Castions Di Strada: Discover Nature and History

Castions Di Strada offers nature and culture, providing different focal points for a trip: routes lead into the wetland landscape of the Selvote Marsh, while churches, a fortified settlement and a historic road offer insights into the area's history. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can first consider whether you want your vacation days to focus more on nature experiences, architectural history or a mix of both.

Wetland, flowering season and routes

The Biotopo Torbiera Selvote route runs between Castions di Strada and Morsano di Strada through a Site of Community Importance that has been included in the Natura 2000 network. Both routes lead to the heart of the wetland. In spring, Iris sibirica and Gladiolus palustris bloom there—a specific seasonal highlight for anyone who also wants to plan their travel dates around the local plant life.

The Selvote Marsh covers an area of 59.78 hectares in Castions di Strada and overlaps with the protected area IT3320028 Palude Selvote. The longer route is 9.7 kilometres long, passes through Morsano di Strada and reaches the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena. This gives you a specific distance and a named destination for planning your day; both routes also lead to the heart of the wetland.

Another option is the Castions di Strada–Ariis cycling route. It starts in a square in Castions di Strada and is considered suitable for cycling year-round. This gives you a choice of different ways to explore: the routes to the Selvote Marsh, with their distinctive springtime appeal, or a cycling route considered suitable for year-round use.

Churches and traces of the past

Some Roman building materials were reused in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie; the present-day complex dates from the first half of the 16th century. A 16th-century fresco cycle depicts the life of Saint Blaise. Access to the frescoes is limited to certain occasions. The building materials and the pictorial cycle reveal different aspects of architectural history, although they do not date from the same period.

San Martino also adds an earlier building phase to the historical timeline: the original building dates from the 11th century. Southwest of the centre was a fortified settlement with phases of occupation spanning from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age (1500/1400 BC) to the Early Iron Age (900–800 BC). Taken together, these traces reach from prehistoric settlement phases through medieval church construction to the church complexes of the 16th century. The ancient Via Postumia was also renovated and is now called Napoleonica.

Local dairy history

The Latteria sociale di Castions di St. S.C.A. began as a village dairy and continues to operate as a cooperative dairy. Dairy products are sold on the ground floor. This local food production adds another dimension to the area's natural and architectural history. If you are planning to shop there, check in advance whether sales are currently available.

The right holiday rental for your travel plans

When choosing a holiday rental, it can be helpful to first decide which themes you want your stay to focus on. For a spring trip, the wetland's flowers take centre stage; anyone interested in architectural history will find a different thread in the churches, the prehistoric settlement phases and the history of the Via Postumia. The cycling route to Ariis offers another possible focus. Compare the location and availability of a specific accommodation with your own plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Valbruna, Cervignano Del Friuli, Paluzza, Tissano, Majano, Buja, Villa Santina, San Vito Al Torre.

For the overview of the wider area: Udine.