Overshadowed by nearby Venice, Treviso offers a similar canal-crossed medieval center without the crowds of its famous neighbor. The city is a peaceful base for forays into Venice (just a 30-minute train ride away) and wine-tasting excursions through the Prosecco hills, plus its cobbled streets are lined with enough historic churches, excellent museums, and the giggle-inducing Fontana delle Tette—the translation of which is, ahem, NSFW—to fill a day of sightseeing, especially when paired with a cooking class dedicated to Treviso’s most famous dish: tiramisù.
Like many Italian towns, much of Treviso’s historic downtown area is pedestrianized, and the sights that you’ll want to see are walkable. In fact, the city walls make for a pleasant tree-lined stroll—follow the historic walls, gates, and towers around the city. If you want to cover more ground in less time, Treviso is a great place to cycle. The city’s bike-sharing system TVBike can be paid for online, and there are several stations around the city for drop-offs.
This is Italy, so summer is balmy and buzzy. If you don’t mind the city heat and want to explore—think trips to the coast at Jesolo, Santa Croce Lake, and the prosecco hills around Valdobbiadene—June and July are great. Treviso isn’t a big tourist city, so August visitors should note that restaurant closures are common as the owners take vacations in this month. The holiday period is also special, with lights over the canals and Christmas markets.
Serious wine buffs and lovers of bubbly should time their visit to the annual Primavera del Prosecco festival. The word “festival” doesn’t quite do it justice—it’s really a series of events that take place in spring (March–June)—but visitors to the region can benefit from discounts on the many tastings and vineyards tours in the area by subscribing to a “guest card” online.
