Udine Old Town – In And Out Slovenia

Hello guys,

I am taking you with me to explore the beautiful city of Udine (->map).
This city is one of the most important cities in the region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia.
With a population of 100.000 inhabitants, it is the second most populated city of the region after Trieste.
The city of Udine the capital city of the Province of Udine, one of the 4 provinces in Friuly-Venezia-Giulia.

**Piazza della Liberta**. We see the castle of Udine behind the square on its hill.

Udine is probably one of the most underrated city in Italy.
Of course, it is hard to compete against cities like Rome, Florence or Venice.
But should you come one day in Italy and choose to visit a mid-sized city,
you should definitely put Udine on your list.

The old city center of Udine is incredibly beautiful.
A lot of old builging, old churches, paved streets, nice squares …
You just have to walk a bit in the city center to feel how wealthy and powerful the town must have been in its prime.
The city was ruled by the Republic of Venice for more than 300 years (1420-1797).
You can still see today old sculptures and building indicating the former presence of the Republic of Venice.

Udine is easily accessible by car and by train.
Should you go there by car, I highly recommend you to park your car in Piazza Primo Maggio.
It is a large green space with plenty of parking around the perimeter.
If you leave your car there, you’ll be just next to the old city center and the Tourist information Center building.

Parking lot in **Piazza Primo Maggio**. We see the tower bell of the **Church of Saint Marie** and the Castle of Udine on that hill.

The second option, my favorite one, is to take the train to Udine.
The train station is only 10 minutes away on foot from the old town.
It is very conveniant. You can also take the bus at the train sation to go to the city center.
But, it will probably be quicker to go there on foot.

Let’s start our little tour of the city in Piazza Primo Maggio.

Standing in **Giardin Grande** (or Big Garden) the middle of **Piazza Primo Maggio**.

From this square, you’ll see the Castello (castle of Udine) at the top of a little hill.
The Tourist Information Center is in a corner on that square, not far from a very old street called Via A. Manin.
I highly recommend you to go the T.I.C first if you park your car in Piazza Primo Maggio.
The people working there are really nice and will give you a lot of infos and tips.
At least, you’ll get a free map of the city with the best places to see and visit on that map.
For those of you who might only spend a day or half a day to visit Udine, having good tips and a map will be very helpful.

The orange building is the **Tourist Information Center** of Udine, next the parking lot.

Next to Piazzo Primo Maggio, on the opposite direction of the castle, you’ll see Santuario della B.V Delle Grazie,
a gorgeous 18th-19th century church. Go there and take a look inside that church.
After that, get out and walk a bit in the cloister of the church and its courtyard.
It is absolutly beautiful there.

**Santuaro della Beata Vergine delle Grazie**.

Walking under the arcades in the cloister.

Now, let’s go back towards the T.I.C building and continue 50 meters further left untill we reach Via A. Manin.

**San Bartolomeo Tower**. This 14th century gate give access to **Via. Manin**.

**Via Manin,** walking towards **Piazza della Liberta**.

If you walk along that street, you’ll get to the heart of the old town.
After walking 200 meters, you’ll arrive in Piazza della Liberta.

This Venetian style square is the oldest and also the most beautiful square in Udine.
The square is located just below the hill of the castle.

In front of that square, you’ll see the gorgeous Loggia del Lionello which is located just behind Palazzo D’Aranco.

**Palazzo d’Aronco**, a magnificent city hall in Art Nouveau style built in the beginning of the 20th century.

**Loggia del Lionello** located in Piazza della Liberta. It is a 15th century loggia built in venetian-gothic style.

walking under the arcades of **Loggia del Lionello**.

View of the **Castle of Udine,** the Clock Tower and **Porticato di San Giovanni** from **Loggia del Lionello**.

Leave the Loggia behind your back and walk up the paved street going upward towards the castle.
While you’ll be walking up the paved alley leading to the castle, pause for a moment and look back down towards Piazza della Liberta.
You’ll see a beautiful 1850 sculture of 2 nude moors ringing the bell at the top of the clock tower.
When you’ll arrive at the top of the hill, you’ll see a large green space behind the castle.
From there, you’ll have a fantastic view of a part of Udine.

Walking up the paved alley leading to the castle.

View of the front of the castle from the alley.

View of the green dome of the **Temple of Saint Nicholas** from the garden behind the castle.

View of the old town from the front of the castle. We can see the tower bell of the **Duomo di Santa Maria Annunziata**.

There is a nice little café/restaurant near the garden that is behind the castle.
I recommend you to go there, you’ll have a good view of the castle and it is not expensive.

If you spend at least a full day in Udine, visiting the Castle is a Must.
This 16th century castle in now the seat of the Civic Museums.
The parliament hall, a big room inside the castle, is definitly worth a visit.

Inside the museum, you’ll find the gallery of ancient art, the archeological museum,
a numismatic collection, drawings and prints and the museum of the Risorgimento.
The ticket for the museum cost 12€. Believe, it is worth it.

Let’s go back downhill and move a little bit further out in the old town.
I’d like to show you a square called Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, just a 3 minutes walk away from Piazza della Liberta.
Right next to the square, you’ll see the Church of San Giacomo (which is one of the most ancient churches in the city).
This part of the city is very animated. There are a lot of bars and restaurants all around the square.

**Piazza Giacomo Matteotti.** We can see the **Church of Saint Giacomo** in the background.

Not far from Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, you’ll also see the Cappella Manin (with its baroque architecture) and the Galleria Tina Modotti,
an art Nouveau building that used to be a fish market but now houses tempory exhibitions.

This yellow building (near Piazza Giacomo Matteotti) is the **Galleria Tina Modotti**.

**Cappella Manin**, near Piazza Giacomo Matteotti. A gem of Baroque architecture.

**Torre di S. Maria**, built in 1295. This old tower is located near **Cappella Manin**.

Giant leap towards another nice square about 300 meters away. We are now in Piazza XX Settembre 1870.
It is a beautiful square and there is often a market taking place there.
From that square, you’ll see the beautiful Neo-classical Palazzo Kechler.

**Piazza XX Settembre 1870**. We see the **Palazzo Kechler** in the backgroung (to the left).

**Market** in Piazza XX Settembre 1870. The street on the right of that white building will lead you to the **Duomo**.

Leave Piazza XX Settembre 1870 behind and take the street Via Bonaldo Stringher.
Walk 300 meters and you’ll arrive in Piazza Del Duomo.

**Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata** or **Duomo** in Piazza del Duomo.

On that square, you’ll see the Cathedral of Udine also called Duomo.
This large 14th century building has 2 aisles, a nave and side chapels.
It is also a museum. The museum displays 14th century frescoes.

It is already late in the afternoon and you’re ready go back home.
If you’ve parked your car in Piazza Primo Maggio,
make a little detour near Via A. Manin on your way back to your car.
Go a bit to the right towards Piazza Patriarcato to take a look at Chieasa di S. Antonio Abate,
a former church with a beautiful 18th century facade. It now houses temporary exhibitions.

Just 100 meters to the right of the Chieasa di S. Antonio Abate, you’ll see the Museo Diocesano e Galleria del Tiepolo.
The museum and the gallerie are situated in the Palazzo Arcivescovile, which preserves a splendid cycle of frescoes
by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian painter and printmaker in the 18th century).
The library inside this old palace is gorgeous and of great architerural value.

If you spend a couple of day in Udine (or nearby) and would like to visit several museums/galleries,
I highly recommend to buy a FVG Card at the tourist information center.
This card cost 18 € for 2 days. With this card, you can visit the Castello,
Casa Cazzavani, Museo Etnografico, Museo Diocesano and the Gallerie del Tiepolo for free.
This card will also allow you to take public transport for free and have a self-guided walking tour with audio guide for free .

My tips for Udine :

1/ Go see the Santuario B.V delle Grazie.
2/ Go visit the Duomo.
3/ Go see Piazza della Liberta.
4/ Go see Piazza Giacomo Matteotti.
5/ Walk around Loggia del Lionello.
7/ Go see Piazza XX Settembre 1870.
8/ Go visit the Museo Diocesano and the Gallerie del Tiepolo.
9/ Buy a FVG Card if you plan to visit several museums.