MUNICIPALITY OF ZUGLIO

no. of inhabitants 609 (in 2010) surface area: 17.39 Km² altitude: 420 m a.s.l.

Historical-cultural information

The Municipality of Zuglio is located in the middle valley of the Bût, in the central area of the historical “Canale di San Pietro”, which owes its name to the Parish church of the same name overlooking the surrounding area. The area includes Formeaso, birthplace of the painter Nicola Grassi and the hamlets of Sezza and Fielis immersed in the forests. Zuglio came to the attention of numerous antiquarians in the 15th century when it was identified as the Roman city of Iulium Carnicum named by ancient sources. The centre, founded in all probability during Julius Caesar’s proconsulate (58-49 BC) close to the so-called Via Iulia Augusta, controlled a particularly large area between Cadore and Val Canale. The first diggings started at the beginning of the 1800s in the archaeological area of the Roman Forum. The entire complex was brought to light between 1937 and 1938 during the Augustinian Bi-millennium. It is made up of a vast rectangular square, closed on the southern side by the civil basilica and dominated on the northern side by a temple. Over the last few years, the Forum has been the subject of investigations carried out by the Archaeological Heritage Office in Venezia Giulia that also launched a project for the reorganisation of the entire area. The Forum is presently made up of a single archaeological area that can be visited, although it should be pointed out that an area to the north-east of the complex is being assessed and opened to the public where a residential house has been identified. After endless attempts by the Municipal Administration, the need to build a museum became a reality in 1995, when the Civico Museo Archeologico Iulium Carnicum (Iulium Carnicum Civic Archaeological Museum) opened. The collection is housed just a short distance from the Forum in the seventeenth century Palazzo Tommasi Leschiutta , restored after the earthquake that hit Friuli in 1976. Extensive teaching tools accompany the tour that extends across three floors and shows the various aspects of the Roman city including both the urban organisation as well as the administrative, social, economic and religious life, within a vaster overview regarding the situation of archaeological knowledge in . With the arrival of Christianity, Zuglio became the bishop’s residence between the 4th and the 5th centuries BC on the wishes of the Aquilea bishop Cromazio (388-408), even though an inscription subsequently lost, reminds us that bishop Ienuarius died in 490 after heading the diocese for at least ten years. Two early Christian basilicas were built on the southern side of the town. Remains of another early Christian basilica, possibly built at the end of the 5th century were found inside the Matrix Church of San Pietro in Carnia. The diocese was abolished towards the middle of the 8th century and the area was incorporated into the Patriarchy of . The magnificence of the Parish Church can still be seen today with its solid bell tower, topped by a nordic style pinnacle. The present day gothic building dates back to the 14th century (1312) with later restoration work done in the 1500s – 1600s and 1700s. It houses numerous important church furnishings representing Renaissance and Baroque Friulian Art such as the frescoes in the upper sacristy produced by Giulio Urbanis from San Daniele in 1582, the magnificent gothic wooden polyptych with pinnacle crown by Domenico da in 1483, the wooden Christ dating to 1550 from a northern workshop and the canvases by Pordenone and Pellizzotti. Each year the Parish Church hosts the ancient rite of the “Bacio delle Croci” (Kissing of the Crosses) held during Festivities for the Ascension (May-June), an act of subjection of the churches, originally under the power of the Iulium Carnicum diocese. The Church of Santa Maria in Monte, below the Parish Church, dates back to the 15th century with later restoration and renovation work carried out in 1715; it houses frescoes by Giulio Urbanis and a wooden triptych from the Giovanni Martini school (c. 1537). The churches in Formeaso, Sezza and Fielis house works by the artist Nicola Grassi who was born in Formeaso in 1682. Before coming to the Parish church you can also visit the Ecumenical Centre known as the “Polse di Côugnes”. The structure includes the “Giardino dei Semplici”, a botanic garden with more than 1000 plants, a historical library, an icon painting centre, an astronomical centre with the most up to date equipment, the school managed by the “Scampanotadôrs Furlans” Association and a forestry commission service.

References: Civico Museo Archeologico Iulium Carnicum – V. G. Cesare, no. 19 - 33020 Zuglio (Ud) Tel./Fax 0039 0433 92562 mail: [email protected] Web site: www.comune.zuglio.ud.it Opening hours: 1 October - 28 February > Friday 9.00am -12.00am, Sunday 9.00am -12.00am /3.00pm -6.00pm; 1 March - 31 May > Friday and Saturday 9.00am-12.00am/3.00pm -6.00pm; 1 June-30 September > Wednesday and Thursday 9.00am -12.00am, from Friday to Sunday 9.00am -12.00am/3.00pm -6.00pm.

Parrocchia di Zuglio – V. Attilio Regolo, no. 7 – 33020 Zuglio (Ud) Tel. 0039 0433 92018 (meal times) Person in charge: Mons. Pietro Degani Opening hours: summer period, Festivities for the Ascension (May-June), Peace Procession (31 December), open at other times for groups with booking. Website: www.comune.zuglio.ud.it

Centro Ecumenico “Polse di Côugnes”- Via Pieve di San Pietro - 33020 Zuglio (Ud) Tel. 0039 0433 92296 Tel. 0039 0433 929084 (Parrocchia Imponzo di Tolmezzo) Person in charge: don Giordano Cracina cell. 329/2622525 mail: [email protected] Web site: www.comune.zuglio.ud.it Opening hours: from 15 May to 15 September > from Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am /6.00pm – closed Mondays.