For us members of the Dog Walker Club, one of our favourite dog-walking destinations in Friuli Venezia Giulia is undoubtedly Venzone, a little mediaeval walled town rebuilt “where it was, as it was” after the 1976 earthquake.

Venzone is on the list of Italy’s Prettiest Villages. Callum, a collie and the four-legged reporter for our walks, will tell us about his latest walkies around this walled village.

“Woof, friends! What a busy morning! It was a spring day, the sun peeked out among the clouds and the warmth brought out multiple perfumes to tickle my noble nostrils. Around me, a crowd of fun-loving dogs and humans. After a quick run around the village we went to the Permanent Exhibition on Forests, People and the Economy in Friuli Venezia Giulia, with our friendly guide, Aldo. We saw reproductions of ecosystems, geological maps, 300 species of mushrooms skilfully carved in wood, species of flora and fauna, and woodmen’s tools. The background recordings of woodland animals’ calls made the visit interesting even for us four-legged participants.

After leaving the exhibition we went to the majestic cathedral church of Sant’Andrea. In the chapel of San Michele, my pals Mya and Jack, and their humans, were brave enough to go and see the Mummies of Venzone. But Cristiana and her beagle, Harley, only peeked in from outside. Then we climbed a path through the trees to the little church of Santa Caterina; a breathtaking view opened up before us with, in the distance, the River Tagliamento. We finished with some dog training: a well-behaved dog is a happy dog because it can go everywhere with its human. In fact, Venzone welcomes us as special guests in many restaurants, cafés and museums.

A friendly howl from your Callum!”