One of the best places to visit in northern Italy is Mestre, a town in Veneto. Mestre family travel is just not complete without a visit to the various local villages. Mestre is actually the mainland suburb of Venice, with other towns near it: Favaro Veneto, Zelarino, Chirignago and Marghera. Although it is the largest, it is also by far the only city in Italy that is not within the level of an autonomous commune.

Train Station

Mestre is known for its large train station made of rail and road bridges, named Ponte della Liberta, or Freedom Bridge. The train station serves as a point for transition for all commuters coming out of and going into Venice.

Orto Botanico Locatelli

Orto Botanico Locatelli is a must-see for families visiting in Mestre. It is located at Via Francesco Baracca 86, and is open to the public from summer to the early part of fall, particular from May to October. Visitors are entertained on Sunday evenings. Unlike typical botanical gardens, Orto Botanico Locatelli has a lot to say about merging botany and ecology. A visit to the garden can provide the family a great opportunity to enjoy the cool northern Italian evening breeze and get to know different species of plants. There are at least 60 species of medicinal plants to learn about. The garden also features Venetian landscape by highlighting various trees, shrubs, fruits, vegetables and even some indoor and outdoor decorative plants.

St. Lawrence Church

Italy is known for its majestic cathedrals. The 17th century Cathedral of St. Lawrence is a highlight church in Mestre. Be sure to visit it for a grand architectural and spiritual experience.

Torre dell'Orologio

Part of learning about a town is one's interest in its history. Give your family an entertaining history lesson about Mestre by visiting a watchtower which dates back to 1108, known as the Torre dell'Orologio. Merge your learning about history with an education and fun-filled tour around the artistic and culturally rich points of interest in Mestre, namely Palazzo da Re, Palazzo podestarile and the Provvedaria.

Any town in Italy is best explored on foot, and Mestre is no different. The city of Venice is quite accessible through a few minutes of driving or a short train ride. Visiting the above spots will surely make your Mestre family trip memorable.