Discover Merlana: Villa Rubini, Church Art and Cycling Route

Merlana combines architectural history with a practical opportunity for active holiday days. Villa Rubini, the Folador and the Church of Santa Caterina Vergine e Martire reveal different historical layers; the Anello delle ville friulane cycling route (R038) also passes through the village. When choosing a holiday apartment, consider whether you are primarily interested in exploring architectural history or would also like to use Merlana as a starting point for a cycling tour.

Villa Rubini and the Folador: two types of building

Villa Rubini in Merlana was built in the 18th century by the old Friulian family of the Counts Mantica. The Folador di Villa Rubini offers a different perspective on architectural history: it is a typical agricultural building of the Friulian plain. On the ground floor are two long rooms arranged side by side. The room for winemaking was in the south, and the wine cellar in the north; the upper floor served as a granary. This layout makes it possible to trace the different agricultural functions within a single building.

Together, the villa and the Folador represent different aspects of regional architecture: on the one hand, the villa built in the 18th century; on the other, a building whose rooms were designed for winemaking, storage and grain. A later use is also part of the Folador’s history. In 2010/2011, the building served as a venue for public and private gatherings, including larger events. If you are interested in historic architecture, Merlana offers more than a single building type: its historic buildings reflect different functions and periods.

Santa Caterina: architecture and art inside the church

The present-day Church of Santa Caterina Vergine e Martire dates from the 18th or 19th century and was created by renovating an older building from the late 16th century. Its single-nave interior ends in a presbytery with a cross-ribbed vault. Above the side entrance is a 16th-century inscription dedicating the earlier chapel to Saint Nicholas. The architecture and inscription therefore tell of different building phases rather than assigning the church a single date of origin.

The furnishings also span several centuries. The baptismal font dates from the 17th century; its copper cover was engraved in the 19th century. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was created by Vittorio Ferrero in the early 20th century. The marble high altar is adorned with statues of the martyrs Biagio, Bishop, and Lorenzo, Deacon, created by Adeodato Periotti, who came from Udine. In 1905, Giovanni Fattori painted an image of the church’s patron saint, Santa Caterina, on the rear wall of the apse.

The freestanding bell tower adds to these historical details: it bears an inscription dated 6 June 1803. The date belongs to the inscription; it does not indicate the year the tower was built. Taken together, the building phases, furnishings and inscriptions provide concrete clues for understanding the history of the church and its predecessor buildings.

Merlana as a starting point for architectural history and cycling

The Anello delle ville friulane cycling route (R038) offers another way to experience Merlana. It passes through the village and can be reached from Udine via the Alpe-Adria Cycle Route (FVG1). As route connections may be updated, it is advisable to check the current route before setting out. The tour adds an active dimension to your stay, while Villa Rubini, the Folador and Santa Caterina offer opportunities for historical discovery.

For exploring cultural history, the different buildings and the church’s furnishings are key points of interest; for a cycling trip, the R038 provides a specific point of reference. This lets you choose the village based on the experiences you would like to include in your trip, without limiting your stay to just one type of holiday.

For the broader travel overview: Trivignano Udinese.