25km (16 miles) N of Mestre/Venice, 50km (31 miles) NE of Padua
Treviso is a bustling, prosperous small city and center in the northern Veneto. It seems to have changed little from its early days as a medieval market town and staunch ally to Venice. Much of the city had to be rebuilt after severe World War II damage, but it was done well. Treviso's medieval palazzi and houses with painted facades, churches frescoed by Giotto's follower Tomaso da Modena (1325-79), and pleasant streets cut across by pretty canals together make for a lovely, genuine-Italy break from the tourist beat of Padua-Vicenza-Verona.
Festivals & Markets -- Treviso leads up to the Feast of the Assumption with a week of street theater, dance, music competitions, and other performances (Aug 6-14). The daily fish market on the islets in the Cagnan canal is a picturesque slice of old Treviso (mornings are best). Treviso hosts an antiques fair the fourth Sunday of each month (except July) on Borgo Cavour (tel. 0422-419-195).
