Culture of Mestre. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Mestre is a scenic Italian city favorable for cruising on foot and exploring unique landmarks and sights and enjoying beautiful streets. The Piazza Ferretto square is the heart of the city. The square is commonly a starting point of may touristic routes and tours. There is the highest in the city watch tower Torre dell’Orologio. All the city guests may get up to the observation platform and enjoy a vibrant panoramic view of the city and its scenic suburbs. All the landmarks are in full view from the platform. Not far from the square tourists will find an ancient park named San Giulliano, aged more than a hundred years. It has turned to an established place of holding of different music events and fests and street performances which take place in Mestre almost every week. During weekdays city residents and guests give preference to quiet serene rest in the greenery of aged trees. The scenic park is considered to be the most remarkable sight of the city.

During park exploration the tourists will come across the Ponte della Liberta (Bridge of Freedom) which joins Mestre and Venice. The historical part of the city is as well of the greatest attraction for tourists. Its territory has preserved lots of architectural landmarks of different epochs. The St. Lawrence Church is one of the most remarkable sights among them. The church was built in the 17th century and appears to visitors in its initial look and state at present.

The church features plenty of religious artifacts the age of which counts in centuries. The city tour should also include a visit to the Palazzo da Re building which presents a consonant fusion of various architectural styles and trends. Dramatic art connoisseurs will like the Toniolo theater set not fat from the central square of the city. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The theater regularly holds first nights of theatrical and opera performances and a pompous building which hosts the theater is an important architectural landmark of the city. Tourists who will lack the sights and landmarks of the Mestre city should join a tour to Venice. Those looking for a more privatized and serene recreation should set off to country towns which have managed to preserve numerous historical landmarks and sights as well.

Connoisseurs of art (contemporary art in particular) will love Mestre where themed exhibitions are often held in museums and art galleries. It has many cultural institutions with permanent exhibitions of works of fine and sculptural art. Among art galleries and museums, Galleria Massimodeluca, Galleria Contemporaneo, as well as D'E.M stand out. Those who want to learn more about how Italians lived in the 20th century must visit the Museo M9 where most of the exhibits are interactive. These include household items, memorabilia, jewelry, photographs.

Forte Marghera, a wonderful monument of the 19th century, is a fortress that played an important role in the defense of the region. Interesting holidays and festivals are often held here today. Before visiting the attraction, find out whether an interesting event is being held here now, if you want “to kill two birds with one stone” - visit a symbolic place and attend an interesting event at a time. The complex is a museum with artillery weapons, a completely restored fortress, as well as restaurants and bars. It is surrounded by beautiful green landscapes. There is also a small town for stray cats where visitors are always welcome.

Another monument interesting for tourists is Duomo di San Lorenzo Martire, the main Catholic cathedral in Mestre. Today, the building features a neoclassical design, which was acquired in 1805 when it was last reconstructed. However, there have been various churches on its site since 1152. Another impressive religious monument is Chiesa di San Girolamo, which was built in the 18th century in an eclectic style (combines Gothic and Baroque) on the site of an older church, the first mention of which dates back to the early Middle Ages. Tourists visit this church not only for the rich history and beautiful facade but also for its magnificent interior decoration.

A vivid example of Neo-Romanesque architecture is Parrocchia Santa Maria Immacolata di Lourdes, which attracts tourists with its cozy atmosphere and, most importantly, beautiful appearance as if saying - the place is worthy of a visit. Chiesa dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio restored at the beginning of the 20th century is considered one of the oldest buildings in the Veneto region. The current neo-Gothic appearance of the religious attraction was designed by the architect Giovanni Baptiste Meduna 1912.

A beautiful monument of the Art Nouveau architecture is Cinema Excelsior, a cinema built at the beginning of the 20th century where locals and tourists go to watch new movies. Before that, be sure to take a couple of minutes to explore the attraction itself. Those interested in theatrical performances are encouraged to visit several other cultural institutions besides the already mentioned Toniolo Theater - for example, the Teatrino della Murata or the Teatro Corso. Before that, it is worth checking out their repertoires, of course.