When we think Venice We think of the lagoon and islands, of an aquatic city crisscrossed by canals, one of the tourist pearls of Italy. But do you know Mestre? Mestre It is on dry land, facing the Venice that we all know.
Let's see today what Mestre is like, what we can do there and if it is worth taking the time to get to know Mestre.
Mestre
We said it, it is a town that belongs to the municipality of Venice, but is on the mainland. It is very different from Venice, has grown in a disorderly manner from the second half of the XNUMXth century, and its people do not identify with those of Venice itself. One of the reasons is that Its population does not live from tourism but from the industrial center of Marghera.
You can think of Mestre as something that It is the complete opposite of Venice: It is a modern city, sometimes dirty, sometimes ugly, with car traffic and quite ordinary. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages but was always overshadowed by the glory of its neighbor. As it did not have any lagoon that could protect it, it was always at the mercy of attacks and looting, so fIt has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.
In the 20s, Mestre was absorbed by the Venice Commune and lost its status as an independent city. Later it became a magnet for immigrants, and in the '20s and '30s people came to work in its large port and in the industrial complex that was being developed at the time on the shores of the lagoon, in Porto Marghera. Even some people from Venice began later, in the '60s and '70s, to move to the mainland.
That, plus the fact that it did not have its own government, made its urban growth disorderly and without any guidance it took on a shape without beauty. Today the population of this suburban area is three times larger than that of the island of Venice. It is a typical Italian cityWhere people live in modern apartments or houses, there is space for children to play, drive cars or ride a bike. It doesn't flood, there are no masses of tourists and there are jobs outside the world of tourism.
Mestre sits on a plain, on one of the margins of the Venetian lagoon, and It connects to the famous city through the Liberty Bridge. This bridge was designed in 1931 and inaugurated by Mussolini himself in 1933 with the name Littorio Bridge.
It was built almost entirely next to the 1842 railway bridge, and after the end of World War II it was renamed the Liberty Bridge. This bridge then has 3850 meters and has two lanes in each direction and also bicycle lanes.
The truth is that although Mestre does not make a living from tourism, like its neighbor, for some time now it has become increasingly important for the travel industry. The thing is has lower pricesbasically.
Remember that you must arrive in Venice by car, train or bus since even if you take a plane, the airport is not on the islands but on the mainland. Thus, everything crosses the Liberty Bridge and Mestre becomes the gateway.
Arriving by bus or car from Mestre to Venice you arrive at the Santa Croce neighborhood, the only one that authorizes the circulation of vehicles. Keep in mind, also, that both cities have their own train station so don't get confused. The one in Venice is called Santa Lucia, the one in Mestre is called Venice. You can get to Mestre by train, stay there which is cheaper, and you are only 15 minutes by train from Venice.
Tourism in Mestre
We then agreed that Mestre is cheaper and conveniently well located and connected to Venice. But is it interesting in itself or will we only use it as a starting point for classic Venetian excursions?
It has something for us and we can dedicate a couple of days to it. For example, the Ferretto Square is the heart of local social life with its shops, cafes, pubs, bakeries and taverns. Local life beats here every moment of the day. Square It is pedestrian and around it there are many historical buildings, including Church of San Lorenzo, from the XNUMXth century, with the Civic Tower, clock tower, and at the end of the square itself the most important monument of the city: part of the original medieval fortifications.
Walking through the city's historic street is another tourist moment: the Palazzo street where the house of the postdesta, the former governor of the city. Today the street is full of restaurants, bars, cinemas and clubs.
Another interesting street is San Poerio, which has undergone a lot of renovation in recent years by reopening to the Marzanego River and repaving. Another historical and interesting site is the Fort Marghera, one of the oldest and most majestic of the Campo Trincerato forts. Its construction began with the first Austrian domination in the 50th century and was completed later by the French. It occupies an area of XNUMX hectares and today is the headquarters of the Marco Polo system, hosting various events and exhibitions carried out by the government of the city of Venice. It also houses the Museum of Typical Boats.
The San Giulano Park is the largest urban park in Europe, From the edge of the lagoon you can see the historic center of Venice and if it is not cloudy you can see the Dolomites in the distance.
You can reach this park by car, walking from the center of Mestre or by tram. From the center the walk is along the banks of a small river called Osellin that reaches the lagoon. You reach the park by crossing a pedestrian bridge or a charming alley called Viale San Marco. There is vegetation, a gentle slope, the edge of the water, you will see people sailing, birds...
You can have a good time enjoying food or drinks in the Mestre docks, in the Laguna Palace, the point where land and water meet. For more nature you can go into the Mestre forest, a compendium of different areas that have been linked by "green corridors."
Finally, among other things they recommend do in Mestre You can also go shopping at Legrenzi Court, visit the M9 to learn about the history of Italy in the XNUMXth century, go out at night and enjoy a night of jazz at Al Vapore, a place that opened its doors in 1936, go up to the Hybrid Tower to eat or drink something on the 17th and 18th floor, with Mestre at your feet, or finish the day with an aperitif in the Galleria Matteorri, under its arches.
Finally, if you like the idea of saving a few euros and staying here in Mestre, I tell you that to go and come to Venice, that is, cross the lagoon, you can take a bus which will leave you at the Venice terminal, Piazzale Roma. The buses are ACTV and the most convenient is bus 4 which crosses the bridge, enters Mestre along the Corso del Popolo and passes Piazza 27 de Octubre. For his part, the train It is another useful alternative, avoiding traffic. The station in Mestre is a short distance from the center, which is why the buses always leave you better.