What to see and do in Treviso
Treviso is a city in the north of Italy, north-west of busy Venice, where you'll find a much quieter pace of life. Relatively overlooked by tourists, it has a relaxed atmosphere but still with plenty to see and do. The city is still enclosed by its medieval protective walls, and the centre is largely pedestrianised, so it's a great place to explore on foot or by bike.
Sometimes called "The little Venice", it also has canals throughout the city, fed by the nearby River Sile (which you can go kayaking on, if you're looking for some adventure! See the VivoVenetia website.) and the Cagnan.
When you're wandering around Treviso city centre, here are some of the main sights:
Chill in Piazza dei Signori
Piazza dei Signori is the main city square and the heart of the city. It's surrounded by beautiful historic palaces: Palazzo dei Trecento, Palazzo Pretorio and Palazzo del Podestà. There is always a buzz here, with plenty of people dining out, or enjoying an Aperol Spritz in the square. It's a great place to go and absorb the vibe of the cities, with locals have animated discussions and with some fabulous architecture to admire.
The streets around the Piazza dei Signori are full of small squares with little restaurants and osterie, all of them great places to stop for an aperitif or a meal.
Walk or cycle around the city walls
The medieval walls are still complete and provide a wonderful thread to follow that circles the city, lined with trees and canals that provide home and hide to various waterfowl and rabbits - see how many you can spot! Don’t miss the three gates of Treviso: Porta San Tommaso, Porta Santi Quaranta, and Porta Altinia.
Visit the museums
The carefully restored church of Santa Caterina, together with the old convent and the cloisters, has been turned into a museum and today houses exquisite frescoes by Tommaso da Modena as well as paintings by Titian, Pietro Longhi and Tiepolo. As everybody is busy visiting Venice, the museums in Treviso are quiet, and give you a welcome chance to examine the works without being moved on, or having a time-limit on your ticket.
The Gallerie delle Prigioni is a centre for contemporary art housed in an old Habsburg prison transformed by Luciano Benetton’s Imago Mundi art initiative. For enthusiasts of Graphic Art, the little-known Salce Collection is a treasure trove and ever-changing exhibition of graphic advertising posters, featuring iconic images for Martini and Campari, Vespa and Ferrari among others. There are also some unexpected delights for those keen on the graphic and commercial art of the fifties that can be found while exploring the city, like this beautiful shop for OSRAM lightbulbs.
Hostaria dei Naneti
This historic little Osteria is an institution in Treviso, set in a narrow alleyway just off the Piazza dei Signori. Ask for an "ombra de vin", a small glass of local wine that still costs only 80 cents, or order a sharing plate for two of roast pork, mortadella, prosciutto and cheeses that still costs around €8. There are other wonderful spots like this around the city, it's a place that treasures food and wine.
Where to stay around Treviso
To find a place to base yourself to explore this beautiful region and city, have a look at our Villas around Treviso - only two at the moment but with more to come.
Author: Dan Wrightson
Dan Wrightson grew up in Tuscany, Italy and has been writing about, sketching and exploring Tuscany and Italy since 1983.
24th Jun 2024 24th Jun 2024