Percoto: Church, Villa and the History of Grappa

Percoto brings together the history of the parish of San Martino Vescovo, Villa Frattina-Caiselli and the Nonino grappa tradition. It is also the starting point for a regional route from Pavia di Udine to Percoto, which follows a local unpaved path. If you would like to explore the area, you can choose between church and architectural history, the story of a specific grappa, and an outing along the route. Tours at Nonino Distilleries are available by prior reservation.

San Martino: the parish and church in historical perspective

The parish of San Martino Vescovo in Percoto was founded around 1500, after separating from the Pieve di Buttrio. The present-day Church of San Martino Vescovo is a distinct part of the story: it was founded around 1700 and consecrated in 1751. The parish and the present church building therefore represent different periods in the area’s history. Around two and a half centuries separate the founding of the parish from the consecration of the church. If you are interested in religious history, this timeline provides a specific historical context and highlights the difference between the establishment of the parish and the history of the present-day church.

Villa Frattina-Caiselli and its park

In the centre of Percoto stands Villa Frattina-Caiselli, built by the Frattina family in the 17th century. Its park is open to the public and offers another aspect to explore alongside the villa’s architectural history. Most of the original decoration has been preserved in the central hall. The Caiselli commissioned it, and it was created by Guarana and Antonio Carneo. This makes it possible to distinguish between the patrons and the decoration: the Frattina family commissioned the villa’s construction, while the Caiselli commissioned its decoration. If you are interested in architecture, you will find not only the century in which the villa was built, but also the names of the patrons and artists involved in designing the hall.

Nonino: a grappa tradition with a specific date

Percoto is also closely connected with the history of grappa. On 1 December 1973, Giannola and Benito Nonino created the single-variety grappa Monovitigno® Grappa Nonino by separately distilling pomace from Picolit grapes. Pomace refers to the solid grape material left after pressing. The Picolit grapes and their separate distillation make the production process behind this grappa specific. Another milestone in the company’s history is Orazio Nonino, who established his distillery headquarters in Ronchi di Percoto. Tours at Nonino Distilleries in Percoto are available by prior reservation. Be sure to make a reservation before planning a tour.

Casa Colombare on the route to Percoto

The “10 Thousand Steps of Health” route reaches Percoto from Pavia di Udine via a local unpaved path. In the section through Percoto, it lists Casa Colombare as a building worth seeing, known as a 15th-century house. Alongside the church and villa, this adds another building with its own historical context. The unpaved path is a specific detail to bear in mind when planning your trip. As route information can change, check the current route before setting out.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your interests

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Percoto, you can base your choice on the themes that shape your trip: San Martino and the villa for local history, Nonino for the grappa tradition, or the route featuring Casa Colombare as a named building in the Percoto section. This lets you choose a destination that suits your interests without requiring every activity to have the same focus. Discover more destinations: Camino Al Tagliamento, Arta Terme, Moimacco, Moggio Udinese, Palazzolo Dello Stella, Tarvisio, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Savogna di Cividale.

For the wider travel overview: Udine.