Cividale del Friuli

The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy


Cividale del Friuli

The village

Cividale del Friuli is a true treasure chest of invaluable treasures. Since 2008, it has been recognized as a Bandiera Arancione by the Touring Club Italiano and, since 2025, it has been included among the Borghi più Belli d’Italia (i.e. The most beautiful village in Italy). The city welcomes visitors with its testimonies of a millenary history, proud of its most precious jewels, including the serial site “I Longobardi in Italia. I luoghi del potere (568-774 d.C.)”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011.

In Cividale, you can follow the traces of the Lombard by visiting the Monastery of Santa Maria in Valle and the famous Tempietto Longobardo, known worldwide for its stunning stuccoes. Other places of great importance are the Museo Cristiano and the Tesoro del Duomo, which houses the Baptistery of Callisto and the Ara of Ratchis, and the National Archaeological Museum, which displays artifacts that tell the story of the daily life of this ancient and extraordinary people.

In addition to these prestigious sites, there are other museum realities that offer visitors an interpretation of Cividale's cultural heritage and the city's role as a promoter of culture. Among these are the Centro Internazionale Vittorio Podrecca – Maria Signorelli, dedicated to puppet theater, the Galleria Famiglia De Martiis, recently inaugurated and showcasing a collection of modern and contemporary art, and the Museum dedicated to the Great War (1915-1918), which will soon reopen after expansion works.


placehold


Cividale is a city rich in history, with a ducal heritage deeply linked to its traditions, which still manifest today in its historical celebrations. Among these, the evocative Messa dello Spadone, celebrated every January 6th, and the reenactment of the entry into the city of Patriarch Marquardo von Randeck in 1366. In August, the Palio di San Donato transports the audience into a 14th-century atmosphere with the famous tournament that takes place from the 14th century until the Napoleonic era, on August 21st, in honor of the Patron Saint.

The city also hosts major cultural events such as the Mittelfest, a festival of prose, music, dance, poetry, visual arts, and puppetry from the countries of Central Europe, which every July proposes a different theme and involves internationally renowned companies and artists. Additionally, the International Courses of Musical Perfection offer the opportunity to listen to and meet great masters and artists, with concerts held in churches, villas, and castles in the area.

Throughout the year, Cividale offers a rich calendar of traditional events, including theater seasons, sports events, and seasonal markets. To discover all this, it is recommended to visit the Sportello Informacittà, the new Visitor Center on the ground floor of Palazzo De Nordis, where you can obtain an updated agenda and useful tips to fully experience the area. (Photo Fabrice Gallina)

  • Municipality of Cividale del Friuli

    Province of Udine

  • Patron Saint

    S. Donato, 21 agosto

  • Distances in km

    Udine 19, Palmanova 27, Gorizia 32, Aquileia 45

  • Inhabitants

    10.730 (3.000 in the village)

  • Altitude

    135 m a.s.l.

  • Area

    50,65 km2

  • Coordinates

    46°05'N 13°26'E

Tourist Information

Informacittà Tourist Information and Welcome Desk
Palazzo de Nordis
Piazza Duomo,
533043 Cividale del Friuli (UD)
Tel. +39 0432 710460
informacitta@cividale.net
www.cividale.net
Facebook and Instagram @UfficioTuristicoCividale

Things to know

  • Municipality of Cividale del Friuli

    Province of Udine

  • Patron Saint

    S. Donato, 21 agosto

  • Distances in km

    Udine 19, Palmanova 27, Gorizia 32, Aquileia 45

  • Inhabitants

    10.730 (3.000 in the village)

  • Altitude

    135 m a.s.l.

  • Area

    50,65 km2

  • Coordinates

    46°05'N 13°26'E

Tourist Information

Informacittà Tourist Information and Welcome Desk
Palazzo de Nordis
Piazza Duomo,
533043 Cividale del Friuli (UD)
Tel. +39 0432 710460
informacitta@cividale.net
www.cividale.net
Facebook and Instagram @UfficioTuristicoCividale

Photogallery

Cividale del Friuli

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