The birthplace of tiramisu, the rival of Venice; This city is the new trend of Italy!

Right next door to Venice, a city that is barely breathing under the weight of tourists and the pollution of its lagoons, another phenomenon is taking shape: Treviso. This historic city, whose airport most travelers pass through just to get to Venice, is now proving that it is possible to combine past glory with environmental sustainability. Treviso became the first Italian city in its category to receive the European Green Leaf Award. (BBC)

Photographer: Unknown / Alamy

Treviso, with a population of less than a hundred thousand, decided to be a model of progress; Not just a beautiful view. This “green revolution” includes bold infrastructure projects; From the conversion of an abandoned landfill into a huge solar park to the renovation of the sewage network, which has increased the connection of citizens to the treatment system to 64% and prevents pollution from entering the river.

Over the past seven years, Treviso has built miles of new bike paths to reduce car use and played a vital role in cleaning up the region’s air by planting 6,000 new trees.

Photographer: Unknown / Alamy

In addition, ancient water mills, used for centuries to grind grain into flour, have now been restored and power the central fish market. This commitment to clean energy is complemented by a €25 million project to convert all public lighting to LED bulbs to reduce energy consumption by 70%.

This green approach has also spread to the surrounding areas. In the UNESCO-listed Prosecco Hills, producers have turned to sustainable farming practices such as green manure and solar energy to face the challenges of climate change.

Finally, Treviso has an important lesson; This city is not only the birthplace of the famous tiramisu dessert; Rather, it shows that rich cultural heritage and traditional pleasures (such as good food) can and should be tied to an environmentally friendly future.

Photographer: unknown / valdor.it

Do you also prefer alternative and lesser-known cities to crowded tourist destinations? Share your thoughts with us and other Kojaro readers.

Cover photo source: Alamy Photographer: Unknown