is a beautiful town in the bosom of nature.
A short drive away from Recoaro Terme you can also hike the Path of the Big Trees. It is an easy walk on a flat path which reveals stunning panoramic views of the Little Dolomites.
14. Verona in Veneto, Italy
Verona is one of the most important cities in Veneto, Italy. It is famous all over the world as the City of Love for it is the stage of the tragic romance of Romeo and Juliet. Yet, Verona has another big ace up its sleeve.
The city is certainly one of the most colourful places in Veneto. Here, tall facades covered with frescoes or painted in striking colours are at every step. It is not in vain that for many centuries Verona used to be known as the Painted City – Urbs Picta.
Everywhere you look, you see how the excellent use of colour has created an environment that inspires poetry in our hearts.
Simply walking around Verona brings so much joy. Colours both complement and offset one another. Faded frescoes are still resplendent in the sun. Red rooftops put the finishing dots to this glorious scene.
Click to find out all the wonderful things you can do in Verona in one day. Have a look here for all the walking tours, cooking classes, and other great things you can do in the City of Love. Or book directly a walking tour of Verona with skip the line tickets for its Roman Arena. If opera is your thing, then definitely get tickets for a performance in Arena di Verona! It’s a truly wonderful experience!
15. Valstagna in Veneto, Italy
Valstagna is a small town in the foothills of Veneto’s lush mountains.
In the past, the town served as a major supplier of the large logs used to build the foundations of Venice’s lavish palaces. Later on, the area became famous for the locally-grown tobacco.
Nowadays, Valstagna grabs the imagination and the eye with its colourful buildings. They are offset by the crystal clear River Brenta at the front and the steep limestone mountains at the back.
The best way to enjoy the colours of Valstagna is from a raft floating down the River Brenta. On a sunny day, the water is a transparent green shade. It’s stunning, really! And then the line of houses along the high street is dotted with pinks, yellows, ochres, and oranges.
Bonus Colours in Veneto, Italy
If you like colourful buildings and patterned facades, here are six churches in Veneto, Italy to impress you with their striking exteriors:
- 15th-century Gothic Church of the Sanctuary of Monte Berico – Vicenza, Province of Vicenza: take delight in photographing the facade of this church with a geometrical pattern in pink and white.
- Church of Carmini – Vicenza, Province of Vicenza: another striking facade with a patterned exterior in brown and white.
- Church of San Giovanni Battista – Cavaion Veronese, Province of Verona: don’t miss this bright yellow hilltop church presiding over the colourful houses of this pretty town near Lake Garda.
- Church of San Lorenzo – Soave, Province of Verona: expect a bright yellow facade which looks resplendent in the bright sun.
- Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona – Spiazzi, Province of Verona: discover this pale pink church that is half-hewn into the rocks at a spot that seems to be halfway between Heaven and Earth.
- St. Mark’s Basilica – Venice, Province of Venice: this incredibly beautiful church will have you spend long moments of time deep in admiration of the colourful mosaics and precious marbles that cover its facade. A must-see when in Venice! For the full experience, take a guided tour.
In Conclusion
If you enjoy visiting and photographing beautiful places that are full of colours and life, the above blog post is for you.
It lists in alphabetical order the 15 most colourful places to see for yourself in the northeastern Italian region of Veneto. From little known towns to worldwide famous destinations, every source of colourful delight for your camera lens and your eyes is covered.
Have a wonderful time exploring the colours of Veneto, Italy!
More Helpful Italy Info for You
Best of Italy: Italian Piazzas, Italian Food, Italian Markets, Italian Coffee Culture, Rules of Italian Breakfast, Italian Breakfast Foods
Northern Italy: 18 Best Cities to Visit, 11 Major Airports
Day Trips in Italy: Bologna to Venice, Milan to Verona, Venice to Verona, Milan to Venice, Florence to Venice, Verona to Venice, Venice to Padua
Lake Como: Things to See, Nesso
Veneto: Best Cities to Visit, Top 15 Places, 30 Adventures, Beautiful Lakes
Friuli Venezia Giulia: Venzone, Most Beautiful Villages
Emilia Romagna: Bologna, Ravenna, Comacchio, Most Beautiful Villages
Marche: 6 Reasons to Visit, Gradara, Frasassi Caves, Temple of Valadier
Trentino: Best Cities and Towns, Beautiful Lakes, Lake Caldonazzo
Venice: Essential Tips, Hidden Gems, Best Airports, Boats in Venice, Haunted Venice, Day Trips from Venice, Arco del Paradiso
Verona: Things to Do in One Day, Verona Opera Festival, Day Trips from Verona
Padua: Things to Do in One Day, 101 Facts About Padua, 10 Reasons to Visit Padua, Day Trips from Padua
Vicenza: Things to Do, Day Trips from Vicenza
