I will be in Treviso for a week next January. While I'll certainly go to Venice I don't want to spend all my time there as it will be my fourth visit. I am thinking of Trieste and possibly Slovenia for a day. Where else could I go in the area? (I've been to Padua and Verona)

If you like architecture, Vicenza is certainly worth a visit for the Palladio sites, including the Teatro Olympico.

There are also several small towns whose historical centers are interesting. Castelfranco and Cittadella are walled cities reachable by train as is Bassano del Grappa.

If you have a car or are willing to travel by bus, Asolo and the Palladian Villa at Maser are also good trips.

If you have a car, the Prosecco road runs from Conegliano to Valdobbiadene although I'm not sure about the weather in January or how much would be open.

Trieste is one of my favourite cities in Italy...very different from most others, very much influenced by being on the fringes of the old Austro-Hungarian empire. Also, home to James Joyce for a time. Very romantic atmosphere, interesting harbour, architecture, amazing funicular, great and very different food, charming beaches on outskirts...read Jan Morris' book: Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere for further inspiration.

Some people consider the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region to have the best gastronomy in Italy when it comes to the matching of wine with food, plus a fascinating cosmpolitan culture. It is high on my list -- at the top, actually -- of regions of Italy I want to go to. Can't advise about January, and it is hard to find information about the region, but you might get curious about the road less traveled and do a little internet research to see if there are good transportation connections between Trieste and Treviso.

Just in general, in January, I would stick to train travel. Fog as much as snow and ice could surprise you behind the wheel. You might consider heading to Bologna and it's environs (Ferrara?) since train connections there are simple.

Thank you all.

Notbob : I won't have a car but I'll keep Vicenza and Asolo!

LJ : It will definitely be Trieste for 2/3 days, the town has always attracted me and the train connections from Treviso are good (2 hrs 30). Would you consider a day trip to Slovenia?

Zeppole : thanks for suggesting Ferrara, it is easily doable by train from Treviso and I missed it last time I was in Bologna.

P: can't tell you about day trip from personal experience. We just fell in love with Trieste (and Muggia-see Jan Morris book)...spent a week there: James Joyce 'walk' with pub crawl with local expert, Italy's only acknowledged concentration camp tour (extremely moving-my only experience with such a place), funicular/train ride up to top of town with wonderful viewsand even greater lunch, tour of residential seaside palace of tragic duchess(very grand),tour of Illy factory (we are coffee nuts), just hanging out at cafes and on beaches-given your timing it is only the latter that does not apply.

LJ, thanks again, I'm taking notes ...

Vicenza is do-able on the train.