Mestre Practical Information

Connected to Venice by a road bridge and a large rail, the town of Mestre in Northern Italy is located in Veneto and is a part of the commune of Venice. The commune is made of Mestre and neighboring areas known as Marghera, Chirinago, Favaro Veneto and Zelarino. Mestre is currently the largest city within the country to be grouped into a commune with other areas and not granted an autonomous commune status.

Currency

The Euro is the official form of currency throughout Italy and Mestre is no different. Once your American dollar is traded for Euros, that form of currency can be used wherever you travel in Italy.

Language

The official language is Italian.

Transportation

Mestre is about 9 km outside of Venice. Mestre is connected to Venice by a bridge known by locals as the "Freedom Bridge."The number 2 train runs from Venice to Mestre. There are occasionally other routes available but you should double check those options before booking. You also have the option of booking a regional bus that will take you to just the borders to the city. If you need to travel further, you can purchase an add on ticket before boarding the bus. You can generally book travel online from the United States before leaving for your trip. www.trenitalia.it is a good site to visit.

History

Like many old cities throughout Northern Italy, Mestre has a rich history laced with legend. If you ask around, many will tell you Mestre's roots come from the hero Antenor. Antenor was a fugitive from Troy. Despite the romance of legend, the exact origin of the city is uncertain. Historically, the first mention of the city comes from an Imperial Diplomat. Currently, the city is a growing one. Mestre experienced a demographic growth in the 1960's-1970's after the development of a large industrial district in neighboring Marghera.

Attractions

Although still a small town, there are many attractions worthy of tourist interest in Mestre. One is the Torre dell'Orologio (Watchtower) erected in 1108. Other notable stops in the city include the 17th century Cathedral of St. Lawrence, the Palazzo de Re and Palazzo podestarile. Mestre also offers many parks with modern amenities such as basketball courts, skating rinks and swimming pools. Some parks offer a child sized train track for children to enjoy.

The Orto Botanico Locatelli is a small botanical garden also located in the city. The gardens are open from May-December and contain about 250 botanical species including a large collection of medicinal plants.

Connected to Venice by a road bridge and a large rail, the town of Mestre in Northern Italy is located in Veneto and is a part od the commune of Venice. The commune is made of of Mestre and neighboring areas known as Marghera, Chirinago, Favaro Veneto, and Zelarino. Mestre is currently the larges city within the country to be grouped into a commune with other areas and not granted an autonomous commune status.

Currency

The Euro is the official form of currency throughout Italy and Mestre is no different. Once your American dollar is traded for Euros, that form of currency can be used wherever you travel in Italy.

Language

The official language is Italian.

Transportation

There is a train station in Mestre. Mestre is connected to Venice by a bridge known by locals as the "Freedom Bridge"

History

Like many old cities throughout Northern Italy, Mestre has a rich history laced with legend. If you ask around, many will tell you Mestre's roots come from the hero Antenor. Antenor was a fugitive from Troy. Despite the romance of legend, the exact origin of the city is uncertain. Historically, the first mention of the city comes from an Imperial Diplomat.
In present day the city is a growing one. Mestre experienced a demographic growth in the 1960's-1970's after the development of a large industrial district in neighboring Marghera.

Attractions

Although still a small town,. there are many attractions worthy of tourist interest in Mestre. One is the Torre dell'Orologio (Watchtower) erected in 1108. Other notable stops in the city include the 17th century Cathedral of St. Lawrence, the Palazzo de Re, and Palazzo podestarile. Mesre also offers many parks with modern amenities such as basketball courts, skating rinks, and swimming pools. Some parks offer a child sized train track for children to enjoy.

The Orto Botanico Locatelli is a small botanical garden also located in the city. The gardens are open from May-December and contains about 250 botanical species including a large collection of medicinal plants.