The old town centre of Caorle is unique of its kind: its lanes and small squares, the millenary Cathedral, the beautiful multicoloured houses of the city centre welcome tourists with the genuine hospitality of a fischermen's town firmly bound to its tradition. In Vescovado Square raise up the Cathedral and the ancient cilindric bell-tower, which is reflected in the blue of the Adriatic. Very nice the archade around the small park of the square, where there are some frescos.
During the summer, many cultural activities take place in this square as well as the traditional processioni of the "Madonna dell'Angelo", during which you can watch the incredible "burning" of the bell-tower.
Moreover, very renowned is New Year's Day celebration: fireworks, mulled wine and live music all night long animate the square.

Caorle was founded in 40 b.C. as a commercial and naval port of Concordia Sagittaria and Oderzo. Therefore Caorle precedes Venice's birth, which was in the fith centuty a.D.. Roman finds are the evidence of the ancient roman origin of the island, also called Caprulae, Petronia, Insula Capritana or Caule. After the fall of the Holy Roman Empire in 476 a.D. and the begining of the barbaric invasions from the Alps, began a migration from hinterland to the lagoon, exactly to Caorle, to find a refuge. That migration caused a very high increase in population of the island, which was in need of a government. Therefore, in 480 a.D. was founded the first local government and in 876 d.C. the island was raised to bishop's residence. In 900 a.D. Caorle allied itself to the Republic of Venice and fought many wars. Thanks to the thriving trade it has been possible to build the Cathedral (1038) and the cilindric bell-tower (1070). The several wars, fought between the XI and the XV century a.D. caused a political instability. Famines and pestilences drastically cut down the number of Caorle's inhabits, which passed from 4000 in the XVII century to 992 in 1766. Just on the decline, the island became commune during the reign of Napoleone Bonaparte (1806-1815). In 1807 was abolished the bishop's residence, which gaved hospitality to 57 Bishops. During the nineteenth century there has been a slow economic recovery, thanks to a better use of arable lands and to the liberalization of the quinine, an antimalarial which let the population increase.

In 1854 was founded the Fischermens' Union, that brought together and organized local fischermens, to regulate fishing activity. At the begining of the twentieth century began a great reclamation of all the marshes around the island, which became fishing areas and arable lands. In that period were born several farmhouse, which grew till becoming big industries. In 1935 were finished the rock-fill dam, called "Sebastiano Chiarello" and the filling with earth of the street "Rio Terrà". Moreover, in that period started the urbanization: several buildings rose up, such as the primary school "Andrea Bafile" and the town hall. Then began also the turistic trade. During the '60s the number of tourists increase very much, so that tourism became the main activity of the island. Many public works has been made to meet new town planning requirements. In the '70s was born Porto Santa Margherita, a modern nautical and residential district, with a big port. The development of the touristic offer has been supported by the continous increase in italian and foreign tourists, who till today appreciate this peculiar fischermens' town, that, with its history, its colours, its tastes and traditions, envelope ourselves in an atmosphere of the past.