Explore Magical Mestre, in Venice
Much as tends to happen with any major European city, the attraction of Venice is so strong that pretty much all the surrounding region gets sucked into its vortex. With its distinctive configuration, where most roads are replaced by canals and historic sites, the city is understandably a hotspot for tourists travelling to Italy each year.
And yet, as much as the town itself tends to overshadow, the road from Venice airport to Venice does hold a few pleasant surprises for tourists willing to take a detour on their way into the city. While the suburbs of the Water City are not much different from those found on the outskirts of any other major European capital, they nonetheless possess a uniquely Italian charm, which, in and of itself, makes them worth a visit.
The Mestre Example
A perfect example of this is Mestre. Tucked away halfway down the route from Venice airport to Venice, this charming and quaint town dates back to medieval times, although its moment in the spotlight came after the main city became an international tourist destination, in far more recent times. Nowadays, Mestre stands out as perhaps the most interesting of the mainland Venetian suburbs.
Despite the heavy industrialisation and modernisation it has been subject to in recent decades, and which contributed to strip away some of its character, the town nonetheless managed to retain some of its pre-modern age charm, reflected in its two main historical buildings. Both the Torre Dell'Orologio (clock tower) and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo are indicative of what a medieval or Renaissance-period Mestre would have looked like, and are well worth a visit by tourists passing by on their way from Venice airport to Venice.
Another positive aspect of this small but charming town is the fact that it serves as a perfect alternative to the centre of the city for tourists on a budget who want to save a little money on accommodation. With frequent and perfectly acceptable links to the city itself, Mestre can serve as a quaint home base for visitors to the area looking for a slightly different place to stay in.
Boasting a good selection of film screening rooms and theatre venues, as well as parks and a diverse choice of places to eat, Mestre therefore asserts itself as a charming little suburban town, well worth a visit by foreigners travelling from Venice airport to Venice on their shuttle transfers.
And yet, as much as the town itself tends to overshadow, the road from Venice airport to Venice does hold a few pleasant surprises for tourists willing to take a detour on their way into the city. While the suburbs of the Water City are not much different from those found on the outskirts of any other major European capital, they nonetheless possess a uniquely Italian charm, which, in and of itself, makes them worth a visit.
The Mestre Example
A perfect example of this is Mestre. Tucked away halfway down the route from Venice airport to Venice, this charming and quaint town dates back to medieval times, although its moment in the spotlight came after the main city became an international tourist destination, in far more recent times. Nowadays, Mestre stands out as perhaps the most interesting of the mainland Venetian suburbs.
Despite the heavy industrialisation and modernisation it has been subject to in recent decades, and which contributed to strip away some of its character, the town nonetheless managed to retain some of its pre-modern age charm, reflected in its two main historical buildings. Both the Torre Dell'Orologio (clock tower) and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo are indicative of what a medieval or Renaissance-period Mestre would have looked like, and are well worth a visit by tourists passing by on their way from Venice airport to Venice.
Another positive aspect of this small but charming town is the fact that it serves as a perfect alternative to the centre of the city for tourists on a budget who want to save a little money on accommodation. With frequent and perfectly acceptable links to the city itself, Mestre can serve as a quaint home base for visitors to the area looking for a slightly different place to stay in.
Boasting a good selection of film screening rooms and theatre venues, as well as parks and a diverse choice of places to eat, Mestre therefore asserts itself as a charming little suburban town, well worth a visit by foreigners travelling from Venice airport to Venice on their shuttle transfers.
Source...