Discover Venzone: defensive walls, cathedral and trails

Venzone combines a clearly laid-out historic townscape with cultural sites and trails in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a hotel in Venzone, you can first consider whether the fortifications and cathedral, the memory of the 1976 earthquake, or outdoor activities should be the focus of your stay. The following features show the different themes the town has to offer.

Defensive Ring and Cathedral

Venzone’s defensive ring has a circumference of about 1,300 metres and encloses the town in an irregular hexagon with fourteen inner insulae. Sixteen towers complete the structure. Four gates, positioned at the cardinal points, provide access to the citadel. Its circumference, basic shape, internal layout and number of towers make the structure legible as a spatially organised defensive system.

Despite extensive reconstruction, this defensive system remains the only surviving example of a 13th-century defensive ring in the area. The sculptor Maestro Giovanni worked on the northern portal of Venzone Cathedral in 1308. A virtual reconstruction of the cathedral follows the original building structure; architectural elements affected by collapses have been modelled in 3D, almost stone by stone.

Earthquake history and traces of earlier times

The Tiere Motus Museum is housed in Palazzo Orgnani Martina in Venzone and opened in 2009. Through photographs, videos and documents, it tells the story of the 1976 earthquake and the reconstruction of Friuli. The crypt of the cemetery chapel of S. Michele contains five mummified bodies dating from 1348 to 1881. The two subjects cover different historical periods: the museum focuses on the earthquake and reconstruction, while the bodies in the crypt date from an earlier period spanning several centuries.

Hiking trails and cycling route

The “Sentiero Natura delle chiesette di Venzone” is an easy hike close to the historic centre. It offers views of the surrounding mountains and the Tagliamento River. The “Anello di Pioverno” circular route starts in Venzone. After crossing the bridge, it follows the riverbank and passes through cool, shady woods. The route descriptions highlight different features: the Sentiero focuses on an easy hike near the historic centre and the views, while the Anello follows the riverbank through shady woods.

The cycling stage of the Alpe-Adria-FVG-1 route between Venzone and Udine starts in Venzone and heads south towards Gemona del Friuli. This means that, alongside the walking routes, information is also available about a cycling stage with a clearly stated direction.

Getting there and getting around

Venzone station is one of the stations from which various places can be reached by onward bus connections. Check the connections before travelling. The Route C102 train-plus-bike service also stops right at the station.

Discover more destinations: Chiopris-Viscone, Premariacco, Chiusaforte, Ruda, Fagagna, Pozzuolo del Friuli, Forni Avoltri, Marano Lagunare

For the main travel overview: Udine.