While Venice’s mainland suburb of Mestre has a history and character all its own dating back to medieval times, it owes its growth and fortune to its more powerful offshore neighbor. Unfortunately, it’s everything Venice is not: modern, industrial and cheap. But while they may not compare to the romantic canals of Venice, Mestre does have attractions of its own, including the Torre (Tower) dell'Orologio and the Duomo (Cathedral) di San Lorenzo, located on its town square, Piazza Ferretto.