Since 1965 Venzone has been declared a National Monument as the only fourteenth-century fortified village in the region and, subsequently, one of the most extraordinary examples of restoration in the architectural and artistic fields. In 1976 a series of seismic events managed to bring the wonderful medieval village to its knees, seriously damaging it, but the courage and tenacity of the Friulian man prevailed over the force of nature... #tuttitaly
You cannot go around Friuli without stopping in Venzone, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, which enchants you with its charm but its history.
We were looking for a place to have dinner, so we stopped in Venzone—the right choice.
During our dinner at the "Locanda del Municipio," listening to the stories of the inhabitants of how they rolled up their sleeves to rebuild the village after the 1976 earthquake further enriched our experience.
Before stopping for dinner, since we were slightly early, we managed to tour the village to visit the lovely Piazza del Municipio and the Duomo.
What to visit
The characteristic municipal building overlooks the square, built between 1490 and 1510, following the taste of Venetian architecture. The small photographic exhibition dedicated to the city and the earthquake is housed at its entrance.
The Cathedral, dedicated to Sant'Andrea Apostolo, dates back to 1300. Built-in white stone, it was almost leveled to the ground by the 1976 earthquake and rebuilt following the anastylosis technique: it was rebuilt piece by piece according to the motto "as it was and where it was" thanks to the photographic archive that Venzone possesses as a National Monument since 1965.
The Cathedral has a Latin cross plan and has some 14th-century frescoes inside.
Near the Cathedral, it is possible to visit the Crypt of San Michele, a circular building that houses five mummies. The Venzone mummies, discovered in 1647 in the Cathedral, have been preserved thanks to a natural mummification process following the presence of a mold. Of the five, the most famous is the "Hunchback," dating back to the 1300s. The other four bodies date back to the 1800s and 1900s.
Walking along the main street in the center, we come across Palazzo Orgnani Martina, home to the permanent exhibition Tiere Motus: it tells of the earthquake and the people of Venzone.
We also come across a razed building. It was a church, later deconsecrated. It remained there, perhaps to remember the past.
Gastronomy
Among the delicacies of the area: the Frico, a dish made with cheese of various ages, potatoes, and onions.
