WHAT SHOULD YOU CERTAINLY VISIT IN SPILIMBERGO?

 

THE COLORFUL CITY

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The town of Spilimbergo can be easily called the colorful city. Walking through the main street 'Corso Roma' everywhere you look you see frescoed palazzi housing shops, restaurants, and bars. The street leads to the main square where the Cathedral is located, even the walls of the Cathedral are decorated with a big Saint, Santo Cristoforo.  Not far from the church you see a small bridge that brings you to the most beautiful frescoed palazzo of all, the 'palazzo dipinto'  - the painted palace.

 

The colorful tradition of Spilimbergo continues with the many mosaics sculptures you see scattered throughout the city, made by the local mosaic school.

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HISTORY AND SIGHTS

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The history of the city dates back to the eleventh century when an important noble family settled here. The Spengenberg family who were appointed landlords by the Patriarch of Aquileia. It is highly likely that the Italian degeneration of their German surname has given the name Spilimbergo to this town.

 

The Cathedral built in the 13th century was largely financed by the Earl Walterpertoldo whose sarcophagus is still located in the crypt of the cathedral. In the apse, there ones stood the beautiful wooden carved choir seats made during the Renaissance period in the late 15th century. They were moved to the nearby church SS Giuseppe e Pantaleone where you can admire it.

 

THE IMPORTANT MOSAIC SCHOOL

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The city is close to the largest and widest river of the region, the impressive Tagliamento river that literally cuts the region in half. The fact that Spilimbergo is so close to this river, framed by a very wide riverbed filled with pebbles, has changed completely the fate of this town. 

 

In the twenties of the last century, many young boys had lost their fathers who were killed during the Great War. To allow them to learn a profession that they could no longer learn from their fathers, the city decided to open a mosaic school, using the pebbles from the Tagliamento to create tiny mosaic stones.

 

The Mosaic School has become one of the most important mosaic schools in Italy, along with the one in Ravenna. The training lasts three years and young people from around the world come here to learn the art of creating and restoring mosaics.  

 

VISIT THE NEARBY PROVESANO 

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In the nearby village of Provesano you can visit the beautiful little church 'San Leonardo' that hosts religious frescoes of the local Renaissance painter Gianfrancesco da Tolmezzo. 

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BOOK A GUIDED TOUR IN SPILIMBERGO AND THE MOSAIC SHOOL

 

A visit to Friuli Venezia Giulia is not complete without a visit to Spilimbergo.

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 Spilimbergo and the mosaic school. Clicking on the purple button more details appear of what you will see during the guided tour and the rates.