Udine

Admire Udine from the top of its hill, where the castle stands. Following the legend, the hill was built with the ground transported by Attila's soldiers in their helmets, in order to create a rise, from which, their chief could see the city of Aquileia burning after his devastating crossing.

Looking at Udine, Friuli's capital city, from the hills where the historic castle stands, to the north you see the red roofs of the city and beyond to the crests of the hills and mountains that protect it, whereas to the south, less than an hour's drive away, there is the Adriatic Sea.

Imagine how it was in the 17th century, when Giambattista Tiepolo reached the height of his artistic maturity in this very city. His works can now be viewed in the Tiepolo Galleries (Palazzo Patriarcale), the cathedral and the church of the Purità.

The tajut: a good glass of wine in a friendly atmosphere
Udine is a pleasant, friendly place. In the late afternoon, after work, people often call in to one of the traditional osterias for un taj di chel bon, a good glass of wine in company.

Fascinating Venetian piazzas and fine old palaces
The series of old, brightly coloured, portico-lined piazzas between Piazza Libertà, "the most beautiful Venetian piazza on the mainland" and Piazza Matteotti (or Piazza delle Erbe) have all the atmosphere of an open-air sitting room, and are the very essence of the city.

Fine shops and craftwork
The fascinating city centre streets are full of fine shops and craft workshops (many of them specialising in Lombard-style gold items), historic cafes and osterias, all in a very human, cordial and hardworking atmosphere.

The best of the Friulian lifestyle
Friulian cooking, cultural events and traditional festivals (such as Friuli Doc), friendly B&Bs and historic hotels: Udine is an inviting place for an unforgettable holiday or weekend break.

Culture and museums in Udine
There are lots of museums you can visit in Udine such as the Gallery of Modern Art, the Project Galleries (in Palazzo Morpurgo), the Civic Museums and Galleries of History and Art with the Ciceri collection, the Archeological Museum, the Gallery of Ancient Art, the Drawings and Stamps Gallery and the Friulian Photography Museum.