Pordenone: Frescoes, Museums and the Noncello

Frescoed palaces, diverse collections and peaceful, nature-rich spots along the Noncello give Pordenone several facets. Art and city history meet in museums, churches and historic buildings; the river offers a contrasting landscape, just a few steps from the city centre. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether rail travel, visits to collections or time by the river are most important for your stay.

Getting your bearings in Pordenone

Pordenone is on the Venice–Udine railway line and is served by frequent regional and long-distance trains to Venice, Treviso, Conegliano, Udine, Gorizia and other destinations in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The railway station is the main interchange between rail services and local public transport. The historic city centre is about a five-minute walk from there. Check the current timetable when planning your specific journey.

The Noncello offers another perspective on your stay: quiet, nature-rich places for rest and reflection can be found near the river. Visitors who want to combine art, the environment and city history can follow the route of the Pordenone Musei network. It covers eight sections, is about 1.3 kilometres long and takes roughly an hour. These approximate figures can help you set aside time for it, without confusing the route with other walks around the city.

Collections and historic buildings

The Museo Civico d’Arte is located in Palazzo Ricchieri at Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, no. 51. Its collections span the Middle Ages to the present day, with panel and canvas paintings, drawings, frescoes, wooden sculptures, furniture, goldsmiths’ work and ceramics. The palazzo was first built in the 13th century as a fortified tower house near the river port on the Noncello, and was later transformed into a Venetian-style palace. A visit brings together artworks from different periods and the story of a building that has undergone several phases of development.

A different collection awaits at the Museo Archeologico del Friuli Occidentale, housed in the Castello di Torre. Its holdings include material from the Roman Villa di Torre, as well as medieval and Renaissance ceramics found in Torre and Pordenone. The Parco del Castello di Torre and the area around the Villa Romana are divided into three zones, connected by a bridge over the Noncello. Archaeological finds and the layout of this area offer different points of interest for visitors drawn to culture and history.

The Museo Diocesano di Arte Sacra spans the period from the 7th century to the present day, with a focus on works of local origin. These include frescoes and sinopias, paintings, glass objects, wooden and stone sculptures, silverwork, drawings, prints and liturgical vestments. The display arranges the works both chronologically by material and according to their intended use, presenting evidence of sacramental practice and religious devotion. Those interested in religious art can consider not only the individual objects, but also the different functions they served.

The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Silvia Zenari is located in the 16th-century Palazzo Amalteo in the historic centre. Its collections cover mineralogy, petrography, palaeontology, botany, zoology, ethnography and technology, with more than 90,000 catalogued specimens. For orientation, the museum offers high-contrast signage, tactile picture cards and audio content, as well as content in Italian Sign Language, Easy-to-Read language and augmentative and alternative communication, and augmented reality experiences. As these offerings may change, check the latest information before your visit if needed. The Galleria Harry Bertoia is accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments.

Frescoes, architecture and performances

Pordenone is known as the “painted city” and has palaces that are completely covered in frescoes. The route through the “painted city” is accessible to visitors with disabilities. The city’s architectural and artistic history can also be explored through its churches: the Neoclassical Chiesa di San Giorgio was built on an older structure dating to the 14th century. It preserves altarpieces by Gasparo Narvesa and Michelangelo Grigoletti, as well as frescoes by Tiburzio Donadon.

Construction of the Duomo San Marco began in the 13th century; it was later expanded with a large polygonal apse and six side chapels. Notable artworks include a stone portal by Giovanni Antonio Pilacorte, dated 1511, and works by Giovanni Antonio de Sacchis, known as “Il Pordenone”: these include the main altarpiece dedicated to Saint Mark, the Misericordia altarpiece, and frescoes of Saint Roch, Saint Erasmus and the Madonna and Child. The side chapels also contain frescoes by Giovanni Maria Zaffoni, known as “il Calderari,” and an altarpiece by Pomponio Amalteo.

The Galleria Harry Bertoia also brings art together with a historic setting: it is an exhibition space in Palazzo Spelladi, whose original structure dates back at least to the beginning of the 14th century. Its major temporary exhibitions are often devoted to author photography and designed as curated projects. The Teatro Verdi Pordenone offers another art form, with a programme of theatre, music, dance and opera. Its main hall can also host conferences and cinema screenings. During the pordenonelegge literary festival, events take place at numerous landmark locations around Pordenone.

Discover more destinations: Zoppola, Cordovado, Sedrano, Erto, Rauscedo, Cimolais, Carbona, La Croce, Frazione di Villa D'arco, Vito D'asio, Valeriano, San Martino Al Tagliamento, San Vito Al Tagliamento, Prata Di Pordenone, Andreis, Tramonti Di Sopra, Barcis, Pravisdomini, Fontanafredda, Montereale Valcellina, Spilimbergo, Travesio, Pinzano Al Tagliamento, San Quirino, Paludea, Polcenigo, Tramonti di Sotto, Arba, Cordenons, Cavasso Nuovo, Sequals, Pordenone, Porcia, Budoia, Sesto Al Reghena, Frisanco, Fanna, Pasiano di Pordenone, Maniago, Casarsa Della Delizia, Caneva, Azzano Decimo, Aviano, Brugnera, Chions, Vivaro, Clauzetto, Fiume Veneto, Sacile

Go to the main travel overview: Friuli Venezia Giulia.