Manzano: Chairmaking, Nature and Wine

Manzano brings together chairmaking, nature and local produce. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Manzano, you can plan your stay around specific interests: the chairmaking tradition shapes its culture and history, trails and hills add to the landscape, and nearby wineries invite you to sample their wines. The Abbey of Rosazzo and the natural area along the Natisone are also among the named places to visit.

Landscape and trails

The Parco del Natisone is an important breeding area for birds. The stone-covered areas provide nesting grounds for the Eurasian stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus); the dry grasslands are home to breeding tawny pipits (Anthus campestris). The two species are associated with different parts of the landscape. This gives the park a specific nature theme without reducing its birdlife to a single area.

The riverbed of the Natisone can be reached by unpaved roads branching off from the village of San Nicolò. If you include this area in your plans, take the condition of the access roads into account: unpaved roads are described, but no specific walking time or mode of travel is given.

The hills around Manzano are ideal for walks, with trails running between vineyards. The Sentiero della Sdricca is a medieval trail that passes through lush woodland and sunny vineyards. The Sentiero delle rose follows a different route, running along the grounds of the Abbey of Rosazzo. The trails therefore offer different landscape experiences: woodland and vineyards on the one hand, and the abbey grounds on the other.

Crafts, architectural history and events

In Case di Manzano, Palazzo Romano stands on the remains of an older manor house. A crenellated perimeter wall surrounds the palazzo and encloses a park as well. The estate thus links the memory of the former manor house with a clearly defined architectural boundary; the park is explicitly part of the walled grounds.

The birthplace of the Friulian writer Caterina Percoto (1812–1887) is in the center of San Lorenzo. The house dates from the 17th century, making it older than Percoto’s lifetime. This difference in dates makes the building’s history and the writer’s biography two distinct points of reference for the place.

Chairs and tools also represent local craftsmanship: the municipality of Manzano has both a historical and a modern collection on the subject. The regional context is provided by the so-called “Triangolo della sedia.” Manzano is one of its three original municipalities; the other two are Corno di Rosazzo and San Giovanni al Natisone. The production community originally specialized in chairmaking. The collections showcase craft objects, while the name of the Triangolo connects this former specialization with several municipalities.

The event calendar includes a variety of formats. The Gimcana della Sedia is considered a traditional event held as part of the Festa della Sedia and is an obstacle race for historic carriages. The first Settembre Manzanese took place in 1971. The Pro Loco Manzano marked its founding with the event and organized a late-summer festival intended to bring together the local districts and associations. The year refers to the first edition; it does not imply a fixed date for a visit today.

Wine, olive oil and vinegar making

Olive oil production has deep roots in Manzano, dating back to the 11th century. Visitors can tour numerous wineries in the surrounding area and sample their products alongside local specialties. Wine is therefore not only part of the landscape: the tastings mentioned pair wines with regional dishes.

A local acetaia offers the opportunity to learn about the age-old art of vinegar making. Together, these themes offer different ways to explore regional production: olive oil is associated with a long history in Manzano, nearby wineries offer visits and tastings, and the acetaia is dedicated to traditional vinegar making.

The Abbey of Rosazzo: opening hours and guided tours

The Abbey of Rosazzo is open from 30 March to 25 October 2026. From Monday to Friday, opening hours are 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, it is open from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. If you are traveling outside this period, check the opening hours before your visit.

Guided tours of the abbey and the Sentiero delle rose are available on request and with advance reservation. Confirm the reservation details before you arrive. This allows you to plan the abbey’s opening hours and the conditions for a guided tour separately.

Discover more destinations: Nimis, Gemona Del Friuli, Stregna, Coseano, Socchieve, Ovaro, Codroipo, San Daniele Del Friuli

For the wider travel overview: Udine.