Follina: Abbey, textile history and cycling routes

Follina is one of the 15 municipalities in the Prosecco Hills, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. Several themes come together here: the Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria di Follina, the history of wool and silk, religious traditions, and cycling routes through the hills and along waterways. If you are looking for a hotel in Follina, you can use the reason for your trip as a starting point. First consider whether cultural history, religious tradition or cycling will shape your stay; each focus leads to different travel plans.

Abbey, sanctuary and pilgrimage

The Abbey of Santa Maria di Follina was founded as a Cistercian monastery. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Follina is a Romanesque-Gothic building. An annual pilgrimage from Alpago is associated with the sanctuary and takes place on Pentecost. The monastery’s history, the building’s style and the pilgrimage offer three distinct cultural perspectives. Pentecost places the pilgrimage within the annual calendar and gives it a specific time reference. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, check the exact date in advance.

Textile history and historic buildings

Wool and silk processing flourished in Follina until the 18th century. Palazzo Barberis Rusca was built in the second half of the 17th century by Francesco Fadda as the finishing point of his cloth factory. The Serica della Marca silk mill continues the monks’ centuries-old tradition of silk production. A map from 1600 records a building with two water-powered wheels in the area now occupied by the old metal workshop. The historical perspective spans different periods: the map entry dates from 1600, the palazzo was built in the second half of the 17th century, and wool and silk processing flourished until the 18th century.

Cycling in Follina

For cycling, you can choose between mountain bike routes of varying difficulty and gentler cycling paths through the hills and along waterways. Your choice therefore depends on your preferred style of riding: mountain bike routes with varying levels of difficulty, or more relaxed cycling on paths through the hilly landscape and beside waterways. Each option offers a different focus for your plans.

Procession and mountain run

A procession takes place every year at the Chiesetta di S. Clemente for the feast of Saint Clement. The Marcia dei brac is a non-competitive mountain run held in April and has been taking place for almost 30 years. The events differ in format and timing: the procession is part of the feast of Saint Clement, while the run takes place in April.

This timing is important when planning your trip: the pilgrimage takes place at Pentecost, the procession is held for the feast of Saint Clement, and the Marcia dei brac takes place in April. If you would like to plan your stay around one of these events, check the exact dates before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Zero Branco, Montebelluna, Fregona, Collalto, Villorba, Bonisiolo, Conegliano, San Vito

For the broader travel overview: Treviso.