Udine, the old medieval capital of Friuli, is a small city full of surprises.

First of all it is located in a strategic position, just over 20 km from Slovenia and about 54 km from Austria.

A medieval city

The beauty of Udine lies in its medieval appearance, the tiny and narrow streets and well decorated houses in the center.

The city developed around the castle, now converted into a museum, which rises on a hill; from there you can enjoy a very beautiful view.

If you are strolling around the old town you might want to have a look at:

• Piazza della libertà: is the oldest square in the city of Udine, defined as the most beautiful Venetian-style square. Looking up, you can see the Castle and the famous Clock Tower that stands out above the Loggia di San Giovanni.

Castle

• Loggia del Lionello, a majestic structure, characterized by the elegance of its marbles.

• Palazzo Arcivescovile, with Gianbattista Tiepolo's frescoes, a famous painter from the 600’.

• The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata from the 13th century.

• Piazza Matteotti, better known as piazza San Giacomo or “Piazza delle Erbe”, with the church of San Giacomo, is always full of people having drinks sitting outside.

• Via Molin, a gorgeous hidden spot in the historic city center.

Via Molin

Few more things to know

Here are a bunch of stuff you need to know about Udine.

• Lots of people speak Friulano, a minority language recognized and protected by the European Union. Don’t worry, they speak Italian too!

• Go get cheap drinks at Piazza Primo Maggio, always filled with young people.

• If you need a bit of nature, you might want to have a nice walk at Cormor Park, the green lung of the city. It’s a big botanic garden, ideal for doing outdoor sport activities.

• Go on the top of San Simeone Mount, about 50 km away from Udine. The view from there is just breathtaking!

View from San Simeone mount

• You should definitely visit Villa Manin, a splendid Venetian villa which is the usual venue for international art exhibitions or concerts. It is located in Passariano, 25 km away from Udine.

• After walking around, you can treat yourself with a nice aperitivo with cheese board and cold cuts, in one of the fine wine taverns and bars. For dinner you can choose among different restaurants with local food, such as polenta and frico (a fritter made of cheese and potatoes).

View from Udine castle