Taipana

The area of Taipana preserves traces of human settlements dating back to prehistoric times, but its true foundation dates back to the 8th century with the arrival of the Slavic populations. The people maintained cultural ties with the nearby Slavic areas, while connections with the bottom of the valley remained limited.

After Austrian rule, Taipana passed to Italy in 1866, introducing Italian as the official language. The 20th century saw a decline in population due to emigration and, after the Friuli earthquake, the local economy suffered a further crisis.

Taipana's architecture combines Friulian tradition and Slovenian influences. Ancient churches such as the Santissima Trinità in Monteaperta, with 15th-century frescoes, and the Church of Santi Giuseppe e Mattia Apostolo, with a copper door made from old bombs, are examples of Romanesque style.

The rural houses made of stone and wood and the mills provide evidence of peasant life, while the medieval village of Prossenicco, in addition to housing the Museum of Peasant Civilization, preserves historic buildings.

The Municipality of Taipana, which extends for 70 km² between Friuli and Slovenia, is immersed in an unspoiled and wild territory and includes the villages of Cornappo, Debellis, Monteaperta, Montemaggiore, Platischis and Prossenicco and the districts of Campo di Bonis, Ponte Sambo and Val Calda.

The landscape is crisscrossed by streams and waterfalls such as that of Rio Gorgons and Cukula and is home to rare flora and varied fauna. The Gran Monte Municipal Park, rich in protected species, makes it possible to reach the Refuge near Montemaggiore via its trails. From the Gran Monte chain, views extend as far as the Alps and the Adriatic Sea.

The area between Taipana and Monteaperta is rich in karst caves and offers ideal routes for geology and speleology enthusiasts. It is also possible to discover the sources of the Natisone and Cornappo rivers.