SACILE - Garden Oftheserenissima City Guide “Gardensacile of the Serenissima”
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ENGLISH SACILE - Garden of the Serenissima City Guide “GardenSACILE of the Serenissima” Sacile is one of the most pleasant places in Friuli, it is found on the Livenza river. GianFrancesco Palladio degli Olivi, 1660 Sacile, an attractive town in the province SACILE of Pordenone, is the westernmost town of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It is unknown whether its name originates from Saccus (cove) or Sacellum (temple, sacred place). Its main characteristic is that it is a “water town”, since it originated and developed along the banks of one of the most important rivers on Friuli territory, the Livenza. Gateway city of Friuli and historically important centre of commerce, it now stands out for its tourist aspect linked to its rich history, spectacular landscapes and the architecture of its numerous palazzos, built by noble Venetians during the Renaissance period. For its fascinating, subtle balance between earth and water, Venetian The antique and noble city of Sacille, called “Garden of the Serenissima” architecture of the historical centre by Venetians, governs itself. Located in Friuli, a site with considerable appeal, and breathtaking views on the river adorned with vague and rare buildings, along the river Livenza, with clean air Livenza, it has earned the title of and other features rarely found in other Italian cities. In the past centuries, it “Garden of the Serenissima”. was called “The Second Padua” by the inhabitants of Padua due to the multitude With a population of approximately and singularity of academics and doctors, famous in every field, of which there is 20,000 inhabitants on an area of still a large number today. Furthermore, there is no shortage of sweet foods and 32.62km² at just 25m above sea level, delicate wines to satisfy every human craving. it still keeps its appearance of a quiet, Francesco Scoto (Itinerary of Italy, 1659) peaceful, people-friendly town. For more info. visit our website www.comune.sacile.pn.it The Sacile we see today dates back to the Renaissance and modern period, which is also the golden age of the Republic of Venice, the so-called “Serenissima”, where the gateway city of Friuli began to develop, starting from 1420. Almost invisible, however, and barely imaginable, are the most remote or even primitive remains: those that made the city, located in a strategic place, where a main road and a navigable river meet, both a thriving trading centre and an armed fortress of the patriarchal state of Friuli. Its origins are in fact antique, dating back to the Early Middle Ages, when the ford across the river Livenza church of Aquileia, which helped to became strategically important from further develop the city. an economic point of view. Reliable A series of rights and prerogatives sources show that Henry, duke of acquired through the constant Friuli, built a church in honour of Saint and benevolent intervention of Nicholas in 796 “to heal his soul”, after the patriarchs of Aquileia lead, in THE HISTORY the Carolingian conquest. Around this 1190, to the granting of the “middle church, the city centre was built, and class privilege”, that is communal This town is well placed and widespread, it has a large, beautiful town then fortified after the Hungarian liberties. This allowed the city to be square with a magnificent Courthouse above the loggia, and behind the square, invasions, becoming a neuralgic site for the first in Friuli to adopt its own that is behind the loggia, there is an extremely robust castle, where the Chief commerce and for collecting duties. statutes and gave Sacile exciting new Magistrate lives… In 1077, it passed, by order of Emperor prospects: while elsewhere Feudalism Marino Sanudo (Le citade et castelli descripte per hordine, 1483) Henry IV, under the jurisdiction of the reigned supreme, in the “free” city a mercantile entrepreneurship was (at war with the Venetians for the After a short Austrian domination being developed. In the long run this possession of the Istrian coasts), which started in 1798, the French would have led to the fortune of the Venice gave the Community the settled there again in 1805. But city and its inhabitants. In 1411, after rights and privileges enjoyed under after the fall of Napoleon in 1815, the expansion of the Republic of the government of the patriarchs. all Italian territories, including Sacile, Venice towards the mainland, Sacile However, the conflict ended in favour became Austrian property. With signed a pact of mutual assistance and of Sigismondo. Venice returned to the unification of Italy, vigorously defence with the Venetian Senate. In power and reclaimed Sacile in 1419, supported by the middle class that exchange for the help of the people which, since then, remained faithful had increasingly replaced the noble of Sacile against Emperor Sigismondo until the end of the Republic (1797). class in the government of the city, there were many problems to solve, but there was also a lot of progress achieved in the agricultural, industrial and construction sectors. The Great War turned Sacile into a purely military city causing severe destruction (Sacile was bombarded mainly due to the presence of the Venice-Udine railway line). Equally disastrous was the Second World War, overcome thanks to the help of the Americans that paved the way to the great economic boom of the 60s. After the last earthquake in 1976, following those of 1873 and 1936, the city has adopted harmonic architectural structures that have paid off the losses suffered throughout its long history. For more info. visit our website www.comune.sacile.pn.it Piazza del Popolo Sacile’s main square, located in the heart of the city, was originally an emporium destined to be a stopover point for goods on the river port. The inclination of the terrain, that descends slightly to the South, still reveals the original function of the square, which was closed in the second half of the 16th century, when the port activities ceased. The perimeter of the square is delimited by a series of warehouse-buildings that date back to the first decades of the 17th century (period in which the entire area was dried and paved with stones and pebbles) built in Venetian style with Trevisan influences. These and traces of a beautiful fresco with three floors buildings (for businesses, mythological designs on the eaves, and, residences and corn deposits) stood on the opposite side of the square, PIAZZA out for their two entrances, from the Palazzo Pianca with its mezzanine square and from the river Livenza, floor, round arched windows with a DEL POPOLO with a stable at the back. In the 18th perforated balustrade and trifores. century, following the predominance Under the porticoes, there are two of the residential function over the popular themed ancient frescos: a Piazza del Popolo, the ancient “Portus Sacili”, landing place for mercantile others, these buildings also underwent Madonna and Child on a marble throne boats, opens the view onto the line of 17th century buildings and, projected like renovations of the interior. and a Madonna kneeling with a black an enormous stage, the 15th century Town Hall. Of particular interest are Palazzo Fabio- veil and Saint Sebastian. De Zanchis, with its elegant quadrifore The bombings that took place during the two wars and the recent structure dates back to 1483, by Donato earthquakes have shaped some modern da Como, who expanded and lifted a reconstructions, built nonetheless in 14th century loggia. The paintings by architectural continuity with the past. Antonio Zago, an artist from Bergamo, Another curious fact is that the square of which only few parts remain, also was indicated in old guides, until the date back to this period. During the beginning of the 20th century, as a Commune period, the space of the famous spheristerion, a place where loggia was a place where the heads of ancient football was played. the local families met in occasion of the public assembly which was held on the Palazzo Comunale 23rd of April, on Saint George’s day. The The City Hall is considered to be one building then housed the meetings of of the most characteristic historical the Noble Council of Sacile and the buildings of the city. The current historic archive of the Notary College. From the second half of the 16th building was refurbished and turned century, the central hall of the building into the City Hall (1930). Underneath also housed the theatrical works of local the loggia there are the busts of Italy’s amateur actors and passing companies. founding fathers (Mazzini, Garibaldi, In 1785 the building was transformed, Cavour and Vittorio Emanuele II). according to the design of the Venetian Outside, two stones show, respectively, Bianchi, into a real theatre with “benches the Bulletin of Victory (1918) and and stages”. With the alterations to the fallen of Sacile in the wars of the the structure, the external façade was Risorgimento. Further up there are extended, the balconies were replaced two antique crests of the city and the with pulpit windows and a barn was sign of the Savoys, the column on the set aside to be used for the archives. corner serves as a reminder of one of When, at the beginning of the 20th the many concessions relating to the century, it stopped being a theatre, the weekly market (1728). For more info. visit our website www.comune.sacile.pn.it An elegant architectural structure, PALAZZO Palazzo Ragazzoni is the best representation of Sacile’s florid past. RAGAZZONI It was erected upon a previous 15th century building in the second half of the 16th century. Its redevelopment was asked for by the illustrious Ragazzoni family, Venetian shipowners and merchants who had settled in Sacile to strengthen their land holdings; it was not only a luxurious home but also a place of production and commerce.