Martellago
Martellago lies about fifteen kilometres northwest of Venice, in the belt of towns that bridges Mestre and the more inland stretch...
Updated 11 July 2026
The story
The story of Martellago
History and origins
The documented history of Martellago dates back to Roman colonization, when a pagus, a small rural village, stood in the area. In later centuries the territory experienced periods of decline during the barbarian invasions and periods of prosperity under the Republic of Venice, before becoming a modest industrial centre thanks to the watercourses that powered a paper mill, no longer active today but a reminder of a local economy once shaped by water power.
What to see
The church of Santo Stefano is documented as early as 1152, although the current building dates from the late eighteenth century. Martellago is also known for a few historic villas that belonged to noble families: the sixteenth-century Villa Grimani-Morosini, set in a park of rare beauty, and the eighteenth-century Villa Fapanni-Combi, restructured around 1815. Though modest compared to the grand complexes along the Brenta Riviera, they are examples of how widely Venetian villas were scattered across the mainland.
Nature and surroundings
The Parco dei Laghetti di Martellago is a natural oasis of about fifty-four hectares between the settlements of Martellago and Maerne, with green meadows, willow and poplar woods and small ponds: an ideal spot for a walk or a gentle bike ride, popular with local families.
Local life and economy
Today Martellago is mainly a commuter town within the Venetian belt, with a population that largely works in Mestre, Venice or the surrounding centres. The local economy rests on small and medium-sized businesses, neighbourhood commerce and services, within an urban fabric that alternates recently built residential areas with older village cores.
Getting there
Martellago is easily reached by car or bus from Mestre and Venice, along the roads connecting the city to the Treviso area, and it is only a few minutes from Marco Polo airport, making it a practical base for visiting Venice while staying outside the historic centre.
Experiences not to miss
- Passeggiare o pedalare nel Parco dei Laghetti tra Martellago e Maerne
- Walk or cycle in the Parco dei Laghetti between Martellago and Maerne
To see
What to see in Martellago
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Martellago
Jobs · JobFlow
