The province of Pordenone is bordered to the west and south by Italy’s Veneto region and extends eastward to the Tagliamento River. The Venetian influence is perceptible throughout Friuli—in its architecture, its language, and its cuisine—but nowhere is this more evident than in the towns of this province. From Venetian-Gothic trilobed windows in Spilimbergo to the zodiac clock face of Pordenone’s Municipio, evidence of the Venetian Republic’s centuries-long dominance is everywhere.
Architecturally, Pordenone province is also known for its numerous painted palaces, some façades faded and peeling and others restored to their original brilliance. Most notable perhaps are Spilimbergo’s Palazzo Ercole (a.k.a. Casa Dipinta) and Palazzo Dipinto. The town of Spilimbergo is even more renowned for its mosaic school, whose works of art are displayed in venues all over the world.
Located at the western edge of the province, Sacile was once dubbed the “Garden of the Serenissima,” a nickname suggestive of the town’s resemblance to Venezia. Built at a fork in the Livenza River, Sacile sits amid a small network of canals and bridges, shaded by willow trees and Venetian-style palazzi.
To the north, the mountains of Pordenone province meet those of Carnia and the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane. Hiking opportunities abound here, especially in the Val Tramontina and the Valcellina, home to the crystal-clear, blue-green waters of Lago di Barcis.
