Things to do in Province of Treviso

2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do

Saint Mark's Basilica

Saint Mark's Basilica is located in Saint Mark's Square, adjacent to the Doge's Palace. The basilica was first built in 828, and after the old church was destroyed by fire, reconstruction began in the 11th century. It was originally used to house the relics of Saint Mark and later stored various treasures brought back during the Crusades, making it an art repository with a rich collection. The church is primarily Byzantine in style, blending various architectural and decorative elements from Romanesque to Renaissance. Its facade features five Romanesque doors with diamond-shaped arches, topped with Oriental and Gothic spires, along with marble statues, reliefs, and floral motifs. The massive dome and dazzling mosaics are its most striking features. The church consists of five large domed main halls and two cloister-style vestibules, forming a giant Greek cross in its overall layout. The design of the five domes was inspired by the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, making it a highly representative Byzantine-style structure. In front of the church stand three flagpoles, symbolizing the three regions of Cyprus, Crete, and Morea that Venice controlled during its peak, bearing witness to the city's past glory. At the top center of the church stands a statue of Saint Mark holding the Gospel of Mark, with the winged lion symbolizing Saint Mark beneath it.

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area

Piazza San Marco

St. Mark's Square is unique among European city squares, being located in the city center, but not as noisy as other squares, thanks to Venice's quiet waterway traffic. As a Venice landmark, it is favored by tourists, photographers and even pigeons. Piazza San Marco has historically been the political, religious and festival center of Venice, the seat of all important Venetian government institutions, the seat of the Archbishop since the 19th century, and the venue of choice for many Venetian festivals. More than 200 years have passed since the style layout, this trapezoidal square on the edge of the Grand Canal still has its charm. The square is about 170 meters long, 80 meters wide to the east and 55 meters wide to the west. From New Year's Day to Carnival to Christmas, the Venetians host festivals big and small in Piazza San Marco, and even on normal days, people from all over the world flock to this square. There is a circle of exquisite Renaissance-style buildings on the side of the square. St. Mark's Basilica, the Mint, and the Doge's Palace are located on the east side of the square. On the south side are the bell tower and the new and old parliament buildings. Climbing the bell tower can overlook the whole square panorama. . On the west side is the Corell Museum, and on the back is a row of boutiques selling gold jewelry, glass, clothing, home decoration, etc. The storefront is not large, but the window design is very eye-catching. Between the Doge's Palace and the Venetian Prison on the other side of the river is the Bridge of Sighs, and between the square and the Grand Canal is the small Piazza San Marco, where you can see two tall columns standing on the river bank, one of At the top is the statue of San Marco's lion ready to fly. At the top of the other column stands a statue of the holy San Theodore accompanied by a crocodile, both patrons of Venice. During the day, the square is crowded with tourists, and there are groups of tourists everywhere, and large groups of pigeons are flying around the square. If you want to feed the pigeons, you can buy biscuits to feed them. If you encounter a black person who feeds pigeons and corn, don't take it. A small handful of rice is 10 euros. If you accept it, you can ask for money. However, white people generally only give 2-5 euros. If you see Asians in Italy, they will charge more. You can choose to stroll in the square, of course, you can also choose an outdoor cafe seat to sit and rest when you are tired. Although the restaurants and cafes in the square are very expensive, you won't mind because you can stop here for a while and let your eyeballs enjoy the feast of architectural art. The steeple church, Byzantine dome church, mosaic frescoes, marble carvings, and the elegant and elegant Doge's Palace next door are not to be missed. In addition, there are many street performers and mobile vendors in the square, selling some local souvenirs, the price ranges from 3-10 euros, you can buy some as souvenirs if you like. At the same time, the view of the square at night will not disappoint you. If you visit Piazza San Marco around 7:30 pm, you will be impressed by the sight in front of you. In each arch of the buildings around the square, there are lights emitting golden light, which illuminates the original white stone church with golden color, and the whole square is shrouded in a golden splendor. Some restaurants also have their own open-air LiveShow, and it is also a pleasure to watch a free performance here.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area

Doge's Palace

The Doge's Palace, adjacent to St. Mark's Basilica and facing the lagoon, was the political hub of the former Republic of Venice: serving as the residence of successive doges and housing legislative, administrative, and judicial bodies such as the Great Council, the Senate, and the Council of Ten. Originally built in the 9th century as a castle-like defensive structure, its current Gothic main body was constructed from the 14th century onward, suffering multiple fires over time. After two consecutive fires in the 1570s, architect Andrea Palladio proposed a neoclassical redesign, but the republic ultimately restored it to its original Gothic form, creating this masterpiece of delicate Venetian Gothic architecture. Since 1923, it has operated as a museum, with ceiling and wall paintings by Venetian School masters like Tintoretto and Veronese adorning its halls. The two facades facing St. Mark's Square and the lagoon are the signature features of this building: geometric patterns formed by white and rose-colored stone, with a massive solid upper wall adorned with flamboyant spires and traceried windows. Below, the two-tiered arcades and loggias appear light and airy—this unconventional "top-heavy, bottom-light" proportion is precisely what distinguishes Venetian Gothic style. The original medieval capitals and statues replaced during the facade's major restoration now have a dedicated exhibition area. The visit generally follows a fixed route. First, enter the inner courtyard: the north side is adjacent to St. Mark's Basilica, where you can look up and see the church's domes; on both sides of the Giant's Staircase in the courtyard stand the statues of Mars and Neptune sculpted by Sansovino, symbolizing the republic's power on land and at sea; embedded in the walls of the second-floor corridor are several lion-headed anonymous denunciation boxes, where reports were once dropped directly into the lion's mouth, and standing in the corridor, you can also overlook St. Mark's Square and the lagoon. The bronze cistern in the center of the courtyard is exquisitely decorated—fresh water was scarce in Venice, and the whole city relied on rainwater filtered into underground wells for use; it is said that water sellers used to come here specifically to draw water for sale. Then, go upstairs along the Golden Staircase: the staircase is named for its gilded stucco decorations, and at the entrance stand the statues of Hercules, who slew the serpent, and Atlas, who carried the earth on his shoulders; in the past, it was reserved only for nobles and VIPs. Upstairs, the rooms are lined one after another—the Four Doors Room, the Anticollegio, the Sala del Collegio, and finally the Great Council Chamber—with paintings and sculptures covering everything from the ceilings to the walls. In the Great Council Chamber, Tintoretto's massive "Paradise," inspired by Dante's "Divine Comedy: Paradiso," occupies almost the entire side wall; its sheer scale makes it one of the largest oil paintings on canvas, with layers of heavenly figures filling the composition. Another room is lined with world maps, featuring celestial and terrestrial globes on display. The latter part of the itinerary leads first through the armory, which houses medieval weapons and armor, then descends into the dim, underground prison cells, and finally crosses the Bridge of Sighs, built around 1600, to reach the New Prison on the opposite bank—a facility considered one of the earliest buildings in Europe designed specifically as a prison, with its name derived from the sighs of prisoners as they crossed the bridge.

2026 Europe 50 - Night Attractions

Gondola Ride

The Gondola Ride is a classic way to experience the charm of Venice's water city: boarding a slender, flat-bottomed traditional wooden boat, gliding slowly along the Grand Canal and narrow alley-like waterways, admiring the stone facades of palaces, old bridges, and water gates from the water's perspective—a view unmatched by walking or larger cruises. Gondolas were first documented in Venice as early as the 11th century; since 1562, local laws have required the boats to be painted black, with the black hull paired with an iron ornament at the bow resembling a comb—its teeth said to represent Venice's six districts—becoming its iconic feature. The boat also hides clever design: the entire vessel is built asymmetrically, slightly tilting left to counterbalance the force of the gondolier rowing with a single oar on the right stern, ensuring straight and steady movement. During the experience, pay attention to the contrast between the two waterways: the grand canal is wide and bustling, with palaces and bridges passing by in succession; after turning into narrow tributaries, the water surface quiets down, with the mottled traces of ancient walls close at hand. The gondoliers, mostly dressed in striped shirts, stand at the stern, maneuvering the boat through bridges and alleys with a single long oar, and some might even sing a few lines of a boat song when in high spirits; if you set sail during dusk, the sunset glow cast on the ancient facades creates an even better atmosphere. Though the entire journey is not long, it encapsulates Venice's daily aquatic life of "streets as rivers and boats as cars."

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area

Grand Canal

The Grand Canal of Venice is the main waterway in Venice. It is in an inverse S shape along the natural waterway from St. Mark's Basilica to St. Chiara Church, and is connected with many small canals. Much of the city's traffic travels through these waterways. The Grand Canal is an inverted S shape, winding from the Roman Forum in the northwest to St. Mark's Square. It is about 4 kilometers long, about 6 meters deep, and 40 to 100 meters wide. It is the most important traffic artery in Venice. There are more than 100 ancient buildings on both sides of the coast. Every September, there is a traditional regatta in Venice, which is a race of gondolas and other traditional boats on the Grand Canal.

Piazza dei Signori

Piazza dei Signori, located in Italy, is a historic leisure spot. In the center of the square stands a statue of Dante, with beautiful loggias and the tombs of the Scaliger family, a noble family of Verona, on the left, and the Palazzo della Ragione, now the town hall, on the right.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Metropolitan City of Venice

Centro Storico di Venezia

Centro Storico di Venezia is situated on an archipelago in a lagoon, where crisscrossing canals serve as streets and ancient bridges as roads. Walking and boating are the primary modes of transportation throughout the city. The weathered facades of palaces, brick buildings built right against the water, and countless small bridges together create the unique urban landscape of this city on the water. Piazza San Marco is the heart of the city's landscape. The golden mosaic facade of Saint Mark's Basilica, the adjacent bell tower, and the Doge's Palace showcase a magnificent level of architectural artistry. Traveling along theGrand Canalleads to the Ponte di Rialto. Standing atop the bridge, you can overlook the boats passing by on the water, while the traditional old shops on both sides still retain the vibrant atmosphere of daily life. Strolling through this city, weaving between winding water alleys, you will see exquisite small bridges and quaint courtyards everywhere. Traveling by boat along theGrand Canalallows you to appreciate the unique artistic and architectural charm of this historic city from a water-level perspective.

No. 4 of Night Attractions in Metropolitan City of Venice

Burano

Burano is a small fishing island in the Venetian Lagoon. The houses on the island retain their bright and striking traditional color schemes: small red, pink, orange, and green houses line the canals, reflecting in the water and creating a colorful, fairytale-like landscape. This place is not only famous for its colors but also has a long tradition of lace-making craftsmanship. Many related shops and exhibition venues are scattered throughout the streets and alleys, showcasing exquisite lace-making skills. Beside the square stands a historic church and a uniquely shaped leaning bell tower, adding a rich cultural atmosphere to the island. Strolling along the canals, the colorful buildings and quaint bridges complement each other. Here, nature and culture intertwine, showcasing the unique charm of the lagoon village and a leisurely pace of life.

Grotte del Caglieron

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Metropolitan City of Venice

Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs is a Baroque-style enclosed arch bridge. One end connects to the former interrogation rooms and courtrooms of theDoge's Palace, while the other end leads to the old prison. The entire bridge is built of white limestone, and the bridge body resembles a small house suspended over the canal. The arch shoulders are carved with reclining figures and lion heads. The interior passage is divided into two by a partition wall, allowing convicted prisoners and those awaiting trial to walk on separate sides. The name "Bridge of Sighs" was popularized by the poet Lord Byron. Legend has it that when prisoners were escorted across this bridge to prison after their trials, they would catch a glimpse of the outside world through the small stone-grated windows and let out a long sigh. Later films and television works added a romantic touch, making it a widely known cultural landmark. As an enclosed passage between the palace and the prison, the bridge's exterior is its main highlight. Viewing it from across the river on nearby bridges, or passing under the bridge arch in a gondola, allows you to clearly appreciate its exquisite carved details and unique historical architectural style.