Bagnoli di Sopra – Friularo, Villas and History

Bagnoli di Sopra brings together Friularo and the history of its churches and villas. When planning your trip, you can explore these highlights individually: the wine region and rural route on the one hand, and religious architectural history and garden art on the other. Together, they offer an impression of the town’s different sides without reducing it to a single theme.

Friularo and Rural Routes

Bagnoli di Sopra is part of the Bagnoli Friularo DOCG production area. The Stradon del Vin Friularo offers another way to explore the wine country: the route passes through rural landscapes and by historic Venetian villas and historic wineries. Along the Stradon, visitors can sample Friularo and regional cheeses, including Grana Padano DOP, Asiago DOP, Montasio DOP and Provolone Valpadana DOP.

A guided tour with tasting is also available at the Il Dominio di Bagnoli estate, but only for guests staying there at the agriturismo. The tour includes a Friularo tasting; visits to the wineries, gardens, vineyards, Brolo and granaries are also offered. These represent different connections to wine: membership in the production area, a rural route with tasting opportunities, and a guided tour available to guests staying at the agriturismo.

Churches and Local History

The parish church of San Michele Arcangelo is mentioned as early as 954. The Chiesa di San Michele in Bagnoli di Sopra remains the seat of the parish; its bell tower dates from the 16th century. Its architectural form can also be described specifically: the large nave is rectangular with rounded corners, and there is a valuable marble altar. The early mention, its continuing function as the parish seat and its architecture are different historical aspects of the same church.

Another religious landmark is the old Chiesetta di San Daniele in “Bagnoletto.” It is considered the first evidence of Christian faith in the local area. Together, the two churches offer different historical points of reference: San Michele, with its early mention and present-day role as the parish seat, and San Daniele, with its significance in local religious history.

Villa Widmann Borletti: The Brolo and Garden Art

The Brolo of Villa Widmann Borletti includes vineyards, woods, two ponds and several clearings. A medieval wall surrounds the Brolo. The villa’s Italian garden contains 41 statues. Sixteen of them are made from the soft stone of the Colli Berici and were all created by the sculptor Antonio Bonazza; one statue bears the date 1742. The figures’ total number of 41 is distinct from the more specifically defined group of 16 Bonazza statues.

The garden and the Brolo bring together different elements: sculpted figures, open clearings, woodland, bodies of water and vineyards. Those interested in garden art will find specific artistic details, while those who want to focus more on the landscape can consider the listed features of the Brolo separately. Both are part of the villa’s grounds, but the statues should not be equated with all of the landscape features.

Watercourses and Landscape Protection

The landscape of Bagnoli di Sopra also includes the watercourses Sorgaglia, Sardellon, Nuova Fossa Monselesana and Fossa Monselesana. A municipal planning document from 2024 lists these four watercourses as being under landscape protection. This extends the local picture beyond churches, the villa garden and the wine route: the named waterways and their protected status are also part of the landscape you can discover as you explore the area.

Discover more destinations: Grantorto, Padua, Sarmeola, Terradura, Ospedaletto Euganeo, Cinto Euganeo, Conselve, Pontelongo.

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