Zuglio Mother Parish Church
The Mother Parish Church of San Pietro in Zuglio, in Carnia, is a very ancient church whose history is marked by local events. The ancient Iulium Carnicum was Italy's most northern Roman town and, strategically situated along the route that from Aquileia led to Aguntum (a town in southern Noricum), was soon reached by the evangelizing currents left from Aquileia.
The currently existing Gothic church was commissioned in 1312 by the Patriarch of Aquileia and was built with one single nave and three altars, keeping the previous sacristy and incorporating the previous northern wall with the Romanesque windows, which can still be seen.
In the following centuries many changes were made by various masters (such as Maistro Honz Stau Melz de Bolzan) giving life to an asymmetric complex very interesting from an architectural point of view.
The Parish Church preserves many important works of art, among which the painting depicting St. Paul's conversion (16th-17th cent.) and the Baroque organ. Interesting is also the painting depicting The delivery of the keys to St. Peter by Francesco Pellizzotti (1791). A masterpiece of Renaissance art is represented by the wooden altar by Domenico da Tolmezzo (1481-1483).
Our suggestion
You can reach the Parish Church of Zuglio with a pleasant walk leaving from the Spa of Arta Terme and following the climb of the mount on the top of which the church dominates the valley, although the slope is quite steep: from here you can enjoy an amazing view over the surrounding mounts. As an alternative, you can follow the paths or the asphalt road located at the large parking area to the north of the Roman forum.
Don't miss
The Kiss of the Crosses, a very ancient rite, of probable medieval origin, which is held every year on the occasion of the Feast of Ascension.
It's set in the "Civico Museo Archeologico" (Zuglio) the permanent exhibition "The Art Force: the found five wooden sculptures by Domenico da Tolmezzo from the St. Peter Parish altar" is housed in the museum, which was re-found in 2016 by the "Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale".
For information:
Parish Church of Zuglio
Via Attilio Regolo, 7
I - 33020 Zuglio (UD)
Person in charge: Mons. Giordano Cracina
Opening Times Parish Church of Zuglio
June, July, August 2025: Saturday and Sunday, 10.00am-1.00pm / 2.00pm-6.00pm
Cultural animation.
Ecumenical Centre "Polse di Côugnes"
Via Pieve di San Pietro
I - 33020 Zuglio (UD)
Tel. +39 0433 92296
Person in charge: Father Giordano Cracina cell. +39 329.2622525
lapolse@libero.it
www.fondazionelapolse.it
Opening times Ecumenical Centre
From 15th May to 15th September
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (closed on Mondays)