This lesser-known Italian city offers the magic of Venice without the crowds (and it’s cheaper, too)
If you like the idea of visiting Venice but can’t stand the crowds, then this might be the holiday destination for you.
The historic Italian city of Treviso is a relatively crowd-free alternative to the floating city, welcoming an average of as many as 52,000 visitors per day – and up to 110,000 travelers per day in the summer months.
Often overlooked by visitors and ignored as the location of Venice’s second airportTreviso is just a 30-minute train ride from Venice.
Visitors will find that it offers a rich history, medieval city walls and a maze of picturesque canals, not to mention cheaper hotels. The average hotel room costs £73 ($89) per night in Treviso, compared to £111 ($135) per night in Venice, according to the travel finance site Budget your trip. Here, MailOnline Travel reveals five things to do when you arrive in Treviso…
Take a look at the canals of Treviso
For tourists who want to avoid the crowds of Venice, Treviso is a great alternative; it is only 30 minutes by train (above is a canal in Treviso)
Above is the Rio di San Zan Degola Canal in the city of Venice, a tourist hotspot that welcomes an average of 52,000 visitors per day
While Venice may offer larger waterways, Treviso has some charming canals of its own, while the Sile and Botteniga rivers meet the city’s historic walls and wind through the city.
‘The Canale dei Buranelli, which runs through the center, is the most beautiful [canal],’ Lonely planet reveals.
These canals have earned Treviso the nickname ‘Little Venice’. Explore the man-made canal system on your own or take a guided tour of central Treviso.
Visit the Fontana Delle Tette
The Fontana Delle Tette fountain in Treviso is carved in the shape of a woman with water flowing from her breasts. Above is the 1989 reproduction of the original
With a name that translates to ‘fountain of breasts’, the Fontana Delle Tette fountain is carved in the shape of a woman with water flowing from her breasts, Lonely planet reveals.
The fountain that stands in the city today is actually a 1989 model of the original, which was donated to the city by Venice in 1559 to celebrate the end of a drought.
The original can be seen in the city’s Loggia dei Cavalieri building, while the newer version is located on Calle del Podestà, a narrow street off Piazza dei Signori.
Historically, wine flowed from the statue instead of water – red from one breast and white from the other. Atlas Obscura notes. Every autumn, the citizens of Treviso would be able to drink the wine for free for three days. Unfortunately, the tradition is no longer continued.
Venice has also historically had its own wine fountain – the fountain in St. Mark’s Square was once filled with wine to celebrate the city’s annual Carnival, a wine venue Carafe reveals.
Take a break in Piazza dei Signori
Explore Piazza dei Signori, pictured, which is surrounded by historic palaces such as Palazzo dei Trecento and Palazzo del Podestà
Above you can see St. Mark’s Square, one of Venice’s most famous landmarks
Venice is known for its squares, of which St. Mark’s Square is the most famous of them all. Meanwhile, Treviso’s most prized square is the 13th-century Piazza dei Signori, by Visit Italy.
It is surrounded by historic palaces such as Palazzo dei Trecento and Palazzo del Podestà, and ‘on a sunny day you will see many locals sitting outside on the terraces of [its] numerous restaurants, bars and cafes, enjoy an Aperol spritz or a long lunch while watching the world go by’, travel site Visit Prosecco Italy reveals.
Treviso’s other main squares, San Vito Piazza and Piazza del Duomo, are also worth a visit, the site adds.
Whichever square you choose, make sure you take a seat at a local café and order a portion of tiramisù – the world-famous dessert that originated in Treviso.
Visit Treviso Cathedral
Treviso Cathedral dates back to the 6th century and attracts attention as you enter the city with its white pillars and striking green domes
Every year, hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers visit St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice
That of Venice Basilica of San Marco attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, but you’re unlikely to encounter a crowd as you explore Treviso’s striking cathedral, St. Peter’s Cathedral.
The Roman Catholic building is topped with several green domes and is one of the most striking landmarks in the city. It dates back as early as the 6th century but has since been rebuilt, local travel site Veneto Road reveals.
It is guarded by ‘six gigantic Roman columns’, Lonely planet reveals, adding that the main attraction in the building is the Malchiostro Annunciation painting by Renaissance artist Titian.
Tourists can also visit the 11th-century crypt beneath the cathedral. Later, take a stroll through the city’s other historic churches, such as Chiesa di San Nicolo and Chiesa di San Francesco.
See the 16th-century city walls
Walk around the historic walls surrounding Treviso, which were built to protect the city from attack
The octagonal island on the right is part of the defense system of the Venetian lagoon
One of Treviso’s most notable landmarks are its city walls, which were designed in the 16th century to defend the city against ‘medieval attack techniques such as catapults and rams’. Veneto Road notes.
It adds that ‘food and wine events are organized along these walls in the summer’. Tourists can follow the walls around the city and even walk over the structure at certain points. Visit Prosecco Italy reveals. Tripadvisor user ‘Wembley1966’ stated: ‘They make for a very pleasant walk in the evening.’
Like Treviso, Venice has its own defense system. From the 14th century, forts, batteries and octagonal islands with defensive walls built by the Republic of Venice to protect the city and the lagoon of Venice tourist Office reveals.