A touristic itinerary in town

An itinerary in Sacile’s historical centre is an opportunity to walk among its most ancient boroughs, its monuments of great historical and artistic interest, its natural panoramas created by the river Livenza. This itinerary starts from the train station and will lead visitors through the city’s most characteristic aspects.

From the train station, a short walk along Via G. Lacchin leads to Via Dante and, from there, to Campo Marzio with Palazzo Ettoreo and Palazzo Candiani. On the background, the river Livenza draws one of its most beautiful bends. A pedestrian bridge to the Duomo provides an evocative view on the river, on the old towers from the Commune period, on abandoned electrical stations and on the buildings in Piazza del Popolo. The pedestrian bridge leads directly to Piazza Duomo, almost a small Venetian square, located on one of the two islands created by the river, and once called “City”. Piazza Duomo is home to Duomo di San Nicolò, Palazzo Ovio Gobbi, Palazzo Carli with Centro Studi Biblici and Galleria Pino Casarini, and Chiesetta della Pietà. Historically, this is the most ancient part of the city, which was the heart of trade, while Piazza del Popolo was a residential area for the noble.

From Piazza Duomo, two ancient “contrada” branch out: Via Pujati (Contrada Ruga) and Via Gasparotto (Contrada Montalbano).
They host houses with porticoes and ample columned ground floors, in accordance with the classic structure of workshops in the Commune period.
The two Contradas lead to Foro Boario (Pra’ Castelvecchio), where precious glimpses of the ancient defence system of the city can be caught: remains of strong walls and a perfectly preserved round tower.
From Parco di Pra’ Castelvecchio, Via Mazzini leads to Vicolo del Livenza: a small pedestrian route ending in wooden bridge which leads to Parco dell’Ortazza.
After a pause in the green scenery, the Courtyard of Palazzo Ragazzoni can be reached: its 12 stucco statues on the two floors along the internal façade of the Palazzo anticipate the rich artistic and historical heritage on its inside

Visiting the Palazzo means admiring the frescoes painted by F. Montemezzano on the noble floor, and the stucco decorations of the Cappella Gentilizia. Outside the Palazzo, along Via Cavour it is possible to gaze at the elegant 17^th and 18^th-century buildings, like Palazzo Granzotto and Palazzo Sartori, which is close to the round tower of S. Rocco. Opposite the tower, a small road leads to Ponte delle Prigioni, a bridge named after the fact that it ends in Piazzetta Manin, which used to host the ancient prisons. The bridge offers a unique sight on the branching of the river Livenza at the entrance of the city. Piazzetta Manin is close to Piazza del Popolo, the ancient “Portus Sacili”, a dock for merchant boats. Also known as Piazza del Mercato, for many centuries it has been the heart of “Sagra dei Osei”, an historic exhibition which takes place every year on the first Sunday after August 15^th.

The view spans on the piazza, with its skyline made of warehouse-buildings, three of which are of particular interest: Palazzo Fabio-De Zanghis, Palazzo Loschi and Palazzo Pianca. To the right, the 14^th-century Palazzo Comunale stands like an ample stage. The itinerary goes on to Ponte della Vittoria, a bridge offering a marvellous panorama on the mountains and on another branch of the river Livenza with Canale della Pietà and the apse of the Duomo. To the right, after the native house of the painter Luigi Nono (19^th century), the curve-shaped Via Garibaldi hosts 17th and 18th-century buildings with porticoes and significant ancient architectural elements. The most interesting buildings in this road are Palazzo De Casagrande, Palazzo Prata and Palazzo Doro.

Halfway through the road, to the right, Ospitale di San Gregorio and Chiesa di San Gregorio, with its elegant bell tower, witness the historical role of this part of the city: this is the ancient Borgo San Gregorio, a borough which used to be at the entrance of the city in the Middle Ages. At the end of Via Garibaldi, after Piazza IV Novembre, Via XXV Aprile leads to the 16^th-century building Palazzo Bellavitis. By turning left in the small piazza, Viale Lacchin leads back to the train station, the starting point of this itinerary aimed at discovering the city of Sacile.