Nova Veneza

Italians from the Veneto settled this valley from 1891 and the town keeps the connection formally - Venice donated two authentic gondolas, which sit on the lake in the central square and are the thing everyone photographs, alongside a replica bell tower and a fountain. Behind the staging is a real inheritance: the Talian dialect derived from Veneto is still spoken by older residents, the parish keeps its Italian traditions, and the food is the substantial reason to come. Restaurants serve the colonial Italian repertoire - galeto, polenta, sausage, radicchio salad, home wine - in the form it took in southern Brazil rather than in Italy. The Festa da Gastronomia Tipica Italiana each June is the town's main event.

The main sights

• Gondolas from Venice - two authentic boats on the square's lake.
• Talian still spoken - the Veneto-derived dialect among older residents.
• Colonial Italian food - galeto, polenta and sausage in the southern Brazilian form.
• A June food festival - the town's main annual event.

When to go

All year; June for the food festival. A day.

Good to know

The town is small and the square is the whole of the set piece - an hour covers it. The Italian styling is partly for visitors. Restaurants serve very large portions and most are busy only at weekends. A car is needed.

Nearby

Criciuma is east; the Serra do Rio do Rastro is north-west.