Hotel Continental
Treviso - Via Roma, 16
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Walking through the centre of Treviso, one is easily convinced that it is a city of art and business. It immediately jumps out at you that it is a wealthy city: this is demonstrated by its elegant shops, the large number of clubs, bars and restaurants (always full), and the citizens strolling around sporting impeccable looks.
If this were not enough, just move a few kilometres to find the headquarters of internationally renowned companies such as Benetton and a major low-cost airport that offers itself as an alternative stopover to nearby Venice.
So much industriousness and business do not translate into a cold and impersonal city. On the contrary, Treviso is so full of charm and character that in another region it would be a top tourist destination; in Veneto, however, it has been crushed by international tourism megastars such as Venice and Lake Garda.
For many years Treviso attracted a local tourism, made up of daily visitors arriving from the neighbouring Veneto provinces to visit one of the prestigious art exhibitions housed in its magnificent mediaeval palazzos or to participate in the most diverse events organised in the city centre, from kermesses bordering on good taste such as the defunct (and only by some mourned) Ombralonga to first-class cultural events.
Today, thanks to the growing interest in alternative destinations, not infested by the plagues of overtourism, Treviso can proudly present itself as one of the most beautiful cities to visit in the Veneto.
The offer is rich: romantic canals, historic palazzi overlooking waterways or elegant piazzas, relaxing strolls along the river, local food and wine treasures such as radicchio and prosecco.
Tiramisu, one of Italy’s best-loved desserts, is also said to have originated here. Not everyone agrees: coming to find out if this is true or not is another good reason to take a trip or weekend break to Treviso.
The main attractions of Treviso are concentrated in the historical centre, enclosed within a medieval city wall built on the remains of previous Roman walls. Three gates still stand along the walls: Porta San Tommaso, Porta Santi Quaranta and Porta Altinia.
The centre is small and easy to get around on foot, so it is possible to see all the sights in half a day without hurrying. Allow more time if you want to enter museums, visit some exhibitions, go shopping or take long relaxing breaks in the centre’s bars and restaurants.
The ideal starting point for a stroll in the centre of Treviso is Piazza dei Signori, the nerve centre of city life: often the location of open-air events, it is the typical Italian piazza-salotto, lively every day, elegant and rich in history.
Its cafés with their outdoor tables are popular meeting places for the people of Treviso; for visitors, they are the perfect place to start the day with a good coffee and laze around watching the people go by.
The symbolic building of the square is the Palazzo del Podestà, a beautiful historical red-brick building built in the Middle Ages and renovated several times; it currently houses the Prefecture. The visual impact of the façade and its perfect symmetry is remarkable.
Behind this palace soars high into the sky the Civic Tower with its clock, one of the symbols of Treviso. Square in shape, it is no less than 48 metres high and has battlements at the top.
Adjacent to the Palazzo del Podestà stands the Palazzo dei Trecento, the historic building that borders Piazza dei Signori on one side, separating it from Piazza Indipendenza. It was built between 1185 and 1268 to house the assemblies of the municipal bodies; its name recalls the number of members who participated in the municipal councils.
The ground floor is occupied by a loggia (not to be confused with the Loggia dei Cavalieri) while the upper floor is a large hall lit by splendid triple lancet windows and decorated with frescoes by Veneto artists dating from between the 14th and 16th centuries. The hall is accessed via a monumental external staircase located on the side of the palace that faces Piazza Indipendenza.
The Palazzo dei Trecento is used as a venue for exhibitions or shows and can therefore only be visited during events.
From one loggia to another: it takes only two minutes on foot to move from the loggia of the Palazzo dei Trecento to that of the Cavalieri. This is a kind of covered square, quadrangular in shape, enclosed on three sides by round arches supported by Istrian stone columns.
Smaller in size and perhaps less majestic in appearance than the palace loggia, it is, however, of such great historical importance that it is considered one of Treviso’s most important monuments. In fact, it stands on the exact spot where the cardo and decumanus, the city’s main thoroughfares, met in Roman times; its construction, however, is much later, dating back to the Middle Ages.
Initially it was a meeting place for the city’s nobles, who could discuss politics and business but also play chess here. Today it looks somewhat bare, but historical documents attest that the loggia was once lavishly decorated with splendid frescoes.
The main street in the centre of Treviso is Calmaggiore, which connects Piazza dei Signori to the Duomo, the two key points of power in the Middle Ages (the former being the seat of spiritual power, the latter the seat of the spiritual power). Its route retraces the cardo maggiore from Roman times.
Today, this narrow cobbled street lined with arcaded buildings is the shopping street par excellence. On either side of the street are numerous alleys that you can explore in search of wine bars and typical trattorias or other shops where you can continue your shopping session.
Along the street there is a small archaeological area where you can admire the remains of the ancient cardo maggiore, the Roman road.
One of the most curious attractions in Treviso is the Fontana delle Tette (Fountain of the Breasts), a small 16th-century fountain in the shape of a woman known for a bizarre custom. Only water comes out of the woman’s breasts today, but originally every time a new mayor took office in the city the water was replaced with wine: white from one breast, red from the other.
The statue was originally located in Calmaggiore, but was moved to the loggia of the Palazzo dei Trecento, where it can still be admired today; there is a faithful copy in Calmaggiore, specifically in the inner courtyard of Palazzo Zignoli.
Make no mistake: both the original fountain and its copy nowadays only ever flow water.
Close to the central Piazza dei Signori, between the canal of the same name and the Cagnan Canal, begins the Buranelli area, an enchanting area characterised by small bridges, mills, historic houses overlooking the canals, and weeping willows that pour their foliage into the water.
A walk to the Buranelli is worth a trip to Treviso alone: it is the most characteristic and most photographed area of the city, where a romantic glimpse opens up at every corner.
The name comes from the Buranelli canal, a branch of the Botteniga, a small resurgent river. It runs through the city for less than a kilometre, and in several sections of this short route it hides under the arches of buildings only to reappear as a surprise a little further on. The name comes from the buildings that were once the home and storehouse of traders from the Venetian island of Burano.
Whether because of the name or because of the canals, comparisons with Venice arise spontaneously, but the atmosphere of this corner of Treviso is very different and has its own unique magic.
Once much loved by writers and artists, including the poet Giovanni Comisso who had a house right here, today the Buranelli are the best area in Treviso to seek charm and romance. The poet is remembered by a metal sculpture by artist Mario Martinelli.
Among the historic palazzi overlooking the canals of Treviso there is one whose name is well known to the general public. This is Casa dei Carraresi, a grandiose building dating back to the 13th century that has been converted into a modern multifunctional cultural space.
For years it has been the venue for highly popular art exhibitions. Many of these exhibitions were dedicated to the best-known painters of the 19th and 20th centuries such as the Impressionists or Van Gogh, but Casa dei Carraresi has also hosted original exhibitions on Oriental art and other themes.
Today it also houses a bookshop and a restaurant with a wine-tasting area and is the ‘cultural home’ of the people of Treviso.
If you are staying in Treviso for more than half a day, do not miss the opportunity to take a wonderful walk in the Regional Natural Park of the River Sile.
One of the best-known and most characteristic stretches of the GiraSile, a green road along the river that can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, starts from the centre of Treviso: it is an excursion within everyone’s reach because it runs completely on flat land and does not present any technical difficulties.
The arrival point of the section beginning in Treviso is the Cimitero dei Burci (Burci Graveyard), where you can see the remains of some traditional boats used to transport goods along the Sile.
The entire Treviso-Cimitero dei Burci route is about 13 km long, but you only have to walk a small section to feel light years away from the chaos of the city.
Another characteristic corner of Treviso is the Isola della Pescheria (Fish Market’s Island), a small island on the Cagnan Canal formed by three interconnected artificial islets.
In the morning it is the right place to buy fresh fish (the islet hosts a covered market that has been active for a long time), from late afternoon onwards it is a perfect spot for a typical Veneto aperitif of spritz and cicchetti.
An oasis of peace in the heart of the city is the Complex of Santa Caterina, comprising a church and a convent connected by two enchanting cloisters.
The church and the convent are now two important museum sites: the Santa Caterina complex is in fact the main hub of Treviso‘s network of Civic Museums and houses an art gallery with works from the 14th to the 18th century, an important archaeological section and a pictorial cycle dedicated to the Stories of Saint Ursula.
The attractions we have presented are the most famous ones, but to those who have more time on their hands Treviso offers many other things to see and do.
Among the most beautiful churches in Treviso are the Church of San Francesco, which houses the tombs of the sons of Dante and Petrarch, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which mixes the Renaissance style with Venetian Gothic, the Church of San Nicolò dating back to the 13th century, and the Duomo with an altarpiece by Titian inside.
If you love museums, note down these names: Luigi Balio Museum, Diocesan Museum and Casa Robegan (part of a museum complex that includes Ca‘ da Noal, Casa Robegan and Casa Karwath).
Another nice walk to do besides the GiraSile is the one along the 17th-century walls that encircle the historic centre.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Sleeping in the centre of Treviso is the best solution for those who only stay one night and want to make the most of their time in the city. It is also the recommended choice for those travelling by public transport because once you arrive in the centre you will no longer need buses or taxis to get around.
In the centre of Treviso there are numerous b&bs and flats with a wide range of prices: from simple, clean and functional but not very characteristic accommodations, to more modern and comfortable ones, up to luxury establishments, with great attention to design and services.
The choice of hotels in the centre of Treviso is less and most of them are medium/low-end hotels. If you are travelling by car, consider booking a hotel outside the centre: just a few kilometres away you will find excellent 3-4 star facilities, including hotels belonging to important international chains. Designed for a business clientele, they guarantee high quality standards and are perfect for those looking for comfort and services; the best have a spa and wellness centre.
For a completely different kind of holiday, you can book an agritourism or rural house near the centre.
The city of Treviso has an important international airport served by numerous direct flights by RyanAir and other low cost airlines. The airport is located a few kilometres from the centre, to which it is connected by frequent city buses.
If you are already in Veneto, you can easily reach Treviso by car from all directions. The nearest motorway exit to the centre is Treviso Sud along the A27, the motorway connecting Venice to Belluno.
Treviso railway station is located just outside the city centre, opposite the walls that surround it. Unfortunately, it is not located along the main railway line in Veneto, the one connecting Venice to Milan, but it is an important hub for regional trains.
Direct trains to/from Venice are frequent and there are also some direct trains to Padua and Belluno; for other destinations at least one change is necessary.
A valid alternative to trains are buses: regional buses connect Treviso to Venice, Padua and other important places in Veneto; with long-distance buses you can get to Treviso from more distant cities like Milan and even international destinations like Ljubljana.
What's the weather at Treviso? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Treviso for the next few days.
The historic centre of Treviso is only the tip of the iceberg of the rich tourist offer of the province of Treviso. For an original weekend in Veneto, far from the most popular destinations of mass tourism, you can base yourself in the capital and then move on to visit the attractions in the surrounding area.
A destination not to be missed is Asolo, a pretty town in the Asolo hills that is part of the I Borghi Più Belli d’Italia (Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages) circuit: as it is well known in the area and decidedly fascinating, we have dedicated an in-depth page to it.
A compulsory stop for wine lovers are Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, the two hometowns of prosecco: you can visit the cellars where the most exported Italian wine abroad is produced, capable of holding its own in sales against a product of excellence such as champagne.
The province of Treviso is also rich in marvellous Venetian villas. Here too, as in Vicenza or along the Riviera del Brenta, the most beautiful bear the signature of Andrea Palladio: they are Villa Barbaro in Maser, Villa Emo in Fanzolo and Villa Zeno in Cessalto.
Nature lovers can continue along the GiraSile route to discover other magnificent places in the greenery of the Sile Regional Natural Park; the resurgence area in particular is very beautiful. For a relaxing day, consider a boat or canoe trip.
Treviso is one of the seven provincial capitals of Veneto and is located in the central-eastern part of the region. It is less than 40 km from Venice, about 50 km from Padua and 70 km from Vicenza.
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