Villa Gorgo and Piccolo Opera Festival

Art & Culture Slow Tour

7 August 2018

Art & Culture Slow Tour

Villa Gorgo and Piccolo Opera Festival

Recently I had the opportunity to visit a park and a beautiful country house in a small village in Friuli. A place dear to me because I have heard a lot about it from my father, who was born and raised in that village. The place is Villa Gorgo and is located in Nogaredo al Torre, near San Vito al Torre, in the province of Udine. The villa is eighteenth century, to be precise dated 1755, and is located near the Torre torrent. The Villa takes its name from the first owners: the Gorgo family, which arrived in Nogaredo attracted by the opportunities that the Serenissima offered to increase its power in the area. Accounts say that for a long time it was a place of transit and exchange, due to its proximity to an ancient Austrian customs house (now in parlous state). It is also said that the Villa hosted, among others, Pope Pius VI on his journey to Vienna and saw Napoleon passing very close who, legend has it, slept in the house of a farmer in the village. There is also the memory of the passage of the Emperor of Austria, Archduke Joseph II, the protector of Mozart, who stopped here on 11 March 1784, on his way back from his long journey to Florence, Rome and Naples, on a visit to the kingdoms of his brothers. The Villa is one of the 345 places registered by the ERPAC (Regional Body of Cultural Heritage) and was recognised as being of historical importance in 1922. This was then re-confirmed in 1977. As for the architecture of the building, it is a villa of typically Venetian style as visible in its tripartite facade. The building has been rebuilt and restored over the years because of a fire, as told by Paolo Tomasella who guided the public during the visit. At the front and back there are two large gardens and parks. The one at the back of the Villa from which, via a staircase, one can reach the first floor of the building, boasts a large number of magnolias that bring a little shade. The stairway is part of a modernisation and gives a more informal touch, being on the outside of the structure. The part that is closest to the original concerns the old stables. The discovery of this place was made possible thanks to “La verde musica”, a series of musical events organised as a preview to the Piccolo Opera Festival. The audience was enthralled by the melodious voice of the Friulian soprano Giulia Della Peruta on the first floor of the Villa. Viila Gorgo, however, is just one of the many villas and castles that can be appreciated in Friuli. It is worth taking advantage of the moment and the opportunity to see them offered by the Festival which takes place throughout Friuli: on all these occasions, you can visit the sites but also enjoy good classical music. Wonderful places, music... what more could one want? Well, after the concerts you can taste themed menus linked to each place. Ah, and for those who are keen on “society gossip”, Villa Gorgo was the location chosen by the singer from Monfalcone Elisa to celebrate her wedding.

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Anna De Marco

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Almost thirty years old and Trieste-born, I have a dream of working with children with difficulties. I am curious by nature and always ready to try out new experiences, I am passionate about theatre and musicals above all. I like to look around and participate in the city’s cultural initiatives.