Treviso and the 'Marca'

• Treviso
• Around Treviso
• Asolo

A day trip in Treviso and the Marca Trevigiana (as the area is known) won't be disappointed by its many beautiful sights and intresting itineraries. The Marca trevigiana is the birthplace of Cima da Conegliano, Giorgione, Antonio Canova who, with many others such as Palladio, have left vigourous traces of their presence. The whole area is rich of churches, abbeys, sanctuaries and parish churches, incomparable ancient towns, walled citadels and villages with typical stone houses, imposing castles and gentry palaces.
The Marca Trevigiana means also unspoilt nature and breathtaking landscapes with a territory that in a few km connects the Prealpi mountain range to the Venetian lagoon. Water abounds and flows everywhere, making this land rich in valuable cultivations, such as vineyards or specialties such as the red chicory.

Treviso

Treviso was once the Roman municipality of Tarvisium, but grew in importance especially dugring the Gothic and Lombard periods and with Charlemagne (during his reign it possessed the most important mint in Italy). Treviso, with its old city walls and ancient red-brick buildings, is rich in waters and canals, and in this aspect reminds one of Venice. Façades of painted houses juting out of corbels, alleyways, little bridges and porticoes give Treviso its characteristic appearance. Traditionally "jouous and passionate", Treviso is renowned for its restaurants that have maintained the art of good cooking (the most special plates are with hornticultural products, especially the famous red "radicchio"). A visit can only start from Piazza dei Signori(called the town's living room), where you can admire Palazzo dei Trecento, the Town's Tower and the Prefecture Palace.

Leading to Calmaggiore (most likely the ancient Roman cardum), the town's high street, which is flanked by many of the gentry's palaces, you'll get to Piazza Duomo. There you can visit the 11th centruy paleo-Christina Baptistery and the Cathedral with its beautyful domes and neo-classical façade. Inside it the 1100 crypt, the Titian altar piece and the Pordenone frescoes are worth a visit.

Don't miss the old mill still working in Vicolo Molinetto from where you have a nice view of the Pescheria (Fish market) island and Loggia dei Cavalieri, the oldest civilian building in town.

Around Treviso:

Oasi Cervara: the Sile springs out north of Treviso; it flows across the greenest countryside and after crossing the small town of Santa Cristina (Quinto) enters the town. It's a big marsh area and it's one of the most important humid areas of the regional natural Park of Sile.
To visit: during winter time opens on Saturday p.m. and on Sunday a.m. and p.m. During summer time opens also on Friday p.m. For info Oasi Cervara Tel. 0422 23 815    e-mail: oasicervara@tin.it

Castelfranco Veneto: one of the most well-preserved "walled cities". It is surrounded by medieval walls and its five towers enclosing the remains of the 12th-century castle. The town was the birthplace of the painter Giorgione. The 18th-century cathedral(right next to the artist's home), contains one of Giorgione's finest works: the Madonna with SS. Francis and Liberalis.

Vittorio Veneto: formed in 1866 by the union of Serravalle and Ceneda, it was named for Victor Emmanuel II. It was the scene in 1918 of the Italians' decisive defeat of the Austro-Hungarian army.
Serravalle is an old, walled district. On this side of the city you can see the Clock Tower; in Piazza Flaminio the church of S. Lorenzo inside which there is the Museum of the Cenedese, a gem set in a magnificent Renaissance court, very pleasant to visit.
Ceneda has a pre-romanic origin. Admire the Cathedral Assunta and S. Tiziano Vescovo and the S. Martino Castle tower.

Conegliano: it's the most dynamic economic and cultural reality in the province of Treviso. Enter into via XX Settembre, the most beautiful street in Conegliano, where the Duomo (Cathedral) is located.
A famous event in Conegliano is the Dame of Draughts (First Sunday in October), a parade of medieval costumes in view of the draughts tournament between the contradas. The whole set up involves parades, flag waving shows, balls, medieval cuisine etc.
See Conegliano website

Asolo

Asolo, the "pearl" of the Marca, owes its fame to a queen, caterina Cornaro, Queen of the Island of Cyprus. The town has been a stopover point for many illustrious guests: Robert Browning, Giosué Carducci, Elena Duse, Ezra Pound, Igor Stravinsky, Malipiero, ... The City has maintained a suggestive medieval look, located between the very old walls and dominated by the millenary "Rocca" on the top on the hill, protecting the City. The streets are typical: flanked by the gothic arcades of the old buildings and houses, with their façades decorated with frescoes, their gracious mullioned and trefoil windows, and their beautiful balconies.

- The medieval Cathedral: inside you can admire many paintings and statues of famous artists.
- The Captain Loggia is a beautiful construction of the 15th century, which façade is covered with frescos of Contarini (1560). It is now a Museum.
- The Castle was the Palace of Caterina Cornaro from 1489 to 1509; it is an old massive construction which has been often altered; its typical tower with the clock is original.
- Fontanella Zen: flanked by beautiful Gothic and Renaissance houses on via Browning, the charming 16th-century fountain is crowned by the Lion of San Marco.