WORDS & PICTURES: Abi Prowse
Tucked within a backdrop of lush, rolling hills, swollen with ripe vineyards, the city of Treviso is unknown to many who visit Italy. Often bypassed in favour of its somewhat ostentatious neighbour, Venice, this compact city offers much more than meets the eye. Masked beneath its gentle canals and rustic facades lies a rich history and a string of deep-rooted traditions; you’d expect no less from the birthplace of delicacies such as tiramisu and prosecco. But Treviso owes its charm to exactly this: to its slow pace of life, its marked lack of tourists, and to its sheer Italian-ness.
Explore Italy | Postcards from Cinque Terre
The striking, grandiose Piazza dei Signori is the beating heart of Treviso, with shaded alleyways branching out from every angle. In the early morning, the smooth stone walls of the prefettura echo with the tinkling of coffee cups and rustling of newspapers as nearby cafes rouse from their slumber. Nearby Via Calmaggiore starts to fill with the rush of bicycle wheels, locals beginning their morning commute across the haphazardly-lain cobbles. The foreboding bells of the cathedral mark the hour, its sound ringing across the entire city centre; barely more than a picturesque cluster of houses, Treviso’s tight-knit community and small-town feel renders it even more lovely.
Its winding streets the colours of a muted sunset, Treviso, Italy, seems almost to have been doused in shades of peaches and pinks, interrupted only by the graceful flow of the canals. Blend in with the locals and enjoy an evening aperitivo by the water at Acquasalsa, a traditional bar which overlooks the city’s iconic Isola della Pescheria: a fish market dating back to the 1800s, suspended within the Cagnan canal. For unbeatable local food against an incredibly scenic backdrop, try Odeon alla Colonna, whose elegant terrace is nestled beneath the porticoes of a historic waterside building.
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