Historical heart of Carnia and “Alpine City 2017”, Tolmezzo is a town with an evocative historic centre that still preserves traces of a 15th-century urban arrangement. The town historically belonged first to the Patriarchs of Aquileia and then, allying itself with the Venetian seigniory, became an Italian town in 1866. Glimpses of the village’s ancient walls still remain in Borgàt, the historic centre, with the 15th-century church of Santa Caterina and Casa Janesi. From here, a half-hour walk takes you to Picotta tower, dominating the valley on the summit of the Picotta hill – last bulwark, together with the Porta di Sotto, of fortified Tolmezzo. The patriarchal castle was also part of this defensive system. The castle consisted of a palace and two guard towers, of which only a few traces are still visible on the plateau above the town, called Prà Castello. This can be reached in just a few minutes from the town centre from where you can enjoy a wonderful view that ranges as far as the Friulian Dolomites.
Photography by Ulderica Da Pozzo
