10.000 Steps in Motion

The antique and attractive town of Sacile, called the ‘Garden of the Serenissima’ during the Republic of Venice, is the westernmost municipality of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Sacile can be considered a ‘water town’, since it originated and developed along the banks of one of the most important rivers in Friuli, the Livenza (1).
The route, and the cycling track running along the Paisa Stream (2), an affluent of the Livenza River, are both dedicated to the memory of Denis Zanette (1970-2003), the cycling champion from Sacile who died prematurely. The route is part of the urban development project of the Town of Sacile started at the beginning of 2000, to promote healthy lifestyles and prevention in its different aspects, as indicated by the WHO and the Italian Network of Healthy Cities, of which Sacile is a member.

This route develops in the city of Sacile for about 4 kilometres. It is suitable for families, elderly people, walk groups, nordic walking and more. It is mostly a pedestrian and cycling track and develops on existing trails.
Its starting point is the parking area of Via Carducci, in front of the ‘Forum Due Mori’ (3) social centre, an aggregation and reference place for many inhabitants of Sacile, mostly elderly.
The route then partly runs along the existing ‘Denis Zanette’ pedestrian and cycling track and continues through San Liberale, until it returns to the historical centre through Viale Trieste, Via Cavour, Corte Ragazzoni (4) and Ortazza Park (5).
The itinerary, mostly unwinding in a picturesque natural area, is magical. The remaining part of the route develops in the historical centre and is therefore equally fascinating and interesting.
Along the urban path, it is possible to admire the church of San Liberale (6) and the tower of San Rocco (7), erected between 1470 and 1485 to defend the town from the Turkish invasion. Of the five towers, this is one of the three still standing. The towers were connected to each other by underground tunnels, which originally, together with a wall, defended Sacile.
Another attraction worthy of a visit, and perhaps the most representative building of Sacile’s past is the elegant 16th-century Ragazzoni Palace (8), which bears the name of the last illustrious family of Venetian ship-owners and merchants who lived there.