La Mia Citta' : TREVISO II

Eating and Drinking
Treviso and its province are teeming with restaurants, trattorias and wine bars which invite visitors to drop in. Eating and drinking well is a true commandment for Treviso's inhabitants. The cuisine is of excellent quality and closely tied to seasonal products.Some of the specialties only eaten here include: sopa coada, a soup with pigeon meat, or various pasta and rice dishes with wild herbs and vegetables, such as risotto with wild asparagus (bruscandoi). With its famous red chicory (radicchio) Treviso prepares many dishes, the most famous of which is risotto al radicchio. Other pasta courses popular in Treviso include bigoli thick homemade spaghetti served with duck or sausage sauce, risi e bisi (rice with peas) and pasta e fagioli (pasta with beans).Abundant amounts of meat are eaten; the most widespread dishes include assorted meat on skewers, grilled meat, sliced steak with herbs, but even more unusual products such as baked goose and snail stew. Cold cuts cannot be left out, often served as antipasto: the most typical are soppressa, a large flavorful salami, and ossocollo. Meat and cold cuts are often served with polenta, or peverada, a strong sauce made from liver and spices. Fall is synonymous with mushrooms, a true must on Treviso's tables.Another great product from these areas are cheeses: the soft, unripened Stracchino and Casatella come from the plains, while Montasio and Soligo and other specialties such as Bastardo del Grappa, smoked ricotta and "drunk" cheese (ripened on marc) come from the mountain area. Fish is not traditional in Treviso, with the exception of trout, but given the closeness to the sea there are also excellent fish restaurants.Lastly sweets: there are many types, but the most famous Treviso sweet is definitely tiramisù.Wine: Veneto is the region which produces the most wine in Italy and Treviso is no exception. The darling of the Marca lives in its hills, Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, omnipresent on every table in Treviso. It is a white wine with a flowery fruity bouquet, mainly produced in spumante and sparkling versions. The offering of this area also includes Colli di Conegliano, a DOC wine with an aromatic and smooth white and full-bodied grassy red. From a small area at the feet of Monte Cansiglio comes a top quality white passito of limited production: Torchiato di Fregona. Further south, the fertile lands of the Piave river produce good Merlot, Cabernet, Tocai, Verduzzo, and Pinot as well as a very popular native wine: Raboso, a red with a dry and straightforward taste. No respectful meal would end without a nice glass of grappa, which is an object of worship in this land. There are many different types: white, refined in wood, aged, single grape type, flavored with herbs or fruit.
Getting there
Treviso is just a short distance from Venice and is easy to reach with all transportation...By car: from Turin, Milan or Trieste take the freeway A4 until Mestre and then the A27 until the Treviso Sud exit. From Rome, Florence and Bologna take the A13 Bologna-Padova, then the A4 to Mestre and A27 to Treviso Sud. Those coming from the Dolomites take A27 from Belluno to Treviso Nord.By train: Treviso is located on the heavily trafficked Venice-Udine line, which is also directly connected with Venice. Those coming from the south or west normally need to change trains in Mestre. See the Trenitalia website for train schedules.By plane: Treviso has a small airport with flights to London, Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam and various other European cities. Venice's international "Marco Polo" Airport is located 30 km from the city. The Fly Bus connects the airport with the Venice-Mestre train station where frequent trains leave for Treviso.

La Mia Citta' : TREVISO

Treviso is a city to discover on foot, its charm can be witnessed by passing under the arcades of its major streets or in the thousands of alleys that wind around in the medieval part, or by following the canals that cross and around the city. Treviso bewitches visitors with its sense of hospitality and love of life, which can be felt everywhere in its fashionable restaurants, bars, shops, squares and cultural spots.
History and culture
The remains of an ancient village found along the Sile river place the origins of Treviso in the Bronze Age (15th century BC). The city was inhabited by the Veneti starting in the 10th century BC, who were granted Roman citizenship in 49 BC.In the early Middle Ages Treviso became a flourishing city under the Carolingians, when it became the capital of a March and had a mint. The year 1164 was important: it was then that the Emperor Frederick I recognized the city as a free commune. Thus began its most glorious period, Treviso extended its domain, adorned itself with new churches and buildings and held knightly feasts hosting poets and troubadours, which earned it the name of "Joyous and harmonious March". It fell under the tyranny of Ezzelino da Romano in 1237; from that point on the city passed from hand to hand, tormented by war and civil clashes for more than a century.The population of Treviso joined forces with Venice in 1389 leading to a long and prosperous time of peace for the city. Treviso became filled with buildings and frescoes in Venetian Gothic style. In 1509 Venice decided to give the city new fortifications to be able to defend its territories to the north. The current walls and gates date back to this period.Treviso fell along with Venice in 1797 to the aggression of Napoleon's armies. The city then fell under Austrian domain until 15 July 1866, when Italian bersaglieri liberated it, marking its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy. During World War II Treviso suffered heavy losses; in 1944 American bombing caused thousands of victims destroying many buildings and historic landmarks.

Places and charm
The beauty of Treviso does not just lie in its heritage of churches and buildings, but much more in the intimate atmosphere of the city and its very special urban fabric. Visiting Treviso means letting yourself go in the myriad of medieval alleys, and glimpse picture postcard views which will amaze you with their poetic charm. And even more importantly joining the locals in their quest for life.Piazza dei Signori is the salon and at the same time symbol of the city, proof of the great vocation Treviso's inhabitants have for feasting, cordiality and cheerfulness. The bell tower and Palazzo dei Trecento are located in the square, the latter has always been the seat of local government. A large external stairway leads inside the building, where 15th and 16th century sculpture which survived the 1944 bombings can be seen. Great vaults are located under the Palazzo dei Trecento, where Treviso''s inhabitants meet for pleasant breaks.Monte di Pietà from Piazza dei Signori a gallery leads to the small square of Monte di Pietà. Inside it is possible to visit the Cappella dei Rettori, ornately decorated with frescoes and gilded leather panels. The other rooms house original weights and measures and numerous works of art by Luca Giordano and Sebastiano Ricci.The canals. Water plays the leading role in Treviso, the city is characterized by a system of rivers and canals which cross it and surround it. Walking through the center visitors encounter truly poetic settings, where medieval houses and buildings are reflected in the clear water of the canals. Wander around the maze of alleys starting behind Piazza dei Signori to discover the most charming corners of the city: Isola della Pescheria (fishmarket island), Canale dei Buranelli, Ponte San Francesco with the windmill, Ponte Dante with the university and Ponte S. Martino.