The gorgeous little city frozen in time - no tourists as they're all in famous neighbour

Thanks to its scenic canals, stunning architecture and incredible local cuisine, this tiny little city has earned itself the nickname "Little Venice."

It is only 25 miles from its big sister Venice but it a world away from the crowds that descend on the popular city. So if you are looking for canals, narrow cobblestone alleyways and pedestrian-only streets, stunning architecture, and only a 30 minute train ride from Venice, the little city in north-east Italy might just be for you.

You can even fly here directly from the UK should you wish to bypass Venice altogether or maybe just visit for a day trip.

This fortified town made up medieval and Renaissance buildings, situated in the north-east region of Veneto in Italy is also the home of everyone's favourite Italian desert -Tiramisu. Made from coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, and topped with cocoa, its name translates to "pick me up," a bit like this little gem of a city.

There is no shortage of restaurants that feature this decadent dessert on their menus. Supposedly invented in the 1960s at Le Beccherie restaurant, which today is operated by other owners, tiramisu made from the original recipe is still served.

The city is, of course, Treviso, an ancient city with a beautiful historic centre, lined with peaceful canals and a tranquil ambience.

At the heart of Treviso is its main square, Piazza dei Signori. Lined with beautiful palaces and historic buildings, it's a wonderful place to take a break, enjoy a glass of prosecco, a slice of the afore-mentioned tiramisu, and people-watch.

There is also a network of canals to explore. The Canale dei Buranelli is considered the most picturesque and iconic canal in Treviso and is actually a branch of the Botteniga River. The canal is named after the fishermen who came to Treviso from the Venetian island of Burano in past centuries to sell their catch.

The Botteniga river feeds in total five waterways that flow through or past the old town of Treviso: two that bypass the ancient city walls, one flowing left and the other right before they both join the Sile river in the south of town, establishing a "ring of water" around the old town; and three that flow right through the heart of old Treviso.

Criss-crossed with picturesque canals, this historic town offers great art and eating and plenty of walks along its fortified medieval walls that surround the old town.

Treviso is also a great cycling city. There is a municipal bike-sharing scheme, TVBike (€2 an hour), but serious cyclists should head to world-famous Pinarello. The Treviso manufacturer's bikes have been ridden by winners of the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.

Outside of the city there are fabulous places to walk and explore in the hills around Asolo and on Mount Grappa. Bordered to the north-west by the beautiful Dolomite mountains, the entire region is a prosperous flatland with a rich history of food, wine and architecture. Aside from prosecco and tiramisu, grappa and the area's famous risotto or roast goose are must tries.

According to Guardian Travel Treviso is spoilt for choice when it comes to markets. They write: "From Tuesday to Sunday mornings, seafood stalls on the Pescheria island in the Cagnan River and the adjoining fruit and vegetable market are filled with zero-km seasonal products, from chiodini mushrooms in autumn to late-harvest radicchio from November.

"An organic farmers' market is held three times a week in Piazza Giustinian, but most trevigiani do their shopping on Saturday morning at the sprawling street market outside the San Tomaso city gate. Stalls are loaded with cheap cashmere jumpers (bargain factory rejects from nearby Benetton, Sisley, Geox and Diesel) and a brilliant stand selling vintage linen and leather Tyrolean outfits. Check the food stalls for local specialities such as ubriaco, cheese aged in grappa, or tasty sopressa salami.

According to Maria and Andrew, an Italian/English couple who run the Italymammamia.com travel website: "Treviso is an absolute joy to explore. It's got much of the architecture and traditions of Venice without all the crowds. I love everything about this city, and I know you will too."

Better still you can fly direct to Treviso from the UK without flying to Venice and catching a 30 minute train, although this is possible too of course. Ryanair fly direct to Treviso-Sant'Angelo Airport (TSF) from London Luton. These flights take approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes and start at around £26 return. They typically have two flights a week, usually on Fridays and Sundays making it a perfect weekend city break destination.