Udine |
| Thursday, 12 February 2009 19:04 |
 Udine is situated in the heart of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and has just about 100,000 inhabitants. The city is marked a lot by the Venetian style and invites to you stay and enjoy the many relaxing squares, arcades, palaces and streets. The Venetian influence, which Udine was under from the 15th century, can be seen in the cityscape. During the 17th and 18th centuries a real competition began between a few of the aristocratic families to claim who had the most magnificent palace. The most elegant square of the city is the Piazza della Libertà. The Clock Tower, Torre dell’Orologio, was erected and inspired by the Piazza San Marco in Venice. The Loggia del Lionello, which is located across from there, served as a Town Hall and the Loggia des Porticato San Giovanni radiates a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Impressive Baroque statues, columns and a fountain complete the look of this elegant square. If you follow the pergola you will reach the castle, the Castello, which dates back to the 16th century. Due to an earthquake in 1511 almost the entire building was destroyed. Today in the Castello you will discover the Museo Civico, which is an art gallery, archeological museum and also the Museum des Risorgimento (Italian movement towards a union in the 19th century.). In the art gallery there are mostly works displayed by Fruili and Venetian painters from the 14th to 19th centuries. Early frescoes, self portraits from many artists, works from, among others, Vittore Carpaccio, Giambattista Tiepolo and his son Giandomenico make this gallery a must see for every art lover. The section for prints and drawings is also interesting. Here there are works by Tiepolo, Carraci, Dürer and Rembrandt to see, such as animal and plant themed artworks. The Archeological Museum has objects on display that were found in Friuli, among them Greek and Etruscan vases, statues, votives, gems, pottery, amber and a collection of coins, medals and seals. From the castle Castello you have a wonderful view of the city. Beautiful church facades can be found everywhere in the city. The façade of the church Sant’Antonio Abate resembles the one of the Andrea Palladio. Directly next door is the Palazzo Patriarchale, that dates back to the 18th century. Gimbattista Tiepolo was given the job of designing the interior rooms. His frescoes are displayed in the Museo Diocesano. On two floors of the palace there are exhibits of Friuli carvings to see, the beautifully furnished rooms represent the Patriarch, portraits and frescoes with motives from the Old Testaments and the first large fresco cycle of Tiepolo are also on display. Freskenzyklus von Tiepolo darstellen. A pretty square is the Piazza Matteotti. The beautiful mansions from the 16th and 17th centuries and the San Giacomo with its exquisitely detailed façade circle the old market place of Udine. Modern art can be seen in the Galleria d’Arte Moderna! More than 3,000 works are on display from the collections of paintings, sculptures, graphics, designs, comics and architectural blue prints. The works are mostly from regional Friuli and Veneto artists but there are also pieces to be marveled at from Ensor, Modigliani, Morandi and American artists. The cathedral S. Maria Annunziata with its beautiful portal dates back to the 14th century. The interior, however, was furnished in the 18th century with Baroque items. Even here, just as in the adjacent Chiesa della Purità, impressive frescoes from Tiepolo can be seen. |
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