What is Venzone known for?

Leveled by the 6 May 1976 earthquake, the entire walled town was reassembled by anastilosis using the original fallen blocks. Five naturally mummified corpses in the San Michele crypt, the cause of preservation still unexplained four centuries on. Voted Italy's most beautiful village by RAI's Kilimangiaro program, recognition of the post-earthquake reconstruction.

Venzone is a comune in the province of Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, about 40 kilometers from Udine.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia · Udine

Venzone

A 230-meter walled medieval town in the Tagliamento valley, leveled by the 1976 earthquake and rebuilt stone by stone, winner of Borgo dei Borghi 2017.

40 km / 25 mi

Nearest hub (Udine)

1,939

Population

May–Oct

Best time to visit

Recognised as

Why come

Venzone sitsin the upper Tagliamento valley, ninety kilometers northwest of Trieste. The hexagonal walls, double-built and eight meters high, were started in 1258 by Glizoio of Mels and circled by a moat and fifteen towers. The town survived intact into the twentieth century, the best-preserved walled town in Friuli. On 6 May 1976 the Friuli earthquake leveled it: forty-seven residents died, the duomo collapsed, almost every house came down. The reconstruction took the rare path of anastilosis, recovering each fallen stone and putting it back where it had been. The Duomo di Sant'Andrea Apostolo, erected in 1308, was reassembled by 1990. In the crypt of the San Michele Chapel are five of the mummies of Venzone, naturally preserved corpses found from the 1600s onward, their preservation still unexplained. The town was voted Borgo dei Borghi 2017 by the RAI program Kilimangiaro.

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Gallery

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Known for

Duomo di Sant'Andrea Apostolo
Cathedral built in 1308, destroyed by the 1976 earthquake and reassembled stone by stone by 1990 using the original blocks.
Cinta muraria
Hexagonal double walls eight meters high, started in 1258 by Glizoio of Mels, surrounded by moat and fifteen defensive towers.
Mummie di Venzone
Five naturally mummified bodies preserved in the crypt of the San Michele Chapel, found from the 1600s onward, cause of preservation still unknown.
Centro storico
Walled medieval core rebuilt by anastilosis after 1976, recognized as the best-preserved fortified town in Friuli.
Festa della Zucca
Pumpkin festival held every fourth weekend of October, with the centro storico set as a medieval village for the occasion.

When to visit

Best months · May–Oct

Best
Hot or crowded
Quiet
Mostly closed

May through October is the window when the Tagliamento valley is reliably warm and the walls show best against green slopes; winter brings cold air sinking off the Carnic Alps and shortened hours at the duomo and mummy crypt. The Festa della Zucca in late October stages the centro storico as a medieval village and draws crowds from across Friuli. July and August can be hot at midday; the valley cools sharply after sundown. November through April most accommodation runs at reduced capacity and the duomo closes earlier. The light on the rebuilt façades is sharpest in autumn, when the surrounding forests turn.