Decline and Revival

After 1866 the Veneto region became part of the Kingdom of Italy, but an economic crisis, followed by two World Wars, caused a serious depression in this mainly agricultural region. This was also the cause of the large-scale emigration, when so many Venetian people sought a better life in Argentina, Brazil, the USA, northern Europe, Canada, Australia and other countries of the world, where their hard-working ethic always stood them in good stead.

It was only in the 1960s that the Veneto really started to come alive again. Thanks to new commercial opportunities and the industriousness of its people, mainly in the sectors of machinery, wood, furniture, footwear, clothing, agriculture and wines, the Veneto has returned to being a commercially successful bridge between the Mediterranean and the rest of Europe.