Cavallino-Treporti: Between lighthouses, the sea, dunes and the lagoon
The coast of Cavallino-Treporti is one of the most interesting stretches of the northern Adriatic. On the map, it looks like a straight line between the sea and the lagoon, but only when you visit it do you realise how varied the landscape is. In the north stands the Piave Vecchia lighthouse; in the south, the area opens up at Punta Sabbioni, where the Pagoda lighthouse stands. Between them stretches a fifteen-kilometre strip of beaches, dunes, pine groves, lagoon shores and remnants of military history in the form of batteries, bunkers and watchtowers.
Cavallino-Treporti is a town, administrative unit and tourist area. It includes several hamlets and small towns, such as Cavallino, Treporti, Ca’ Ballarin, Ca’ Vio, Ca’ Savio and Punta Sabbioni.
Piave Vecchia Lighthouse
The northern landmark of the coast is the Piave Vecchia lighthouse at the mouth of the Sile River. The original tower was built in 1846 by the Austrian administration. The current black-and-white tower is 48 metres high, and its light is visible up to 18 nautical miles (approx. 33.3 km). The site belongs to the Coast Guard and is not open to the public, but the surrounding beaches are among the widest in the area.
From here, the coastline curves southwards and gradually alternates open stretches with protected dunes and pine groves. It is precisely this diversity that characterises Cavallino-Treporti.
Cavallino: A town between the sea, the lagoon and history
Just a few minutes from the coast lies the town of Cavallino, today’s administrative centre of the peninsula. Here you will find the town hall, cultural centre and everyday life. In the summer season, traffic and visitor numbers multiply many times over. The name of the town recalls the historical horse breeding that took place here as early as the time of the Venetian Republic. The statue of a horse in the square still commemorates this tradition today.
Cavallino stands exactly between the lagoon and the sea. Short sandy paths lead to the sea, while on the opposite side, the lagoon opens up with wetlands, canals and small harbours. From here, roads also lead to the rural villages of Saccagnana and Treporti. You can also walk the entire route from the lighthouse in Cavallino to the lighthouse in Punta Sabbioni along the coast.
Cavallino-Treporti: Cycle path: La Via del Respiro
The lagoon borders the western side of the peninsula, and it is where the Via Pordelio cycle path runs, often referred to as “La Via del Respiro”. The seven-kilometre route, opened in 2021, follows the lagoon’s edge and in some sections even passes directly above the water. It offers views of wetlands, small islands and wide stretches of open water towards Lio Piccolo. It is considered one of the most impressive cycling routes in Italy, not only for its scenery but also for the subtle way it blends into the surrounding environment.
Ca’ di Valle: Long beaches and pine forests
Ca’ di Valle is the first settlement along Via Fausta. Most of the buildings here lie approximately half a kilometre from the sea and are separated from it by a wide strip of dunes and pine grove. As late as the mid-20th century, this area consisted of shallow ponds connected to both the sea and the lagoon, serving as a natural fish farm. The name Ca’ di Valle spread during the First World War, when it was adopted by military units deployed along the coast.
Today, Ca’ di Valle is a quiet coastal stretch with a long beach and a strong scent of pines, which form the characteristic transition between the sea and the inhabited part of the peninsula.
Ca’ Ballarin: The beginning of camping in the history of the Cavallino-Treporti area
Ca’ Ballarin forms a narrow strip between the lagoon and the sea. The historic core of Ca’ Ballarin lies by the lagoon area of Settecasoni, where casoni once stood – traditional rural and fishermen’s houses with reed roofs, typical of the Venetian lagoon. The newer part, developed after the Second World War, is predominantly residential.
The settlement is home to Union Lido, the oldest campsite on the coast, founded in 1955. It was one of the first large facilities of its kind in Italy and significantly influenced the form of modern tourism in the entire Cavallino-Treporti area.
Ca’ Pasquali
Ca’ Pasquali lies between Ca’ Ballarin and Ca’ Vio. Along Via Fausta, a number of red houses from the 1940s have been preserved, originally farmsteads that still define the appearance of this part of the peninsula.
On Via Pordelio, in the vicinity of the settlement, there are several slender telemetric towers – remnants of Venice’s defence system. They recall a time when the entire coast was strategically monitored day and night. Today, Ca’ Pasquali functions mainly as a quiet residential zone that naturally merges into the livelier area of Ca’ Savio.
Ca’ Vio: The lagoon within reach
Ca’ Vio is one of the largest settlements of Cavallino-Treporti. The inland part is connected with the traditional agricultural landscape, especially with vegetable fields along Via Fausta. Towards the sea, the area becomes a pine forest, home to several holiday complexes.
In the settlement stand the San Marco telemetric tower, the San Marco Battery by the beach and the Mandraccio barracks on the lagoon side. These structures demonstrate the importance of Ca’ Vio in the defence system of the First World War. The central landmark of the settlement is the small church of Sacro Cuore di Gesù.
Ca’ Savio: The centre of the southern part of the peninsula
Ca’ Savio is the largest settlement in the southern part of the peninsula. Its name dates back to the First World War, as do those of other coastal settlements. Important military structures here include Batteria Amalfi and Batteria Vettor Pisani. Amalfi in particular is one of the largest structures of its kind, and its design was based on naval models. Today, both batteries are accessible at least externally and serve as prominent technical monuments of the area.
Ca’ Savio is home to the town hall, local health centre and a number of shops. The coast here turns into a wide beach, followed by an extensive pine forest. Every Wednesday morning, a farmers’ market is held at Piazza Papa Giovanni II, offering products from Cavallino-Treporti and the surrounding lagoon villages.
Punta Sabbioni
Punta Sabbioni is the southernmost part of the peninsula, where the coast gradually opens towards Venice. The area feels calm and natural; the pine forests are deeper here, and the transition between forest and sea is longer than in the north. The character of the coast changes – the sea appears darker and more open, reflecting the currents at the lagoon’s entrance.
In addition to its natural part, Punta Sabbioni is an important landmark for the entire region. There is a harbour here that represents the main connection between Cavallino-Treporti and Venice. The surroundings are clearly laid out and serve as a hub for boat transport, cycle routes and visitors heading to the islands.
Pagoda Lighthouse: Southern landmark
At the very edge of Punta Sabbioni stands a lighthouse with its characteristic metal structure reminiscent of a pagoda. Construction began in 1882 and took almost three decades to complete. The lighthouse was later automated, and its light is visible up to fifteen nautical miles.
At the Pagoda Lighthouse, the coastline is protected by a short but massive concrete-block breakwater, which stabilises this exposed tip of Punta Sabbioni. The lighthouse symbolises the end of the coastal line from Piave Vecchia to this point – two places that form the natural northern and southern borders of Cavallino-Treporti.
Coastal fortresses: Batteria Pisani, S. Marco and Radaelli
In the first half of the 20th century, the coast was part of an extensive defensive line that protected the entrance to the Venetian Lagoon. Several structures recalling this chapter of history have survived here to this day. The best-known is Batteria Pisani – the only fortress now open to the public. Its construction shows the carefully considered placement of defensive structures between the sea and the lagoon.
The other two fortresses, San Marco and Radaelli, stand in quieter parts of the coast. Although they are not open to visitors, their massive shapes still complement the local landscape. Observation and measuring towers were also located in the area, which once ensured monitoring of the sea surface and transmission of data to the artillery batteries.
The lagoon: Saccagnana, Treporti and Lio Piccolo
The lagoon side feels completely different from the sea coast. While by the sea there is a wide beach and open space, the lagoon offers quiet paths, narrow embankments, wetlands and old settlements that grew up around fishing harbours. Within a few minutes’ walk, you find yourself in a landscape that has its own rhythm and is associated more with traditional rural life than with seaside bustle.
Saccagnana
Saccagnana is a small and quiet village with original rural buildings. Narrow roads and low stone houses create the atmosphere of a place that has preserved its historical appearance without major changes. From the surrounding paths, you can see the lagoon and the distant lines of islands and wetlands. It is one of the quietest stretches on the entire peninsula.
Treporti
Treporti is a harbour village that serves as a natural transition between the lagoon and the seaside of the peninsula. The small harbour, with boats heading to Burano and other islands, shows the former importance of this area to local inhabitants. The landscape is open and criss-crossed by water channels that change with the tide. Treporti also has a favourable position for observing lagoon sunsets, which attract photographers and cyclists here.
Lio Piccolo
Lio Piccolo is one of the most valuable and characteristic places of the entire Venetian ecosystem. It consists of narrow roads running between water channels, fields, small farmsteads, and wide wetlands that change throughout the day with light and water levels. The landscape appears inconspicuous but is extraordinarily diverse – numerous bird species live here, and many stretches recall the lagoon’s appearance centuries ago.
Lio Piccolo is also the place where one best understands how close Cavallino-Treporti is to the original rural hinterland of Venice. Silence, open space and the changing wetlands create an environment that contrasts with the tourist part of the peninsula and shows its other, often overlooked face.
Transport and connections
Cavallino-Treporti has regular, well-organised connections to Venice, the islands, and the mainland. From the entire area, you can use ACTV bus lines, which connect the individual settlements with Cavallino and Punta Sabbioni. From Cavallino and Ca’ Savio, there are direct buses to the harbour, from where boat services continue to Venice and the lagoon islands.
The most important hub is Punta Sabbioni, from which vaporetto lines depart for the Lido di Venezia, the historic centre of Venice, and the islands of Burano, Murano, and Torcello. Boats run year-round at regular intervals, more frequently in the summer season.
You can also reach the mainland via Jesolo, from where buses continue to Mestre and the airport. Marco Polo Airport is approximately 40 minutes away, and Treviso Airport is about 1 hour away. The journey can be combined by bus and boat, or the entire route can be taken overland.
Transport in Cavallino-Treporti is easy to navigate thanks to the peninsula’s simple layout. Most settlements lie along Via Fausta, from where both the coastal stretches and the lagoon side are accessible.
Conclusion
The coast of Cavallino-Treporti can be explored in sections or as a whole. Each part has a different atmosphere, light and rhythm. At one end stands the Piave Vecchia lighthouse, at the other the Punta Sabbioni lighthouse. Between them, the landscape changes from wide beaches through dune belts to lagoon silence. It is a space where the sea meets the lagoon, history meets the present, and tranquillity meets the bustle of Venice.
Settlements of the town of Cavallino-Treporti (overview)
Cavallino-Treporti consists of several local parts. Here is an overview of them:
- Cavallino – main tourist zone, campsites, pine grove
- Treporti – historic core, church, lagoon
- Ca’ Savio – large campsites, wide beaches
- Ca’ Ballarin – quiet coastal area
- Ca’ Vio – lagoon side, cycle paths
- Ca’ Pasquali – recreational area by the sea
- Ca’ di Valle – hotels, campsites, long beaches
- Punta Sabbioni – transport hub, lighthouse, harbour
- Lio Piccolo – historic lagoon settlement
- Mesole (Le Mesole) – countryside and old farmsteads
- Saccagnana – traditional lagoon locality
- Portosecco – quiet zone by the lagoon
- Pordelio – area around the canal and the new cycle path