Bassa Friulana

<< Friuli Venezia Giulia

The Bassa Friulana is the large low-lying area south of Udine, at the eastern end of the Venetian-Friulian Plain. While mostly rural, some towns offer interesting attractions, most notably Palmanova and Aquileia. The coastal area along the Adriatic Sea features the Marano Lagoon, and the seaside resort of Lignano Sabbiadoro.

Palmanova

Palmanova is a fortified town built by the Venetians in the 16th century and it is one of the best examples of Renaissance planned city. It was supposed to become an important regional center but it was not successful, and it has always been just a small town. Now tourists visit it for its incredibly well-preserved star fort, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

✪ Palmanova Fortress

Palmanova is surrounded by a nine-pointed star fort built by the Venetians starting in 1593 following the principles of the Renaissance ideal city, and later expanded. The well-preserved fortress is centered in the large hexagonal square called Piazza Grande and it features the three monumental city gates Porta Aquileia, Porta Cividale, and Porta Udine. Porta Cividale hosts a military museum with objects dating from the city’s founding until World War II.

Mortegliano

Mortegliano is a small town in the countryside of Friuli Venezia Giulia, south of Udine. It is best known for its housing the tallest bell tower in Italy.

Mortegliano Cathedral

The Mortegliano Cathedral (Duomo di Mortegliano) is a large Gothic Revival church built between the 19th and 20th century to replace the previous medieval church. While the cathedral hosts a few Renaissance artworks, it is famous mostly because of its bell tower. The Campanile of Mortegliano, built in the 1950s, stands at 113.2 meters, making it the tallest bell tower in Italy, slightly surpassing the Torrazzo of Cremona.

Codroipo

Codroipo is a town in Friuli Venezia Giulia located between Udine and Pordenone. It has always been a small village mostly used as a military and trading post due to its strategic position, and it emerged in recent times as a commercial center.

Villa Manin

Villa Manin is one of the largest Venetian patrician palaces, and it is located in Passariano, just outside of Codroipo. It was built during the 17th century and it was reworked several times. It includes a large park and two long arched exedras, while the interior hosts various artworks and decorations. This was the residence of Ludovico Manin, the last Doge of Venice, and Napoleon lived here for two months in 1797, during the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Campoformio and the dissolution of the Republic of Venice. Now Villa Manin hosts a museum and it is used as a site for important art exhibitions.

Aquileia

Aquileia is now a small town in the countryside of Friuli, but during late antiquity it was one of the largest cities in the world. Aquileia was founded by the Romans in 181 BCE, and quickly emerged as one of the most important cities in Northern Italy. It marked the end of the Via Postumia that started in Genoa and crossed all of Northern Italy, and the starting point of other roads toward Central and Eastern Europe. Already a center of arts and culture, with the advent of Christianity it became the capital of the Patriarchate of Aquileia. The golden age of the city ended when it was destroyed by Attila in 452, but Aquileia survived and was sacked again by the Lombards in 590. The importance of Aquileia slowly diminished over the centuries, losing its status of capital of Friuli to Cividale and finally becoming part of the Republic of Venice. Today Aquileia is renowned for its rich architectural, archaeological, and artistic heritage from the Roman and Paleochristian age.

✪ Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta is the historic seat of the Patriarchate of Aquileia. It was originally built in the 4th century over previous building, but the current church was erected in the 11th century in Romanesque style. The basilica hosts several artworks and archaeological remains from different eras, including one of the largest and oldest Roman mosaics in the world. Under the church there are two crypts, one of which is adorned with spectacular frescoes from the 11th or 12th century. The basilica is connected to an ancient baptistery and it features a tall bell tower.

✪ National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia

The National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Aquileia) is one of the most important museums of Roman civilization in the world. It features a large collection of Roman artifacts from the golden age of Aquileia, including sculptures, mosaics, jewellery, and other archaeological findings unearthed in the city.

Paleochristian Museum

The Paleochristian Museum (Museo Paleocristiano) focuses on the history of Aquileia as a religious center of Early Christianity. It features various artworks and archaeological findings including several mosaics and funerary monuments.

Archaeological Area of Aquileia

There are several archaeological areas scattered around Aquileia. The main sight is the Roman Forum, which still features some ancient columns and is surrounded by sections of Roman roads. Other important areas are the Porto Fluviale, the ancient river port, and the Sepolcreto, the Roman necropolis. Various other excavations around Aquileia have unearthed Roman houses and buildings.

Marano Lagunare

Marano Lagunare is a town located at the northern edge of the Marano Lagoon, which takes its name from this place. Originally a Roman city, it has been a small village for most of its history. It is known for its beautiful old town and the gorgeous and unique environment that surrounds it.

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is the heart of the old town of Marano Lagunare. This square hosts the Torre Millenaria, a clock tower probably built in the 11th century, while on the opposite side is Palazzo dei Provveditori, a historic 15th-century palace.

Casoni of Marano

The casoni are a peculiar kind of dwellings once used by local fishermen and unique to the Marano Lagoon and Grado Lagoon. A few casoni can be seen scattered around the islands in the lagoon.

Lignano Sabbiadoro

Lignano Sabbiadoro is one of the busiest and most important summer resorts on the Adriatic Sea, and a popular destination for both Italian and foreign tourists. It is located on a peninsula dividing the Marano Lagoon from the open sea, while the mouth of Tagliamento river is just to the west of the town.

Beach of Lignano Sabbiadoro

The beach of Lignano Sabbiadoro on the Adriatic Sea is one of the busiest and longest in Italy. Around the beautiful beach there are several hotels, bars, and restaurants, along with theme parks and various other attractions.