The strategic position of the Polcenigo territory and its natural resources have made Polcenigo a suitable place for human settlements since prehistoric times.

The archaeological findings of the Palù testify to the presence of a pile-dwelling village, dating back to the Neolithic, which could rely on the abundance of water, plants, and wild animals provided in great quantity by the wet area of Palù and the nearby mountains. Artifacts from the Iron Age (1st-2nd millennium BC) have also revealed the existence of a necropolis at the foot of the Colle di San Floriano, in San Giovanni.

After the foundation of Aquileia (181 BC), the Romans conquered the territories east of the Livenza: coins, fibulae, and terracotta elements have also been found in the archaeological sites of Polcenigo. Between the 5th and 6th centuries AD, with the spread of Christianity, Polcenigo became a significant religious center thanks to the presence of important places of worship, such as the Church of S. Floriano.

In the Middle Ages, when castles were an essential element for the defense of the territory, Polcenigo could boast a complex of fortified buildings, known as ‘’the castle’’ already at the end of the 10th century. Between 1000 and 1100, these buildings and the fiefdom passed to the Lords of Polcenigo, who later became counts.

In 1420 the Polcenigo territories fell under the dominion of the Serenissima Republic of Venice and in 1499 were invaded by the Turks who reduced Polcenigo to a heap of ruins.

In 1571 the Republic of Venice reconquered its possessions and in the following three centuries Polcenigo enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, particularly during the 18th century which saw a great economic, artistic, and religious revival of the village.

After the fall of the Republic of Venice (1797) the territory was first invaded by Napoleonic troops and then by Austrian ones.

The transition to Austria in 1814 seemed promising but the crisis resulting from poor agricultural production and harsh Habsburg taxation once again crippled the population.

Years of discontent followed and many volunteered in the fight against the House of Austria. In 1866 the territory was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.

With the outbreak of World War I, many emigrants had to return from abroad causing a sudden increase in population and poverty.

The post-war period and the fascist twenty years alternated between periods of high unemployment and others with good employment opportunities. The dairies of Polcenigo, Gorgazzo, and Coltura were established, a new hydroelectric power plant, and public lighting in the center of Polcenigo, public transport and postal service, two vocational schools (for drawing and masonry) and the main municipal roads were improved. Everything came to a halt again with the onset of World War II.

The post-war period was difficult but characterized by a slow recovery and the building heritage was restored and renewed.

In the territory, factories and industrial settlements arose, creating new jobs and gradually changing the social fabric of the village.