The region (ital. Veneto) is located in the northeast of Italy and borders on four other regions. These are Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the east, Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy to the west, and Emilia-Romagna to the south. The northern tip borders on Austria. The landscape and climate is also characterised by the 150 kilometres long Adriatic coast. The lush wine landscape was already cultivated by the Etruscans. Later, the Romans came and appreciated the ancient wine Raeticum, mentioned by Pliny the Elder (23-79), supposedly a precursor of today's Recioto wines. In the 15th century, the galleys of the Republic of Venice ("Serenissima" = the "Illuminati") dominated the Mediterranean. At this time, viticulture experienced a period of prosperity.