Palmanova

Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia

Carsten StegerAerial image of Palmanova (view from the northwest)CC BY-SA 4.0
Marchetto da TriesteCaserma napoleonica (Palmanova) 06 CC BY-SA 4.0
Marchetto da TriesteLoggia della Gran Guardia (Palmanova) 02 CC BY-SA 4.0
Marchetto da TriestePalazzo del Provveditore Generale (Palmanova) 02 CC BY-SA 4.0
ZaironPalmanova Befestigungsring 1 CC BY-SA 4.0
ZaironPalmanova Piazza Grande 06 CC BY-SA 4.0
ZaironPalmanova Porta Aquileia 1 CC BY-SA 4.0
ZaironPalmanova Porta Aquileia 3 CC BY-SA 4.0
ZaironPalmanova Porta Cividale CC BY-SA 4.0
Twice25Palmanova-IMG 3159 CC BY-SA 3.0
MichaelXXLFPalmanovaPiazzaCentrale CC BY-SA 3.0
Marchetto da TriestePolveriera napoleonica Garzoni (Palmanova) 05 CC BY-SA 4.0

Venice laid the first stone of Palmanova on 7 October 1593, building a fortress town shaped like a nine-pointed star to guard its eastern border. Rings of bastions, moats and ravelins surround streets that radiate to the hexagonal Piazza Grande, and three monumental gates lead in. The fortifications have been part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017.

Highlights

Piazza Grande, a perfect hexagon lined with statues of eleven Venetian governors
The Duomo, whose bell tower was kept low so enemies could not see it (IT)
Porta Udine, Porta Cividale and Porta Aquileia, the three gates into town
The civic museum, tracing the fortress from Venetian to Italian times
The military museum inside Porta Cividale, with uniforms and relics since 1593

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Palmanova (IT), Palmanova (EN)), Wikivoyage (Palmanova (IT), Palmanova (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 5,280

Things to see

San Sebastiano (IT)
Santa Maria Maddalena (IT)

Events through the year

Guarda Che Luna Music and arts · Thursday to Saturday evenings, June to AugustMusic and cinema in the square, art shows, fortress tours, wine tastings
Historical re-enactment of the lion banner Historical · Second Sunday of JulyRecalls the first raising of the Lion of Saint Mark banner in 1602
Antique prints fair Fairs and markets · AugustHeld in the Napoleonic powder magazine of Contrada Foscarini
A.D. 1615. Palma alle Armi Historical · First weekend of SeptemberRe-enactment of the first phase of the War of Gradisca, 1615-1617
Feast of Saint Justina and fortress founding anniversary Religious · 7 OctoberPatron's day and the anniversary of the town's founding in 1593
Fiera dei sapori Friulani Food and wine · OctoberFood and wine stalls from local producers, a bike ride and funfair
Palma on ice Seasonal · DecemberChristmas markets

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikipedia (Palmanova). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Specialities of Friuli Venezia Giulia

Typical of the region rather than of this village.

BMKSan-Daniele-Schinken BMK CC BY-SA 3.0
Prosciutto di San DanieleCured meatRaw ham with its own consortium, founded in 1961
MontasioCheeseCheese made since 1200, named after the Montasio plateau
IoFricotenero CC BY-SA 3.0
FricoDishCheese dish from Carnia, first written down in the Patriarchate era
Dorothy61n1 (Wikipedia user)Cjalsons CC BY-SA 3.0
CjarsonsBread and pastaStuffed pasta of Carnia
Boreto alla graisanaDishGrado fish soup with turbot, no tomato and plenty of pepper
PicolitWineSweet wine of the Colli Orientali, revived from old vines