Sights in Udine

Udine (the castle)

Udine is situated in northeastern Italy between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps. Settled since Neolithic times, it exudes much of the charm and beauty often associated with Italy.

In the middle of the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, historically Udine has served as the capital of both Friuli and the Patriarchate of Aquileia. Like many of the areas of Italy, Friuli has its own distinctions of culture, and Udine possesses many interesting sights of interest connected to its culture and past.

Piazza della Libertà

As the main square, many sights of interest are contained within the Piazza della Libertà , which features some breathtakingly beautiful architecture.

Loggia del Lionella , the town hall, was built in the Venetian-gothic style between 1448 and 1457, and although the building is an acquired taste, the courtyard renders it worth a lingering look. Travelers can keep an eye on how long they have been lingering by glancing at the Torre dell’Orologio , the clock tower which rises opposite.

The square also boasts an impressive fountain designed by Giovanni Carrara, and the Renaissance structure, Loggia di San Giovanni .

Santa Maria della Purità and Udine Cathedral

Santa Maria della Purità was entirely rebuilt following its destruction by an earthquake in 1511, but the church has been influenced by several eras. It lost its parish status in the late thirteenth century when it became the annex of what later became the cathedral, but Santa Maria is still noted for its eighteenth century frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo.

The Cathedral of Udine began to be built as long ago as 1236, and it was finally consecrated in 1335. As is ordinary of Italian cities, one family greatly influenced the cathedral. The Manin family began a major renovation of it in the eighteenth century, and the Baroque interior is adorned with many works of art.

The Castle and The Palazzo Patriarcale

The castle within Udine was built in the early to mid-sixteenth century by the Venetians, who influenced many of the city’s structures, and the castle contains one of the oldest parliamentary halls in Europe.

The Palazzo Patriarcale is the former residence of the Patriarchs of Aquileia, once feudal rulers of the region, and it was later used as a prison by the Austrians.

Parks and Gardens

The gardens of the city are chiefly representational of its more recent past with Orto Botanico Friulano being established in 1951 to house collections of local flowers and Parco del Cormor , which was not created until the first years of the 1990s. It features woodland, lawns, footpaths, and a children’s playground.