Cavallino-Treporti has 15 kilometres of Blue Flag coastline, a string of historic villages, around 200 military fortifications from the First World War, cycle paths out over the lagoon, and a food culture built on freshly caught fish.
This guide covers the key facts about Treporti, how to get there, what to do, and where to eat.
Where and what are Treporti and Cavallino-Treporti?
Cavallino-Treporti is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Venice, Veneto.
It’s located on a narrow coastal peninsula that separates the northern section of the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. Bounded to the north-east by the River Sile, which divides it from Lido di Jesolo.
How to reach Treporti
There are several practical ways of getting to Cavallino-Treporti.
By car: Take the A4 motorway and exit at Venice (following signs for “Mare” or Jesolo), then continue along Via Fausta (the SP42), the main road that runs the length of the peninsula through Cavallino and Treporti to Punta Sabbioni.
By bus: ATVO operates services from Lido di Jesolo through to Punta Sabbioni, passing through Cavallino and Treporti along the way. This is a practical option if you’re already staying in Jesolo and want to explore the peninsula without a car.
By ferry from Venice: ACTV vaporetto lines 14 and 15 run from San Zaccaria (near Piazza San Marco) directly to the Punta Sabbioni terminal at the southern tip of the peninsula.
Main attractions and things to do
Cavallino-Treporti has more historical and cultural highlights than most people expect from a beach destination.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, Treporti
The village of Treporti is across the islands of Portosecco and the Church, connected by bridges over the lagoon channels. At its centre is the Church of the Holy Trinity (Chiesa della Santissima Trinità), dating to the 17th century.
Forte di Treporti and the Via dei Forti
The Forte di Treporti, also known as Forte Vecchio, was built by the Austrians between 1845 and 1851 to control the Bocca di Porto, the main lagoon entrance. It’s part of the Via dei Forti, a heritage trail that links the peninsula’s 200 military fortifications.
Lio Piccolo
Lio Piccolo is the oldest settlement on the peninsula, with roots going back to Roman times. The village has an unexpected religious history too, when in 1889, the Mekhitarist Armenian Fathers purchased the village and built the bell tower and rectory that still stand there today. The Mekhitarists are a Catholic Armenian monastic congregation based on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni in Venice, and their presence here gives Lio Piccolo a quiet distinctiveness you don’t find anywhere else on the peninsula.
Day trips to Venice and the lagoon islands
From Punta Sabbioni, ACTV line 14 also stops at Burano before heading to San Zaccaria in Venice, and connects onward to Murano and Torcello.
What are the best beaches in Cavallino-Treporti?
The coastline of Cavallino-Treporti holds both the Blue Flag for water quality and the Green Flag awarded by Italian paediatricians for family-friendliness. The sea slopes gradually and is mostly shallow close to shore, perfect for families with young children.
| Beach area | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Punta Sabbioni | Quieter, local feel | Direct ferry to Venice; lighthouse and breakwater nearby |
| Ca’ Savio | Natural dunes, pine forest | Less built-up; popular with nature-focused travellers |
| Marina di Venezia | Large, well-equipped | 5-star camping village; home of the Beach on Fire fireworks event |
| Cavallino (central coast) | Mix of equipped and free sections | Close to Via Fausta amenities and markets |
Local gastronomy and restaurants
The food culture in Cavallino-Treporti is rooted in what grows and gets caught here.
The sandy lagoon soil produces artichokes, asparagus (locally called sparasea), tomatoes and jujubes (zizole) that are sold at the weekly markets and served in local restaurants.
Freshwater and saltwater fish from the lagoon and Adriatic, such as sea bass, gilthead bream, sole, and mullet, are commonly on local menus.
What to eat
- Castraùre: The first bud of the purple artichoke, harvested in spring and specific to this lagoon area. Eaten grilled, in pasta or as a side.
- Fritto misto: Mixed fried seafood, a staple in every trattoria on the peninsula.
- Risotto di pesce: Seafood risotto made with whatever was caught locally that day.
- Spaghetti alle vongole: Clams from the lagoon, a popular option across the coast.
- Sparasea (green asparagus): A local crop grown in the sandy soil along the Jesolo–Cavallino road.
Where to eat
MangiaStorie opened in May 2024 in a glass greenhouse building and has quickly become one of the most talked-about restaurants on the peninsula. The menu is built around local fish and lagoon produce, much of it from the restaurant’s own vegetable garden in Punta Sabbioni.
Nature and cycling paths
The cycling infrastructure in Cavallino-Treporti is one of the better-developed on the Adriatic coast.
Best cycling routes
- Over-water path to Lio Piccolo: A 7-kilometre cantilevered cycle path over the lagoon, one of the longest in Europe, running from near Punta Sabbioni towards Lio Piccolo.
- Via Fausta coastal route: The main road through the peninsula has a dedicated cycle lane for much of its length, connecting all the main villages from the Sile river mouth to Punta Sabbioni.
- Saccagnana canal path: A quieter inland route along the canal running between Treporti and Lio Piccolo.
- Ca’ Savio to Cavallino: Through the pine forest behind the dunes, connecting the natural dune area at Ca’ Savio with the central part of the peninsula.
Birdwatching and lagoon wildlife
The northern lagoon is a designated natural area and a productive spot for birdwatching. In spring, flamingos appear regularly in the shallow northern lagoon areas. The lagoon itself is part of the wider UNESCO World Heritage Site covering Venice and its lagoon, designated in 1987.
Book your visit to Cavallino-Treporti today
Treporti and the wider Cavallino-Treporti peninsula offer a combination you can’t find elsewhere.
Agenzia Lampo offers properties along the Cavallino-Treporti peninsula that put you within easy reach of the ferry terminal, the cycle paths, and the markets in Treporti and Cavallino.
Browse the full range of Jesolo and Cavallino accommodation options and book your stay on the Veneto coast today.
