What to See in Pordenone: Places of Interest and Surroundings

Pordenone, an elegant city in Friuli Venezia Giulia with a charming historic center: a relaxing walk under the arcades, among the longest in Europe, and past buildings with splendidly frescoed facades, is the best way to discover the city. The history of Pordenone (formerly Portus Naonis) is still tied today to the Noncello, a watercourse that was navigable for centuries, determining the economic development of the city and contributing to creating a unique inclination for innovation, exchange, and dialogue.

Dynamism and creativity are evident in the architecture, artistic, musical, and literary production, as well as in international events such as “Pordenonelegge“, the “Silent Film Festival“, and “Dedica Festival“, which have made Pordenone a culturally rich and original reality on the Italian and international scene.

1 The Center of Pordenone

Pordenone is a beautiful, modern, curious, and fun city. It has a picturesque historic center that can be explored on foot to be charmed by the elegance of painted buildings and arcades, and the poetry of frescoes telling the city’s story. The center of Pordenone develops along two main streets: Corso Garibaldi and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Along these two thoroughfares, many historic palaces follow each other. Pordenone is also the birthplace of Giovanni Antonio de Sacchis, who lived between 1484 and 1539, known as Il Pordenone, the greatest Friulian Renaissance painter.

2 Corso Vittorio Emanuele II

Starting from the ancient Town Hall, with its original Gothic shapes, begins Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the old Contrada Maggiore, an elegant street with long arcades and buildings of great artistic and architectural interest. In Pordenone, you can also find well-curated shop windows and cozy cafes along picturesque alleys where characteristic restaurants overlook.

Pordenone Places of Interest

Places of interest in Pordenone not to be missed include the Cathedral, the Town Hall, and Palazzo Ricchieri, home of the Art Museum.

3 Pordenone Cathedral

Built between the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the Cathedral (Duomo) of Pordenone features an unfinished neoclassical facade prominently showing the Renaissance-style portal by Antonio Pilacorte. The Cathedral is next to the Town Hall, another point of interest in Pordenone, and is dedicated to Saint Mark. Inside the sacred place, there are important works of art, including the famous altarpieces by Il Pordenone, born Giovanni Antonio De’ Sacchis, dedicated to the “Madonna della Misericordia”. The bell tower, 72 meters tall, is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy (1347-1626).

4 Town Hall

The Pordenone Town Hall is located at the end of the arcaded street. It features interesting and distinctive Gothic forms. The Town Hall of Pordenone was expanded over the years. The pinnacles and a small loggia were added only in 1542, while the origins of the building date back to 1291, with significant additions in 1365.

Pordenone Museums

5 Pordenone Civic Art Museum (Palazzo Ricchieri)

In 1949, Lucio Ernesto Ricchieri donated his palace to the city of Pordenone to transform it into a cultural center. After restorations necessary due to the poor condition of the building, the Pordenone Civic Art Museum was inaugurated in 1972, housing many works destined to grow thanks to donations from collectors and artists themselves. After being closed for years for renovations, in 1996, Palazzo Ricchieri reopened to the public in a new layout, with renewed exhibition rooms hosting the museum’s most significant art: paintings on board or canvas, drawings, frescoes, wooden sculptures, furniture, goldsmith and ceramic objects made from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The large entrance opens onto the public street, a portico through which carriages once passed, leading also to the internal courtyard where the stables, service rooms, and warehouses were located. A wide stone staircase leads to the two upper floors where the family lived. On each floor is a large room with windows overlooking the street and internal courtyard, used as the main reception and honor room for guests, and smaller adjacent rooms used privately by the family. Climbing the staircase, you can see painted on the wall the large Ricchieri coat of arms, divided into four sections with two silver eagles and two wreaths of flowers on a red background. The portraits below represent some of the family’s most important members, who were leaders, politicians, merchants, and clergymen.

Pordenone Civic Art Museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday 3:30 PM/7:30 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM/1:00 PM – 3:30 PM/7:30 PM.

6 Pordenone Civic Museum of Natural History (Palazzo Amalteo)

The Pordenone Civic Museum of Natural History, founded in 1970 by bringing together the naturalistic and scientific heritage of the Società Naturalistica Silvia Zenari, is housed in the 16th-century Palazzo Amalteo. It includes permanent exhibitions: the bird rooms with collections of local species and exotic ones from Oddo Arrigoni degli Oddi, including colorful hummingbirds, the diorama room with reconstructions of local habitats and environments, the Theatrum Naturae, and the cabinet of curiosities. The prehistoric section features reconstructions of two different moments in the Italian Quaternary: a diorama depicting a faithfully reconstructed Homo erectus camp found in Isernia; a fine painting and imposing reconstructions of a mammoth and a woolly rhinoceros. Also interesting is the Rimoli collection, the most complete collection of minerals from the Alpe Adria region.

Pordenone Civic Museum of Natural History hours: Tuesday to Saturday 3:30 PM/7:30 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM/1:00 PM – 3:30 PM/7:30 PM.

7 Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Pordenone

The particular nature of the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Pordenone led to a dual arrangement: by subject (chronologically arranged) and by destination, making room for testimonies of sacramental practice and devotion. In the composition of paintings, sculptures, furnishings, and various furniture from the 7th century to contemporary times, created by artists of various stature (from sculptors Alvise Casella, Giovanni Martini, Orazio Marinali to painters Pomponio Amalteo, Francesco Guardi, Nicola Grassi, Gianfrancesco da Tolmezzo, Michelangelo Grigoletti and others), there is an effort to emphasize local origins, using neighboring geographical areas to fill any iconographic gaps. Resulting from ancient deposits, donations, or entrusted custody, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Pordenone presents its collections clearly and elegantly.
Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art opening hours: Tuesday 9:00 AM/1:00 PM; Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 AM/1:00 PM / 2:30 PM/6:30 PM; Friday 2:30 PM/6:30 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM/12:30 PM.

Pordenone Archaeological Area

8 Western Friuli Archaeological Museum, Pordenone

Only three kilometers from the center of Pordenone is the Western Friuli Archaeological Museum, opened to the public after the restoration of the Castle of Torre. It houses numerous artifacts collected by the last family member residing in the castle, Count Giuseppe di Ragogna, during his work as an archaeologist. The presented artifacts come from all over Western Friuli and reconstruct a broad historical panorama from prehistory to the Renaissance. The Western Friuli Archaeological Museum of the Municipality of Pordenone holds some artifacts from the Palù of Livenza, which entered the museum since the 1970s when the site began to be rediscovered and the first ceramics recovered, while others were assigned on deposit since 2006.
Western Friuli Archaeological Museum hours: Friday and Saturday 3:00 PM/6:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM/12:00 PM – 3:00 PM/6:00 PM. July-August: Friday and Saturday 3:00 PM/7:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM/12:00 PM – 3:00 PM/7:00 PM.

9 Roman Villa Archaeological Area of Torre, Pordenone

The uncovering of the Roman Villa of Torre is due to Count Giuseppe di Ragogna who between 1950 and 1952 excavated the structures of part of a large residential-productive complex, located near the current course of the Noncello river, richly decorated with refined frescoed plaster and precious marbles. Information: visit by appointment for groups at the Western Friuli Archaeological Museum (tel. 0434-541433). Free admission.

What to See Around Pordenone

The itinerary of Pordenone and surroundings passes through San Vito al Tagliamento, Maniago, Spilimbergo, Valvasone, Sacile to arrive at Sesto al Reghena. The area is dotted with towns of centuries-old history, still told today by the appearance and ancient style of the buildings.

10 Sesto al Reghena

After discovering the city of Pordenone, visitors can set off to explore its province starting with Sesto al Reghena, whose streets tell a millenary story. Particularly interesting is the Abbey of S. Maria in Sylvis, a true jewel of medieval architecture that houses a treasure of frescoes.

11 San Vito al Tagliamento

The journey continues to the town of San Vito al Tagliamento, where the centuries unfold along its streets, from the Roman era to the medieval age, well represented by the city walls once defending the village and its towers. Also not to be missed is the Church of Santa Maria dei Battuti, a splendid example of Renaissance architecture.

12 Valvasone

Leaving San Vito, you can continue to Valvasone, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”: developed entirely around the castle, the village is a maze of medieval alleys and small squares. The arcades adorning many of the numerous noble houses in the historic center are splendid, often decorated with coats of arms and statues.

13 Sacile

In the province of Pordenone, the town of Sacile deserves a visit, nicknamed the Garden of the Serenissima. The town is located on the banks of the Livenza river and consists of a labyrinth of alleys, narrow streets, and small bridges offering picturesque views. Definitely not to be missed in Sacile are the Cathedral of San Nicolò, the Chapel of Madonna della Pietà, Piazza del Popolo, the Town Hall Loggia, and the Ragazzoni-Flangini-Biglia Palace.

14 Maniago

A real gem of the itinerary is Maniago, a town famous for the traditional production of blades and knives, a craft that local blacksmiths have cultivated and perfected since the 15th century.

15 Spilimbergo

The last stop in exploring the surroundings of Pordenone can be the splendid village of Spilimbergo. The town, known for its mosaic tradition and the famous Friuli Mosaic School, developed during the medieval and Renaissance periods and is surrounded by three sets of walls. Besides the walls, the castle, and the Eastern Tower, within the historic center, the Casa Dipinta deserves attention, frescoed in the 16th century with scenes from the life of Hercules. A visit to Pordenone and surroundings is more than just a weekend idea, given the wealth of inspiration from the province’s towns.

16 What to Eat in Pordenone

Pordenone reflects the influence of the whole region. The kings of dishes are cured meats (pitina, salam tal aset), bean and barley soups, gnocchi, risottos, and orzottos. Then: frico and polenta (classic dishes of the entire region), musetto with brovada (pig’s snout with turnips macerated in young wine) and codfish. Among sweets, the “Pordenone biscuit” is a must.

17 Where to Sleep in Pordenone

Pordenone is a quiet city boasting a decent hotel offer as well as a culinary one. It is not hard to find good accommodation also considering extra-hotel options. In Pordenone, however, we recommend staying in a hotel chosen among the dozens listed on the site of our partner, Booking.com.