A salon in Venetian style signed by Tiepolo

Udine is a tranquil town and a flourishing trading centre with luxury shops mostly situated in via Rialto.

The heart of Udine is Piazza Libertà (Square of Liberty) where its main monuments are located: 

- the white and pink coloured Loggia del Lionello, erected in 1448, is a splendid example of Gothic-Venetian style;

- the Statua della Pace (Statue of Peace) was given as a gift to the town by Emperor Frances 1st on the occasion of the Treaty of Campoformido; 

- the two Moors (1850) which strike the hours on the Clock Tower. 

From Piazza Libertà, along the Gothic-Venetian style frescoed colonnade, we can get up to the hill of the Castle. Legend tells that from this hill Attila looked at Aquileia on fire.On the top of the hill the Castle stands out: it is an elegant palace in Renaissance style situated in the greenery of hedges and creepers. It was destroyed by a fire in 1511 and rebuilt in 1517-1595. 

From via Mercatovecchio (Old Market), with its characteristic colonnades where shops and cafès are located, we arrive to Piazza Matteotti - St. Giacomo seat of important events such as the antique fair (held on the first Sunday of the month) and Friuli DOC (held in October) an international fair whose main role is played by the typical products of the region. Both events are surely not to be missed.

Going in search of Giambattista Tiepolo’s paintings is an interesting route of visit. 
Start with the imposing Duomo, the main church of Udine (its oldest part dates back to 1335) whose interiors in baroque style offer precious works by the painter. 
Continue with the near Oratorio della Purità (Oratory of Purity) where the fresco of “Assunta", one of the best artist’s masterpieces, is displayed. Then go to Palazzo Arcivescovile (Archibishop’s Palace) magnificently frescoed by Tiepolo in 1726-28 and to the Salone del Parlamento (Parliament Hall) of the Patria del Friuli. 






- Surroundings

The cities near Udine are all treasures to be discovered.

Cividale del Friuli, seat of the first Lombard kingdom in Italy, lays in the Natisone river Valleys, an uncontaminated naturalist area. Many are the Lombard manufactures to be seen and among them surely not to be missed the Lombard Temple with decorations of the 7th cent. and choir-stalls of the 15th cent.

On the Feast of the Epiphany the Mass of the Sword is held in the main church of the city, while the Palio of St. Donato is organized in August and Mittelfest, an international music and theatre festival, in July.


The Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) dating back to the 15th cent., is the symbol of Cividale. It rests on a rock that, as legend tells, was thrown by the devil himself.
Near Cividale it is worth a visit the Sanctuary of Castelmonte, destination of many believers.




Palmanova, the star-shaped city, was erected in the 17th cent. by the Venetian Republic as counterfort against the Turk. 
Acknowledged as national monument, it represents a rare example of fortress-city: it has preserved the original star-shaped plan and is enclosed by a threefold circle of fortified walls, with three imposing gates and sunburst-streets winding towards the centre constituted by an hexagonal square. 
In July Palmanova organizes the Rievocazione Storica, an event that makes the historical atmosphere of four hundred years ago come to live. 



Codroipo is located in the area of DOC wine production and comes to live in October when the fair of St. Simone is held.
Southwords an area of remarkable naturalist interest: the Parco delle Risorgive (Karst Springs Park). 

Near Codroipo, in the little city of Rivolto, there is the air base of Frecce Tricolori , the Italian Acrobatic Air Patrol known all over the world.

As well, in Passariano, Villa Manin, a sumptuous palace of the Cinquecento used as Summer residence by the Venetian Doge and Napoleon’s residence in 1797 during the Treaty of Campoformido. The villa, surrounded by a luxuriant park, is open all year round and is seat of important displays.



- How to arrive in Udine


By road: motorway A4 from Latisana toll-gate and then motorway A23 direction to Udine.

By rail: from the railway station of Portogruaro.By bus from Latisana. 






For further information click on:

Comune di Udine 

Provincia di Udine

Udine's theatre

Trenitalia