Tourist information on Treviso, Italy

Treviso is an attractive historic city in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. It lies at the confluence of the Rivers Botteniga and Sile, 30 km to the north of Venice and 50 km east of Vicenza. Unlike Venice, it does not depend on tourism for its prosperity and is a thriving industrial centre, the headquarters of clothing retailer Benetton and bicycle manufacturer Pinarello. Although overshadowed by nearby Venice, Treviso has considerable charm and is worth visiting for its historic monuments and surrounding countryside. It serves as a convenient base from which to explore the Veneto region.

The ancient city of Tarvisium is believed to derive its name from a settlement of the Taurusci, a Celtic tribe. Inhabited by the Veneti, it became a Roman city in 89 BC and prospered through its proximity to the Via Postumia. After the fall of Rome, it came under the control of the Ostrogoths and then the Byzantines. In 568 it was conquered by the Lombards, who made it one of their ducal seats and the site of an important mint. Treviso was later captured by the Franks and became the capital of a border March. Having joined the Lombard League, the city gained independence after the Peace of Constance in 1183. Subsequently, it was ruled by various rival wealthy families before surrendering to the Republic of Venice early in the 14th century. Although the city prospered under Venetian rule, it was caught up in Venice's wars. In 1797, Treviso was captured by the French and remained under French control until the fall of Napoleon. It was then annexed by the Austria-Hungarian Empire and was governed by Austria until it became part of the united Kingdom of Italy in 1866. During the Second World War, a large part of the historic city centre was destroyed by Allied bombardment, although much of this has since been restored.

The historic centre covers a small area within the imposing city walls and is best explored on foot. With its maze of narrow streets and arcaded walkways, this part of Treviso has a distinctly vecchia Italia character to it. The best place to start a tour of the city is the Piazza dei Signori, the main square, which is dominated by the 13th century Palazzo dei Trecento (currently used as the town hall) and the 15th century Palazzo di Podestà. From this square runs the Via Calmaggiore, the main shopping street, which leads to the Duomo (cathedral). Dedicated to St. Peter, the Duomo is recognisable by its seven domes, but this is far from being Treviso's most attractive monument. It originated as a small Roman chapel, although the only part of the original Roman structure to survive is its gate. The interior contains several priceless works of art by such artists as Titian and Il Pordenone. The main attraction is the crypt, in which there are several fragments of medieval frescos. The cathedral is situated on the uninspiring Piazza del Duomo, which is used as a car park.

Far more eyecatching than the Duomo is the church of San Francesco, which is distinguished by its huge ship's keel roof. A fine example of late Romanesque, early Gothic architecture, this was built in the 13th century. Its interior has a single nave with five chapels and contains some remarkable medieval frescos, as well as the tombs of, among others, Pietro Alighieri, the son of Dante. Treviso's other notable sacred builing is the Chiesa di San Nicolò, a 13th century church which exhibits both Venetian Romanesque and French Gothic styles. The interior is richly adorned by some extraordinary frescos by the great 14th century artist Tomaso da Modena, whose work is very much in evidence throughout the city.

On the Piazza Rinaldi there are three palaces that were once owned by the Rinald family, dating from the 12th to the 18th century. The Loggia dei Cavalieri was built by the podestà Andrea da Perugia as a meeting place in 1276 and shows a Romanesque style influenced by Byzantine forms. The Monte di Pietà was originally used by Jewish moneylenders. On the second floor is the Cappella dei Rettori, used for lay meetings, with frescoes by Pozzoserrato. On the east side of the city, across the canal, there are some other notable monuments, foremost of which is the 16th century Porta San Tomaso, striking with its ornately sculptured façade.

The Museo di Santa Caterina is the city's principal museum, housed in a former church and convent. This comprises the Civic Museum, an art gallery and archaeological collection. The centrepiece of the church is a series of recently restored frescos by Tomaso da Modena. The city's parks and gardens include the Giardino Fenologico and two botanical gardens: Orto Botanico Conservativo Carlo Spegazzini and Orto Botanico Conservativo Francesco Busnello. The Ponte di Pria (Stone Bridge) stands at the meeting point of the Canal Grande and the Buranelli Channels. The city ramparts are a good place to walk, offering attractive views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Treviso is served by Venezia (Treviso) Airport, which is used mainly by low cost airlines that offer flights to a limited number of European destinations. Venice Marco Polo Airport is further afield but provides a far wider selection of national and international destinations, and is connected to Treviso by bus and train. A bus service operates within the city. Venice and other popular tourist destinations (Padua and Vicenza) are within easy reach of Treviso by train and coach.