From the beautiful Adriatic Sea to the peaks of the mountains, the province of Udine offers visitors various fun attractions. The golden beaches of Lignano and the lively center of Udine are the ideal place to sip a glass of Prosecco DOC. Trendy and easy-going, young and open-minded Udine perfectly reflects the Prosecco DOC.
The Province of Udine, with a population of 100,000, is located in mideast Friuli–Venezia Giulia, bordering Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east and, to its south, the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most important towns in this corner of Italy, although it is still unknown to many tourists. This diverse area extends from the beach at Lignano Sabbiadoro to the snowy mountaintops of the Alpine Foothills, Carnic Alps and Julian Alps.
Udine has a long and interesting history, and it isn’t wholly Italian. Ruled by Romans, Lombards, and the Venetians, it became a major economic and trading centre in the medieval period.
Most of its historical monuments date back to that era: Piazza Libertà, the city’s main square; the Loggia del Lionello, a Venetian-Gothic style palace resembling that of Venice’s Piazza San Marco; the Clock Tower, a Castle built by the Venetians from 1517 that houses one of the most ancient parliament Halls of Europe. In addition, the city hosts many important festivals and events, as well as renowned historical artifacts at the archbishop’s palace and the Museo Civico. As for the scenery, two small medieval canals flow through the town centre, sometimes hidden underground and other times making attractive additions to the townscape.
In addition to its natural wonders, the Province preserves significant cultural heritage, evidence of a complex and tumultuous history: archaeological sites like Aquileia, with its remains of a Roman city and an early Christian cathedral.
Udine’s genuine gastronomy, specialties and renowned wines give a magic touch to this extremely charming land. There are ten DOCs in Friuli; one of them is Prosecco DOC. The DOC Code of Conduct identifies Prosecco’s geographical production zone, including five Venetian provinces and four provinces of Friuli Venezia Giulia (Gorizia, Trieste, Udine and Pordenone). This area also includes the DOCG Conegliano Prosecco Superiore.
Interesting Fact about Udine
- Since 1977, the city of Udine in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region has been twinning with the City of Windsor in the Province of Ontario, Canada. The two cities were joined in recognition of the International Friendship and Understanding and the Social Cultural and Economic Bonds.