Treviso

Don't go thinking that Treviso is just another airport town that serves up coach loads of travelers to the UNESCO wonders of Venice. The home of prosecco, tiramisu and a clutch of prominent retail names, this well-off town has got plenty of draws of its own. As the Sile River drifts through Treviso, it weaves past arched bridges and centuries-old rowhouses that date back to the days of the Venetian Republic. The north side of town is where the culture lurks, between the arcaded Piazza dei Signori and the handsome Palace of Monte di Pieta, where babbling fountains serenade espresso drinkers in the cafes. Treviso tour guides are at hand to reveal the secrets behind the famous fresco churches here as well, not to mention the curious intermingling of Byzantine and Latin architecture in the Loggia dei Cavalieri. Add to that great shopping at the Via Calmaggiore that leads up to the Duomo, a taste of radicchio rosso di Treviso, and oodles of low-cost air links to the rest of Europe, and it's easy to see why Treviso is on the up!