Free walking tours in Treviso and what to see

Must-sees

Treviso is a walled city in the Veneto, a short distance from Venice, crossed by the Sile river and by canals that give it a very calm air. The centre is Piazza dei Signori, with the Palazzo dei Trecento, the seat of the city's old government. From there runs Calmaggiore, an arcaded shopping street leading to the cathedral, which holds an Annunciation by Titian.

The nicest thing is to walk by the water: the Buranelli canal, with houses leaning over the current, and the Pescheria island, where the fish market is held. The huge Gothic church of San Nicolò has frescoes by Tommaso da Modena, and in the adjoining convent the same painter portrayed the Dominican friars, one of them wearing spectacles. The Venetian walls and gates such as Porta San Tomaso close the route.

Free tours and guided visits

Treviso does not have a regular free walking tour. What Civitatis offers is a group guided tour of the historic centre, with the canals, Piazza dei Signori and the main churches, and also a private tour if you would rather go with just your own group. If you are coming from Venice, Treviso is easy to add as a day trip.

How long to spend

A day is enough for the historic centre, with time for the canals, the cathedral, San Nicolò and a museum. With two days you can head out to the prosecco hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, a World Heritage Site. Many travellers also use Treviso as a base for visiting Venice, just over half an hour away by train.

Where to stay

It is best to stay inside the walls, where there are small hotels, pensioni and apartments in old buildings, and everything is on foot. Next to the station there are practical options if you plan to take the train to Venice. Bear in mind that Treviso airport is very close to the city, which makes early flights easy.