Follow us on this thrilling holiday in Udine to discover one of Friuli's largest urban centres, a tranquil and welcoming city.
Udine is a compact and tranquil city where life follows the slow pace of the artificial canals that run through it. The historic centre made up of ancient palaces, churches and buildings from various eras is surrounded by more modern residential areas. Piazza della Libertà is the heart of Udine, where some of the most beautiful buildings in this city of Friuli stand and where the Loggia del Lionello towers over the city. A highly fascinating building in Venetian Gothic style, it was erected around the early 1400s and was named after the goldsmith who designed it. On the other side of the piazza you can see the elegant Arcade of San Giovanni under the shadow of the Clock Tower with two Moors that strike the hours, while the imposing 16th-century castle towers in the background. The Clock Tower, which is part of the Loggia di San Giovanni, is quite similar to the one on Piazza San Marco in Venice.
For those who love painting, Udine is a real goldmine. Scattered throughout the churches and palaces of the city, the works by Tiepolo number as the stars. From the Salone del Trionfo dei Cristiani to the castle interior, from Palazzo Arcivescovile to the Chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento, and more still, to the city cathedral: you can pick whatever you'd like. But Udine isn't just Tiepolo. The Gallery of Modern Art seated in the city theatre building hosts a truly rich collection of 20th-century works, including some paintings by Braque and Picasso.
The city of Udine is dominated by its castle which has undergone restoration time and time again after suffering various damage. You can get to Piazza Libertà through the Bollani Arch with a winged lion at the top, built based on the design by the Veneto architect Andrea Palladio. Conceived for defence, in the centuries of its greatest splendour the castle took on various functions, from a prison to a barracks, not to mention its role as the seat of the town hall. Today it stands proud as one of Europe's oldest castles. What's more, it includes the salon of the Parlamento della Patria del Friuli which dates back to the 13th century. Another good reason to visit Udine is definitely its flavours. This city is full of taverns. Pick the one you like best on Piazza Matteotti, the city's meeting place, among the rows of open-air tables that offer typical dishes of traditional Friuli food paired with the ever-present glass of Tajut. On the first Sunday of the month you just can't miss the traditional antique market.
But Udine isn't the only gem of the plains of Friuli. Indeed, some of the most important medieval and Renaissance centres of the entire region are a few kilometres from the city of Tiepolo. Small farm villages and fortified cities tell the story of the territory of Friuli during the Lombard era and over the course of the Venetian domination. These are places of great artistic, architectural and urban interest, some of the most interesting of which are Palmanova and Cividale del Friuli. Don't lose another minute. Check out our holiday packages to Udine now and get ready for a new unforgettable adventure!
