Veneto

Region of northeast Italy, comprising the provinces of Belluno, Padua, Treviso, Rovigo, Venice, Verona, and Vicenza; area 18,392 sq km/7,101 sq mi; population (2001 est) 4,490,600. Its capital is Venice, and major towns include Padua, Verona, and Vicenza. Veneto forms part of the north Italian plain, with the delta of the River Po; it includes part of the Alps and Dolomites, and Lake Garda. Products include cereals, fruit, vegetables, wine, tobacco, chemicals, ships, and textiles.

History
Taking its name from the ancient Veneti people, who settled the region c. 1000 BC, Venetia was ruled by the Venetian Republic from 1420 to 1797. During this period the nobility built many fine villas and initiated land reclamation schemes. Held briefly by the French, the territory was ceded to Austria in 1797 by the Treaty of Campo Formio, and in 1815 became part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia within the Habsburg Empire. In 1866 Venetia was united with Italy following the defeat of Austria.