Gemona and surroundings

At the heart of Friuli, Gemonese boasts two of the most important historic towns in the area – Gemona del Friuli and Venzone, both of which were restored after the 1976 earthquake and thus became the symbols of the region’s rebirth. Their medieval past is evident in their appearance, as well as several evocative traditional festivals including the Tallero Epiphany that takes place every year in Gemona. One of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Venzone is also famous for a unique exhibition: 40 mummies that were discovered in the tombs of the local cathedral. The majestic castle of Artegna also has medieval origins: it was severely damaged by an earthquake, but was completely rebuilt and is today open to the public.

Not to be missed is the Casa delle farfalle (Butterfly house) in Bordano, a real living museum with an incredibly variety of species that come from forests all over the world.

In the Gemonese area, abundant in waters and damp environments, there is an eco-museum that promotes natural areas and expressions of both material and immaterial culture. It was the efforts of the eco-museum that made the recovery of the ‘pan di sorc’ possible, a typical spiced sweet bread made with flour from local grains that is today of the Slow Food presidia in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

The beauty and variety of the natural environment make this area perfect for many different sports and open-air activities, from cycling to trekking, from air sports to sports in the waters of the Cavazzo lake.