Facing the sea, and yet surrounded by mountains giving it a natural, insurmountable border, Friuli Venezia Giulia has always been a strategic region for military purposes. An aspect that could justify the presence of uncountable fortresses, castles, bastions, towers scattered all over it.
Such a rich and historical heritage needs to be preserved, but also enjoyed to keep its legacy alive: that's the reason why the Consortium for the Protection of Castles – Consorzio per la Salvaguardia dei Castelli Storici del Friuli Venezia Giulia was established in 1968. And that's also the reason why every year it flings open to visitors most of Friulian fortifications' gates. The Open Castles – Castelli Aperti 2020 events are set for the 26 th and 27th September, with tour guides to some of the most magnificent historical fortified buildings in Friuli.
The Consortium also launched a photo contest on Instagram: the best ones among all the pictures taken during the weekend, and uploaded with the hashtag #castelliaperti2020 (up to October 4th), will be selected and published on the Consortium official website.
Here you'll find the castles' opening times: tour guides start at every hour o'clock as indicated, and reservation is mandatory only where it's pointed out.
Castles open on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th
Timetable: Saturday 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 a.m. and 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Near Udine: Castello di Canussio (in Cividale del Friuli), Castello di Ahrensperg (in Pulfero), Palazzo Steffaneo Roncato (in Crauglio di S. Vito al Torre), Castello di Strassoldo di Sotto and Castello di Strassoldo di Sopra (in Cervignano) where reservation is only recommended (at the email address visite@castellodistrassoldo.it), Casaforte La Brunelde in Fagagna where reservation is recommended too at info@labrunelde.it.
Also near Udine, but with mandatory reservation, are: Castello di San Pietro in Ragogna (reservation on www.prolocoragogna.it or by phone +39.328.2660625) and Rocca Bernarda in Ipplis di Premariacco (reservation at roccabernarda@sagrivit.it or by phone +39.335.7027670/0432.716914).
Reservation is mandatory also for the Rocca di Monfalcone, near Gorizia: urp@comune.monfalcone.go.it or by phone +39.334.6000121.
Castles open on Sunday 27th
Timetable: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 a.m. and 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Castello di Villalta in Villalta di Fagagna, near Udine and Castello di Spessa in Capriva del Friuli, near Gorizia.
Extraordinary openings
Castello di Flambruzzo in Rivignano Teor (Udine) and Castello di Cordovado (near Pordenone) will open on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday all day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Palazzo Lantieri in Gorizia will open on saturday from 3 p.m. up to the sunset, and on sunday from 10 to 12 in the morning and then from 2 p.m. up to the sunset again: reservation is recommended at contatto@palazzo-lantieri.com.
Want to figure out some... figures? A 100+ fortresses
The Consortium for the Protection of Friuli Venezia Giulia's Historical Castles is joined by almost all the castle owners of the region: some of these monuments are actually still private properties, while other ones now belong to public institutions. The association manages the buildings' restoration when needed and activities related to them, especially public events like Castelli Aperti.
Just to give an example, only in Udine's area there are 75 fortifications! Among them, the stunning Abbazia di Rosazzo and the fortified cities of Palmanova, Cividale and Aquileia: all three of them are actually renowned Unesco's World Heritage sites. In Udine itself there's a castle right in the old town centre with a wonderful view on the town.
In Gorizia's area there are 15 fortifications, including Gorizia's castle in the middle of the city, where historical re-enactments are held very often during the weekends. Even the small Pordenone's province counts 25 fortified buildings, including the city's castle and Spilimbergo's castle. Around Trieste there are six fortresses and, among them, two with some of the most stunning views: Miramare and the Duino castle, both facing the sea on the Gulf of Trieste and surrounded by lush parks.
Such a rich and historical heritage needs to be preserved, but also enjoyed to keep its legacy alive: that's the reason why the Consortium for the Protection of Castles – Consorzio per la Salvaguardia dei Castelli Storici del Friuli Venezia Giulia was established in 1968. And that's also the reason why every year it flings open to visitors most of Friulian fortifications' gates. The Open Castles – Castelli Aperti 2020 events are set for the 26 th and 27th September, with tour guides to some of the most magnificent historical fortified buildings in Friuli.
The Consortium also launched a photo contest on Instagram: the best ones among all the pictures taken during the weekend, and uploaded with the hashtag #castelliaperti2020 (up to October 4th), will be selected and published on the Consortium official website.
Here you'll find the castles' opening times: tour guides start at every hour o'clock as indicated, and reservation is mandatory only where it's pointed out.
Castles open on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th
Timetable: Saturday 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 a.m. and 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Near Udine: Castello di Canussio (in Cividale del Friuli), Castello di Ahrensperg (in Pulfero), Palazzo Steffaneo Roncato (in Crauglio di S. Vito al Torre), Castello di Strassoldo di Sotto and Castello di Strassoldo di Sopra (in Cervignano) where reservation is only recommended (at the email address visite@castellodistrassoldo.it), Casaforte La Brunelde in Fagagna where reservation is recommended too at info@labrunelde.it.
Also near Udine, but with mandatory reservation, are: Castello di San Pietro in Ragogna (reservation on www.prolocoragogna.it or by phone +39.328.2660625) and Rocca Bernarda in Ipplis di Premariacco (reservation at roccabernarda@sagrivit.it or by phone +39.335.7027670/0432.716914).
Reservation is mandatory also for the Rocca di Monfalcone, near Gorizia: urp@comune.monfalcone.go.it or by phone +39.334.6000121.
Castles open on Sunday 27th
Timetable: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 a.m. and 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Castello di Villalta in Villalta di Fagagna, near Udine and Castello di Spessa in Capriva del Friuli, near Gorizia.
Extraordinary openings
Castello di Flambruzzo in Rivignano Teor (Udine) and Castello di Cordovado (near Pordenone) will open on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday all day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Palazzo Lantieri in Gorizia will open on saturday from 3 p.m. up to the sunset, and on sunday from 10 to 12 in the morning and then from 2 p.m. up to the sunset again: reservation is recommended at contatto@palazzo-lantieri.com.
Want to figure out some... figures? A 100+ fortresses
The Consortium for the Protection of Friuli Venezia Giulia's Historical Castles is joined by almost all the castle owners of the region: some of these monuments are actually still private properties, while other ones now belong to public institutions. The association manages the buildings' restoration when needed and activities related to them, especially public events like Castelli Aperti.
Just to give an example, only in Udine's area there are 75 fortifications! Among them, the stunning Abbazia di Rosazzo and the fortified cities of Palmanova, Cividale and Aquileia: all three of them are actually renowned Unesco's World Heritage sites. In Udine itself there's a castle right in the old town centre with a wonderful view on the town.
In Gorizia's area there are 15 fortifications, including Gorizia's castle in the middle of the city, where historical re-enactments are held very often during the weekends. Even the small Pordenone's province counts 25 fortified buildings, including the city's castle and Spilimbergo's castle. Around Trieste there are six fortresses and, among them, two with some of the most stunning views: Miramare and the Duino castle, both facing the sea on the Gulf of Trieste and surrounded by lush parks.
Abbazia di Rosazzo' cloister
Cover photo: Gorizia's Castle
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL LEAFLET FOR Castelli Aperti 2020 - down here:
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL LEAFLET FOR Castelli Aperti 2020 - down here:
| castelli_aperti_sett._2020.pdf |
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