History of the province of Treviso
Provincial capital in the heart of Veneto
The origins of Treviso stretch way back into the past. The Romans granted it the town charter 49 BC, and in 396 AD it became a bishop’s seat. After a short period of Gothic and Lombard domination, Treviso became a free community which quickly rebelled along with allied cities in Veneto against the emperor. As the first Venetian city, Treviso came under the rule of Venice in 1339, and after a brief Austrian and French interlude it finally came under Italian rule in 1866. During World War II the city was the target of heavy bombing raids, which damaged or destroyed many of the historic buildings.
Treviso from antiquity to the Middle Ages
The territory of Treviso was first settled in the Bronze Age. The fertile soil and the abundance of water in the province of Treviso attracted many peoples to the region – such as Gauls and Romans. In 49 BC, Treviso, formerly known as Tarvisium, finally received the town charter and flourished under Roman rule and law for the first time. In 396 AD, the city was elevated to the status of bishopric. Under the Goths, Lombards and Carolingians, Treviso continued to flourish and became the capital of the whole region. After being destroyed by the Hungarians in 911 the city returned to strength again in 1164 and attained the status of a free commune. Nevertheless, Treviso joined the Veronese League and the Lombard league against the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa – thus it was that Treviso’s heyday began and the territory of the city was extended during this period.
Despite continuing prosperity, Treviso was unable to assert its power against the aggressive neighbouring cities. From 1237 on the city came under the rule of different Venetian neighbours. The Ezzelini from Vicenza, the Scaliger family from Verona and several other leaders shaped the destiny of the city. In 1339 Treviso was conquered by the Doge’s republic of Venice as the first city in the Veneto region.
Treviso from modern times until today
Under the rule of Venice, Treviso experienced a renewed period of relative stability and prosperity. In 1797 the Austrians assumed power in the province of Treviso and ruled Treviso with short French interruptions until 1866, when it became part of Italy. Treviso suffered at the hands of the Second World War as it became the target of heavy bombing and was almost completely destroyed. Thanks to excellent reconstruction and restoration works you can’t see the damage anymore today.
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