The best walks and hikes around Spilimbergo

A castle classic that unites many eras and owners. Today, the visit feels like a journey into the Middle Ages.

Directions near the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Spilimbergo Castle was built to guard one of the main fords on the Tagliamento River. It was likely built in the twelfth century by the German Spengemberg family.

Beautiful old town

Built in the twelfth century by the noble Spengemberg family to guard the ford over the Tagliamento River, it later passed to the lords of Spilimbergo, who then gave the town its name. It was rebuilt in 1511 after a disastrous fire.

The façade is adorned with seven oculi and is extremely sober. The symbolic number seven recalls several texts of the Bible, first and foremost the lamb with "seven horns and seven eyes" from the Apocalypse of John. Two of the seven oculi, walled up in 1858, were reopened in 2011. The north side of the Cathedral, on Piazza del Duomo The main entrance is not the one on the façade, but the portal built on the northern façade, which overlooks Piazza Duomo. This was built in 1376 by Zenone da Campione and was originally reserved for the entrance of lords. Interior The Pordenone - Conversion of Saul - Organ door. The large organ, in the central nave The interior consists of three naves. In the central nave, second span, there is the Renaissance organ relocated here in 1981 after the restoration work following the earthquake in Friuli. The original instrument, a 1515 work by Bernardino Vicentino from Venice, had been lost over the centuries and was restored by Francesco Zanin using period materials and methods. It is used for liturgy, concerts and numerous recordings. The chest, among the oldest in the world, is decorated with canvases and panels painted by Pordenone in 1525. The organ doors contain three depictions: Assumption of Mary (closed doors); Fall of Simon Magus (open door on the left); Conversion of Saul (open door on the right). In the parapet of the choir there are five panels with the Stories of the Virgin, while in the lateral spaces some Pages are depicted. Presbytery The presbytery is decorated with a cycle of fourteenth-century frescoes, clearly derived from the lesson that Vitale da Bologna had left in the cathedral of Udine. The unknown author is cited as the Master of the Pavilions and his works date back to the period 1350-1380. The right wall is decorated with stories from the Old Testament: Master of the Pavilions - Susanna bathing. Creation of Adam and Eve Expulsion from Paradise Adam's Work Killing of Abel Lameus kills Cain Noah's Ark Sacrifice of Isaac Jews in the desert Capture of Jericho David and Goliath Death of Absalom Return of Tobias and Sarah Susanna bathing King Solomon Still life On the left wall, instead, there are stories from the life of Christ, derived from the New Testament: Master of the Pavilions - Stories of Christ. Nativity Adoration of the Shepherds Presentation at the Temple Flight into Egypt Massacre of the Innocents Christ among the Doctors Wedding at Cana Expulsion of the Merchants from the Temple Transfiguration Entry into Jerusalem Prayer in Gethsemane Capture of Christ Flagellation Ascent to Calvary The back wall is dominated by the dramatic scene of the Crucifixion. Crypt The burial ark of Walterpertoldo. The lower church consists of five rooms, one of which has recently been closed. The northern chapel contains the burial ark of Walterpertoldo, who died in 1382, lord of Spilimbergo and podestà of Treviso. Until 1964 the ark was on display in the square next to the church, and was then placed in the crypt. Chapel of the Rosary Chapel of the Rosary - the painting Presentation at the Temple with inserts by Gasparo Narvesa. Chapel of the Rosary - Giovanni Martini - Presentation at the Temple. The chapel is dominated by the altarpiece Presentation at the Temple by Giovanni Martini (1503), with a frame between the vegetal intrigues the Mysteries of the Rosary and the Madonna of the Rosary with the Child Jesus and Saint Dominic, work of Gasparo Narvesa (1626-1627).

The church was commissioned by the lord of Spilimbergo Walterpertoldo in 1284 and the first stone was laid on October 4 of the same year. Construction continued until about 1359, although the cathedral was consecrated only in 1453. The irregularity of the building plan is due, more than to rethinking or remaking, to the exploitation of existing structures and the conformation of the territory. In fact, the building was built leaning against a wall, and the bell tower was built on a portal of the same.

beautiful square, with a cobbled ground