Treviso
Treviso is a town, steeped in history where art-enthusiasts can find a wealth of artistic masterpieces; lovers of good food and festivals will find its "joyful and loving" atmosphere quite captivating. Treviso is a place where 14th century art harmoniously blends in with rustic-style taverns, smart Venetian villas with modern architecture and important exhibitions and conferences with banqueting tables brimming with radicchio from Treviso. You can enjoy a classical tour around its main monuments and charming little spots created by the River Sile and its tributaries as well as pay a visit to antique markets, food fairs full of tasty seasonal produce, the lively general market and fish market, the old mills and plenty more. In the areas around Treviso visitors can discover splendid examples of "villa culture", the rich natural environment of the Parco del Sile, the Strada del Radicchio and the Strada del Prosecco as well as famous craft shops and the hospitality of the people, who are always ready to enjoy un'ombra di buon vino in company.
It is a town where a warm and peaceful atmosphere seems to pervade every corner with the docile drift of its canals, the modest elegance of its frescoed palazzi, its ancient towers and lively business activity. Treviso is by vocation a city of art due to its noble Roman origins and the fervour of its cultural activities. The main places to see are found within the city walls with their beautiful city gates of Santi Quaranta and San Tommaso. The focus point is the Piazza dei Signori, which is overlooked by the Palazzo dei Trecento and its frescoed loggia. Behind the Piazza and beyond the historical Palazzo del Monte di Pietà you can see the intricate intertwining of lanes and canals that make up the romantic heart of the city with a wealth of picturesque views over the Portico dei Buranelli and the fish market. The Roman thoroughfare of Calmaggiore runs between the Piazza dei Signori and the Piazza del Duomo, resplendent with elegant shops and exclusive facades; other smaller areas like Piazza Pola, Piazza San Vito and Piazza Rinaldi are reminiscent of the small squares you find in Venice. The majority of Treviso's art treasures are to be found inside its sacred buildings: above all the series of frescoes about Sant’Orsola in the Church of Santa Caterina and those found in the Sala del Capitolo inside the Church of San Nicolò. Great artists have also left their mark in other churches inside the city (in particular, the altar piece by Titian in the Duomo), and a great sense of spirituality pervades the Churches of San Francesco and San Vito. The most modern part of the centre includes the beautiful banks along the River Sile, where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll, and the 19th century palazzi built alongside the mooring places. Further evidence of Treviso's flourishing art can be seen in the collections housed in the Museo Civico “L. Bailo” and the periodic exhibitions held at the Casa dei Carraresi, the Palazzo Giacomelli or the Palazzo Scotti.