A walking tour of Treviso today takes me past buildings showing fragments of frescoes that still adorn their facades.
The guide mentions that Treviso was known as the painted city. In the 15th and 16th centuries, buildings were covered with frescoes in designs from Venetian tapestries and textiles. Materials for applying frescoes were readily available: pigments and water applied to wet plaster. The frescoes have proven to be very durable.
A close up of a facade The natural colors from plants and minerals are still vibrant.
A painted ceiling in front of a store on the Treviso’s main street shows the same beautiful natural colors.
Many water-powered mills once worked throughout the city, taking advantage of Treviso’s canals.
Treviso’s tourist choo-choo train is nearly always full on weekends and holidays.
This intricate weather vane catches my eye.
The guide mentions that buildings in Treviso are built with the same foundations as in Venice, given their presence on the water. At one time cargo boats came right up to the building docks.
For the last few days, an arts and crafts fair has taken place in the Piazza Borsa. An artisan shows me her beautiful eco-print on a hand-woven linen pillow case. It’s interesting to see what other artists create with their eco-prints.
I consider one of these little bicycle lamps for my sister’s collection. So cute.
Tomorrow I’m off to the countryside with my Italian instructor and her boyfriend.