WHAT SHOULD YOU CERTAINLY VISIT IN PALMANOVA?

 

 

A VENETIAN STAR SHAPED FORTRESS 

 

It is a pity that when visiting Palmanova it is not possible to make a helicopter flight, because let's be honest this fortress shows itself at its best from the air. 

 

Palmanova was built in 1593 by the Venetians as a defensive bulwark against the invasions of the Austrians and Ottomans. Since 2017 Palmanova has become one of the three Unesco World Heritage cities in Friuli, because of its still existing defense works. The Venetians wanted to build a a completely new nine points shaped fortress city from scratch, that offered the most modern defense systems of that time. They used moats, bastions, ravelins, liftbridges and ramparts to keep their enemies away. 

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NAPOLEON BONAPARTE  

 

To be honest, in the 200 years that followed, the city was never really attacked. This changed in 1797 when Napoleon Bonaparte during his Italian Campaign, took over this region and also the city of Palmanova. He invaded this area three times in between 1797 and 1813. After the Treaty of Paris the region was given into the hands of the Austrian Hungarian Empire until 1866 when it was finally returned to Italy after the third war of independence.

Napoleon has left his mark on Palmanova because he added a third ring of fortification, called 'lunette di Napoleone'- Napoleon's crescents. Also it is said that before Napoleon's intervention Palmanova was called Palma (the emblem of victory) and Napoleon decided to add the word "nova" - new - to it.

 

A WALK ON THE RAMPARTS

 

A visit to Palmanova is only complete after a walk on the ramparts and through the old moat. You can also visit the underground defence gallery named "Galleria Contromina" and one of the bastions buying the entrance ticket at the tourist office. Palmanova is located on the Alpe Adria cycle route, so you shouldn't be surprised if you see a row of cyclist cycling through the moat ...

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SHOPPING IN AND AROUND PALMANOVA 

 

If you have the change to visit Palmanova on a Monday you are lucky because Monday is market day and the whole central square transforms itself into a lively place full of various stalls offering all kinds of goods.

If you like shopping you are at the right place because only a few kilometers away from Palmanova you have the Palmanova Outlet full of Italian brands for good prices. 

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BOOK A GUIDED TOUR IN PALMANOVA

 

A visit to Friuli Venezia Giulia is not complete without a visit to Palmanova

Do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to book a guided tour. I will be happy to show you around and tell you much more about Palmanova. Clicking on the purple button more details appear of what you will see during the guided tour and the rates.