It was once a dull town, but then smartened itself up with good boutiques and designer shops. It is also a good base from which to visit Venice, which is only half-and-hour away by frequent trains. See the San Nicolo monastery, the 15thC Lombard Cathedral with Titian’s Annunciation in a side chapel, the 14thC Loggia dei Cavalieri with its arcaded cafés and the main street Via Calmaggiore with its Palazzo dei Trecento (‘trecento’ means ‘300’) where the old-time councillors, 150 nobles and 150 commoners, dispensed law and justice.