Campoformido

The name Campoformido is famous all over the world because of the peace treaty between Napoleon and Austria, but the history of this town is much older.

According to some scholars, the name's etymology dates back to the Lombard age in the word 'kampf' or 'kampg', which meant 'duel', 'fight'. Other scholars are more in favour of the Latin interpretation of 'campus formidus', meaning warm, sunny field. Bressa is the oldest name because it is pre-Latin, probably Celtic.

The town was born as an agricultural location and extends along the original nucleus represented by Via Principe di Piemonte, where you can find the structural and architectural elements of the rural areas typical of Friuli's plain.

The toponym of Basaldella, mentioned in the archive documents as Villa de Basalgella sub Utinum or Basighella or, still, Basalgele, derives from the variants used in Latin to indicate the church, the basilica, that is to say, places inhabited for many centuries.

In the central area of the square, besides the water and green elements, you will find the Monument to the Fallen and the copy of the Statue of Peace, currently situated in Piazza Libertà in Udine, but originally intended for Campoformido to recall the event for which the town is famous all over the world.

When Napoleon came back to Friuli at the end of August of 1797, he settled at Villa Manin to conclude the peace negotiation, concluded on 17th October with the signing of the Treaty of Campo Formio. The choice of Campoformido as the location for dating the official documents met diplomatic criteria, due to it being the largest town closest to the respective residences of the parties involved: Villa Manin for Napoleon and Udine for the Austrians.