2nd ITINERARY The Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC zone lies in the hills that
extend along the border of the province of
Udine with Slovenia. The heart of the zone is
Cividale, the starting point for our two suggested itineraries. The
first leads northwest in the direction of Faedis, Nimis and Tarcento while
the second heads south east and passes through Manzano, San Giovanni al
Natisone and Corno di Rosazzo.
The marl and sandstone soil of the gently
rolling hills is terraced to provide an ideal habitat for viticulture.
Thanks to the natural shelter provided by the Julian Pre-Alps, the vines are
protected from the cold north winds.
In the The Colli Orientali are wineries where visitors
can taste and purchase wines, farm holiday and sports facilities, excellent
eateries, villages with many minor - and major - art treasures, and the
large vine and wine park, making this one of the most attractive and best
prepared parts of Friuli-Venezia Giulia for a relaxing holiday in the
countryside.
Typical products Gubana cake, sausages, cheeses, honey, grappa and spirits.
Typical dishes
Frico (fried cheese), salami cooked in vinegar, brovada e muset (cotechino
sausage with sliced pomace-steeped turnips), cjarsons (large pasta
envelopes), game and trout-based dishes. In the valleys around
Cividale, there are dishes of Slovene origin, such as zlicnjaki, small
dumplings made of flour and acquabizna, a turnip and potato soup. Sweets
include gubana and struki.
The Natisone river valleys, one of the wildest and most spectacular
areas in the region, afford a rewarding detour just outside Cividale. The dense woodland is dominated by the peak of Matajur,
the small hamlets have their own distinctive architecture and there
are art treasures waiting to be discovered, such as the sanctuary at
Castelmonte or the cave church of San Giovanni d’Antro. The valleys
have been inhabited since the seventh century by a Slav community
that has jealously preserved its traditions, language and cultural
heritage. The local food traditions are equally interesting and
unusual. Visitors can sample the fare at the A Tavola nelle Valli
del Natisone fair in autumn, when restaurants, trattorias and other
eateries offer characteristic seasonal menus.
Places to visit include Castelmonte, an ancient place of religious
significance mentioned as early as the twelfth century. Located on a
hilltop, the fortified mediaeval settlement has a monastery and a
sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin. At San Pietro al Natisone, the
Gothic church of San Quirino deserves a visit (1493). There are many
ancient chapels and rural buildings in the local architectural style
in the area. At Antro, the church of San Giovanni (fifteenth
century) is especially interesting as it is built partly inside a
cave
Local products
Gubana cake
Nature
Forra del Natisone da San Quirino ravine at San Pietro
Monte Matajur
Colli di Tribil di Sotto hills at Stregna
Fairs and events
Carnival - February-March
PREPOTTO
Prepotto is a small village, nestling among the vineyards, that is
noted for its wineries.
Vineyards and woodlands as far as the eye can see. Nearby is the
mediaeval castle of
Rocca Bernarda. The cylindrical corner towers still stand but
the castle was converted into a residence in 1567, and today is the
home of the
Rocca Bernarda winery.
Nature
Ravine and riverside beach on river Natisone (Firmano)
BUTTRIO
Buttrio is noted for its leading furniture and steel industry
companies but its hillslopes are also graced by a number of villas.
Places to visit include the church of Santo Stefano (fourteenth
century) and the church of Santi Gervasio e Protasio (thirteenth and
nineteenth centuries). Noteworthy residences are Villa Tomasoni
Todone (nineteenth century) and Villa d'Attimis Maniago (thirteenth
and seventeenth centuries). Other residences are Villa di Toppo
Florio at nearby Monte di Buttrio and, at Camino, Casa Linussio
(sixteenth century).
A delightful village located in a splendid position. The area boasts
a wealth of vineyards that extend from Manzano to Corno di Rosazzo,
and the premium-quality grapes grown here include the legendary
Picolit.
The Benedictine abbey is a must-see visit. Since ancient times, it
has had a fundamental role in the conservation of the viticultural
heritage and today is the home of a winery. It takes its name from
the wild roses that have graced it since time immemorial. What
remains of the vast mediaeval monastic complex that was home first
to the Augustinians and then to the Benedictines huddles today
around the church and its cloister, dedicated to Saint Peter
(sixteenth century) and decorated with remarkable frescoes.
Together with the neighbouring towns of Manzano and Corno di
Rosazzo, San Giovanni al Natisone forms the so-called “triangle of
the chair”, which turns out more than half of all the world’s
chairs. Vines are grown on the hillslopes. In the village, the
sixteenth-century church of San Giusto with its wooden altarpiece,
contemporary with the church itself, is worth a visit. At nearby
Dolegnano, Villa Trento is an interesting eighteenth-century noble
residence.
Corno di Rosazzo is the town with the largest number of wineries in
the Colli Orientali DOC zone. The streets, named after the world’s
leading grape varieties, testify to the town’s vocation. The
sanctuary of the Madonna d’Aiuto (eighteenth century) is worth
visiting. At nearby Noax is the church of San Giacomo Apostolo
(fourteenth-century frescoes), and at Borgo Gallo is the church of
San Michele Arcangelo (fourteenth, sixteenth and twentieth
centuries).
Courtesy of
Movimento Turismo del Vino - Friuli Venezia Giulia
