Treviso

Day 1: First look at Treviso’s waters and heart

Begin with a slow wander to tune into the city’s soundscape of running water and bells. You’ll stitch together Treviso’s signature sights with its most evocative canal views, leaving time to linger on bridges and in porticoed squares.

• Morning: Start at Piazza dei Signori for a coffee, then follow the sound of water to the Canale dei Buranelli. Cross Ponte dei Buranelli and explore the photogenic arcades and willow-framed banks; the soft morning light is best for reflections.
• Midday: Drift towards Isola della Pescheria. Even if the market is quiet, the waterwheels thunder year-round; grab a light lunch nearby and watch the current race under the island’s edges.
• Afternoon: Walk to Ponte Dante where the Cagnan meets the Sile, recalling Dante’s line “e dove Sile e Cagnan s’accompagna…”. Continue along the lawns of the university quarter and trace a short loop to Vicolo Dotti for a hidden, intimate view of the Cagnan Grande.
• Evening: Take the passeggiata along Riviera Santa Margherita and choose a canalside osteria for aperitivo and dinner. Golden hour makes façades glow; mind the unfenced edges when taking photos, especially after rain when stones can be slippery.

Day 2: Walls, towpaths, and life along the Sile

Today is about movement at a gentle pace: from Renaissance walls to the broad, clear Sile and its nature-rich banks. You’ll see how Treviso’s waterways shift from urban to pastoral within minutes.

• Morning: Hire a bicycle near the station and join La Restera, the towpath along the Sile, heading towards Casier. Pause at the Cimitero dei Burci, a haunting cluster of sunken wooden barges; spring brings birdsong and fresh greenery, while autumn paints the riverbanks gold.
• Midday: Picnic on the grass by the water or stop at a simple trattoria in Casier; carry water and sun protection in summer, or a warm layer in winter when mist rises from the river. Ride back at an easy pace, watching for swans and herons.
• Afternoon: Return your bike and walk the city walls from Porta San Tommaso towards Porta Santi Quaranta to appreciate how canals once fed the moat. Detour down into the historic centre to trace smaller roggie between Via San Francesco and Piazza San Vito for domestic, garden-side views.
• Evening: Celebrate Treviso’s food heritage: try seasonal radicchio di Treviso (best Nov–Feb) and finish with tiramisù at Le Beccherie, the dessert’s birthplace. Pair dinner with a glass of local Prosecco; book ahead on weekends.

Day 3: Hidden water, frescoes, and slow culture

Having mapped the main arteries, today you’ll linger in quieter corners and step indoors for art that once faced these waters. Keep an ear out for rushing water in the side lanes—Treviso rewards detours.

• Morning: Visit the Santa Caterina Civic Museums for frescoes and archaeology, then slip behind Ca’ dei Carraresi to find small bridges and working waterwheels. Photographers: winter’s soft light and mist make moody canal scenes; in summer, arrive early to avoid harsh midday glare.
• Midday: Thread the Roggia Siletto/Cagnan Medio area around Via San Francesco for hushed residential stretches and low stone footbridges. Choose a casual lunch by a quiet canal—respect private windows and gardens when lingering with cameras.
• Afternoon: Explore lesser-known lanes around Piazza San Vito and Piazza dei Signori, ducking into churches and porticoes between canal stops. If you’re visiting during an announced svuoto (canal draining), take the rare chance to peer into the emptied beds and exposed foundations—check municipal notices.
• Evening: For a last evening, return to your favourite viewpoint—Buranelli at dusk is hard to beat—or try a wine bar for a curated flight of local Prosecco Superiore. Note there are no gondolas here; the pleasure is shore-side conversation, reflections, and an unhurried farewell stroll.

By Air

• Treviso (TSF – Antonio Canova): ~3 km from the centre. 10–15 min by taxi; 15–20 min by local bus (Line 6) to Treviso Centrale/Autostazione; frequent low‑cost flights.
• Venice Marco Polo (VCE): ~30 km. 30–45 min by car. Direct shuttle buses (e.g., Barzi/ATVO; check schedules) to Treviso in ~40–60 min, or bus to Venezia Mestre then regional train to Treviso (train 20–30 min).
• Other options: Verona (VRN) ~1.5–2 h by car/train; Trieste (TRS) ~1.5–2 h; Bologna (BLQ) ~2–2.5 h.

By Train

• Main station: Treviso Centrale (short walk to the historic centre).
• Frequent regional services (Trenitalia):
  • Venezia Mestre: ~20–25 min; Venezia S. Lucia: ~30–40 min.
  • Padova: ~50–70 min (some direct, others via Mestre).
  • Vicenza: ~1–1¼ h (typically 1 change).
  • Udine: ~1–1½ h; Trieste: ~2–2½ h (often 1 change).
  • Verona: ~1½–2 h (usually 1 change).
• High‑speed services generally require a change at Venezia Mestre or Padova.

By Bus

• Main hub: Treviso Autostazione (adjacent to Treviso Centrale).
• Regional services (MOM) to nearby towns and the province; airport links to TSF.
• Long‑distance coaches (e.g., FlixBus) serve Treviso or nearby Venezia Mestre (check current routes/timetables).

By Car

• Motorways: A27 (exits Treviso Sud/Nord) links to A4 (Venice–Milan) and to the Dolomites.
• Approximate driving times: Venice ~30–40 min; Padova ~1 h; Vicenza ~1–1¼ h; Verona ~1½–2 h; Trieste ~1½–2 h.
• The historic centre is a ZTL (restricted traffic zone); use signed edge‑of‑centre car parks and walk in. Roads and bridges within the old town are narrow; allow extra time.