 Antique seal of Treviso. |
| Antique seal of Treviso. |
The Marca Trevigiana
The region surrounding Treviso has been named Marca Trevigiana since the 10th century. Marca was the ancient name for a border region, like the Marca of Verona in the 9th and 10th centuries, ruled by Berengario Marquis of Friul, to which Treviso belonged. Treviso retained the name even after separation from Friul.
The reading on the ancient seal relates to the borders the Marca had at that time: the sea, the mountains, Pordenone's river and the river Musone, nearby Castelfranco.
In the 17th century Luca di Linda, in his book "Le relationi et descrittioni universali et particolari del mondo" dated 1672, so described the Marca Trevigiana:
"The Veneti, not considering the ancient map-makers, mean by Marca Trevisana the land of Treviso, Feltre and Belluno: it borders north on the Bishopric of Bertinone, on the land of Tirol, Trento and Vicenza; south on the land of Padua, and east on the Friul delimited by the river Livenza...
It has the rivers Sile and Piave...
It controls enough water to flood at will a large town or to turn away any great enemy...
Not far from Treviso at the Sile's estuary you can see the ruins of Altino, just like the miserable ruins of Equilia or Heraclea at the mout of the Piave.
Ceneda, under temporal and spiritual power of the pope, pays tributes to the Venetians, though others place it in Friul...
There is Oderzo (Opitergium) sacked by Atila; use to be on the sea front, but now is 30 miles away; razed by Rotario and by Grimoaldo Lombard kings, and rebuild many times.
Motta near the Livenza and Porto Buffolè 10 miles from Treviso.
Conegliano, part on hill and part on plain, with many inhabitants, beautiful houses and palaces, with high classed nobles and titled gentlemen owners of imperials feuds...
There is then Collalto, San Salvadore of Lords of Collalto, Castel Franco, Noale and Serravalle full of inhabitants, where you can find very good arms and bargains of any kind...
And the city of Treviso, still wholesome, though rich in water and rivers, which refresh the air rather than dampen it..."
The cities of the Marca were united in historical events by the natural water ways and roman roads. They enjoyed quite a good independence for many centuries, till they became integral parts of the Serenissima Repubblica of Venice (1388), whose destiny they followed for five centuries, until the unification of Italy.
Today, reading the historical signs through the territory of the Marca gives great pleasure to a sensitive and carefull tourist. Visiting its famous places takes you to the main historical role players: people and territory. An exceptional offer by the Province of Treviso to today's visitors is its life style, that can be shared through many events and resorts, as varied as the sites of the Marca.
