Ghirano – River Landscape and History

Ghirano is shaped by the Meduna and Livenza rivers as well as by its architectural and local history. A walk to the confluence, historic traces and a seasonal festival give your trip different focal points. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the specific details about the route, duration and event.

River landscape and routes

The confluence of the Meduna and Livenza lies in the Ghirano-Tremeacque area. Two bridges cross it and are close to each other. The areas along the Livenza near Ghirano also belong to this river landscape: they were called Pra degli Angeli and are flooded when the Meduna is in spate. The water therefore shapes the landscape there under a specific condition, rather than as a permanent state.

A walk to the confluence starts at the car park in Ghirano’s square and returns there. It takes about three hours and has no elevation changes. It can therefore be planned as a separate activity; the stated duration and flat profile describe different aspects of the tour.

A proposal for a bicycle and walking route along the embankment crests of both rivers is part of a tourism-related rural development programme. The route’s described character includes significant views of the lower floodplain areas. The circular route between Sacile and Pasiano di Pordenone also reaches Ghirano and then continues for about two kilometres along an unpaved road. For the walk, the approximate duration is specified; for this cycling route, the length of the unpaved section is given.

Traces of local history

In the Middle Ages, the lords of Prata built a castle in Ghirano to control the river. The site of the fortification has since been identified. The castle disappeared completely as a result of the war of 1419; later, its site was used for a time as a quarry to supply the kilns of Rivarotta. The history of the river area can thus also be traced through changes to the castle site.

The free-standing bell tower of the Church of San Pietro e San Paolo Apostoli in Ghirano was built between 1947 and 1951. The square brick tower has a Roman-style clock face and four round-arched biforate windows. Its design can therefore be identified through several specific features: the free-standing tower, the brickwork and the division created by the rounded arches.

A work of art also connects Ghirano’s parish church with a wider historical movement. Gerolamo Savoldo’s painting “Annunciazione” was found there; as a result of the Napoleonic suppression of religious buildings, it had made its way from Venice to Ghirano. The painting adds the history of a movable work of art, whose origins reach beyond the town, to the architectural history.

The Floridi family built Palazzo Floridi in Ghirano in the 17th century as a three-storey manor house. The estate included a large park, barchesse and farm buildings. These elements convey different dimensions of the property: the manor house and other buildings, as well as the associated open spaces. Restoration procedures for the estate are under way.

A historic connecting route called the “stradon” linked the Floridi villa with Passo di Tremeacque. A document from 1719 attests to this connection. Thus, alongside the surviving architectural features, a historic transport link forms part of the town’s history.

A seasonal event

The Sagra del Baccalà takes place in autumn, between the last weekend of September and the first two weekends of October; the exact dates vary. The festival includes food and dancing and attracts visitors from a wider area. If you would like to combine it with your trip, check the exact festival dates in advance.

For the broader travel overview: Prata Di Pordenone.