Pordenone: Art, Nature and River Routes

Pordenone combines an impressive urban history with museums, river landscapes and special discoveries in nature. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Pordenone can combine cultural sightseeing, paved riverside paths and excursions to historic sites. This gives families with different interests various opportunities to make each day of their trip varied.

Palaces, Churches and Art in Pordenone

A striking starting point for exploring the city’s history is Palazzo Ricchieri. It is one of Pordenone’s oldest buildings and was originally constructed in the 13th century as a fortified residential tower. In the 15th century, the Ricchieri family expanded the residential tower into a Venetian palace. At the Museo Civico d’Arte, you can see paintings, drawings, frescoes, wooden sculptures, furniture, as well as goldsmith’s and ceramic objects from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The Duomo di San Marco also leads to important works from the history of regional art. It houses works by Pordenone, Pilacorte and Calderari. Since 2006, the Museo Archeologico del Friuli Occidentale has been housed in Castello di Torre. The archaeological site of the Villa Romana di Torre dates from the period between the 1st century BC and the 4th century AD. The mosaic remains and rooms are visible from some distance through the protective grille.

Museums of Nature, Minerals and Comics

The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “Silvia Zenari” focuses on minerals and wildlife. Its exhibition comprises more than 1,000 exhibits and is divided into a general mineralogy section and a section on the minerals of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The vertebrate section includes a mammal gallery, depictions of African habitats and a room dedicated to comparative osteology.

The International Museum of Comic Art focuses on something completely different. Its permanent exhibition is divided into 20 sections according to comic formats, including manga, comic books, bande dessinée and graphic novels. At the Museo Palazzo del Fumetto, you can experience comics in a historic setting: it is housed in the villa of the Galvani family in the park of the same name. Depending on your interests, you can therefore include art collections, natural history, archaeology or comic-book history in your travel plans.

Riverbanks and Special Natural Sites

The Parco fluviale del Noncello in the centre of Pordenone combines historical and natural-history interest with river fauna and typical riverside vegetation. A fully paved and accessible riverside promenade runs along the Riviera del Pordenone and at the Imbarcadero. Fixed ramps provide access to the river excursions. Those who enjoy cycling or walking can also connect the Parco del Castello di Torre with the city centre and other districts of Pordenone via paths along the Noncello.

In Parco di San Valentino, rare plant species can be observed in natural areas, including common enchanter’s nightshade, carnation sedge and the Euganean crowfoot. An unusual historical trace is the park’s stone icehouse. Until the 1930s, ice was stored there for domestic use at the nearby Villa Marchi.

Practical Guidance for Choosing a Location

Arriving by train can be combined with a cultural opening to your trip: Pordenone railway station is about 1 km from the Galleria Harry Bertoia. The completely level route runs along Via Mazzini to the beginning of the historic arcades. When choosing your accommodation, consider whether you mainly want to include museums and urban history, nature observation by the water, or cycling and walking routes in your holiday days. A holiday apartment in Pordenone can be a suitable direction for your search without requiring you to commit to just one type of trip.

Discover More Destinations

If you would like to extend your travel plans beyond Pordenone, you can find further pages at this destination level under Tramonti Di Sopra, San Vito Al Tagliamento, Brugnera, Vivaro, Spilimbergo, Pravisdomini and Rauscedo. You can also visit Vallenoncello as a supplement.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pordenone.