Venzone 2024: Italy’s Enchanted Medieval Village in the Julian Alps
It may be the imposing backdrop of mountains covered with woods, or the rather hallowed silence that envelops everything in the quietest hours of the day; it could be the stone buildings that tell of a rich but simple history. The truth is that Venzone was designated a National Monument in 1965. Set in the greenery of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the province of Udine, little village of about 2300 people stands 230 meters above sea level.
Venzone is located at the confluence of two important valleys: the Tagliamento, which leads to Carnia, and the Val Canale. In addition, the municipal territory is part of the stunning Julian Prealps Natural Park.
The town is home to the headquarters of the 8th Alpine Regiment and provides opportunity to explore and enjoy the exquisite silhouettes of Italy’s largest mountain range, all of which await discovery.
What are the must-see attractions in Venzone?
However, the local charms begin in the city’s heart, with monuments and buildings going back to the Middle Ages. The Cathedral of Venzone, which was built on the foundation of an earlier cathedral from the early fourteenth century and dedicated to Sant’Andrea Apostolo, was partially destroyed by a strong earthquake in 1976 (the Florence earthquake) and later beautifully rebuilt. Archaeological finds around the church point to the presence of a modest religious edifice as early as the sixth century.
Glizoius of Mels extended the edifice in the mid-12th century, and thirty years later, Patriarch Bertrand of San Genesio consecrated the first church of Sant’Andrea in 1308. The current cathedral was then dependent on the parish church of Gemona until Pope Boniface IX decided to establish it as a parish on the condition that the parish priest of Venzone pay 25 ducats per year to that of Gemona.
During the church’s expansion in 1647, workers discovered approximately twenty mummified bodies in good condition. The bodies were preserved because of the soil’s peculiar makeup, which included calcium sulfates, as well as the presence of a water-draining fungus. The mummies, known as the ‘Venzone Mummies’, date from the 14th to 19th centuries and are housed in a building just a few steps from the cathedral.
Palazzo Comunale
Other interesting local landmarks include the fortified city’s old gates, particularly the Porta di Sotto and the Porta di San Genesio, as well as the majestic Palazzo Comunale.
Among the civil buildings, Palazzo Orgnani-Martina, Palazzo Scaligeri, and the exquisite Palazzo Zinutti are noteworthy, while the churches of San Giovanni Battista, Santa Caterina, and Sant’Antonio Abate stand out.
Several scenes from notable films, like A Farewell to Arms by John Huston and Charles Vidor in 1957 and The Great War by Monicelli in 1959, used the village as a background due to its dramatic aspect and surrounding scenery.
Into the Wild
The natural surroundings, with its startling, wild, and rugged beauty, is equally intriguing to observe in peace and quiet. The densely forested mountains are home to typical Alpine wildlife such as ibex, roe deer, chamois, and even occasional lynx and bear. It is no surprise that the protected area of the Natural Park grows surrounding the town, one of the few in Italy where the enormous animals that previously roamed these mountains still exist. The lovely Laghetto Pelas in the Borgo San Giacomo hamlet is ideal for a calm and renewing walk.
Events, festivals, and fun things to do
Despite the quiet and serenity that pervades these locations, Venzone should not be mistaken for a lonely and idle mountain community. There are plenty of opportunities to have fun, sample the delights of local cuisine, and enjoy the company of the village’s residents; for example, in the spring, with the Feast of San Giuseppe and the Children’s Illustration Exhibition, and in the second half of October, with the unmissable Pumpkin Festival. During the celebrations, musicians and jugglers, knights and ladies in medieval costumes, pilgrims, and beggars throng the village, transporting us back in time. However, the pumpkin remains the indisputable star, adorning the village in orange and providing a delicious meal in local restaurants. Finally, on the second Sunday of each month, an interesting antique market takes place here.
How to Get There
To go to Venzone, you might consider several options. Train passengers can follow the Udine-Carnia-Tarvisio line, while vehicle passengers can take the A23 Tarvisio-Udine motorway and exit at the Gemona-Osoppo toll booth, then continue on the SS13 Pontebbana for about ten kilometers. The nearest airport is Trieste, 76 kilometers distant.
When is the best time of year to visit Venzone?
Before traveling, remember to carry an umbrella or raincoat, as Venzone’s subcontinental climate provides copious downpours with an annual average of 2000 mm of rainfall. Winters are cold, with an average temperature of roughly 2.5°C in January, while summers are hot, with an average of 21.6°C in July.
