Villa Vicentina: Churches, Borghi and History

Villa Vicentina consists of several borghi, located a few kilometres apart. Its historical connections range from church construction and former ownership and activities to a linguistic link with reeds. This gives the place different points of entry: architecture, economic history and names each tell a different part of its past.

Santa Maria: Construction Period and Portal

The parish church of Santa Maria was built between 1660 and 1680 on the site of an earlier building. Its Baroque portal is by Giovanni Pacassi. The construction period, the earlier building and the portal offer different ways into the story of the same church: the dates frame its construction, while the attribution connects a specific name with the portal. For those interested in architecture, the history of an earlier building meets a portal attributed to a named artist.

Different Historical Connections of the Borghi

Borgo Pacco is associated with the ancient Villa Asiola, dating from 1174. Another historical connection leads to Elisa Baciocchi, the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. At the beginning of the 19th century, she expanded her holdings, including Villa Baciocchi. The two stories differ in nature: the first links Borgo Pacco with Villa Asiola, while the second describes a property acquisition involving Baciocchi. Here, you encounter both a connection between a borgo and a historic villa and the property history of a named person.

Borgo Sandrigo also reveals another side of the past. Historically, the place was associated with livestock farming and the production of bricks and roof tiles. The clay-rich soil favoured their manufacture, making the connection between local soil and craft activity tangible. The name Borgo Candelettis, by contrast, leads through language: it is connected with the Venetian term “canèla” for reed. Reeds grow in ditches and may be found near the lagoon. While Sandrigo brings work and soil to the fore, Candelettis leads from the meaning of the word to a plant and its possible habitat.

Reading Sessions at the Library

The Biblioteca comunale di Villa Vicentina is a public reading service and belongs to the InBiblio library system. It regularly hosts reading sessions called “Ora delle Storie”. They are led by volunteers, professional staff or both groups. This adds a recurring cultural event to the area’s historical connections. If you would like to plan a specific reading session, check the current date in advance.

Consider the Layout of the Area When Looking for Accommodation

When looking for a holiday apartment, the division into several borghi is a practical point of reference. As the settlements are a few kilometres apart, it is worth checking the precise location given for an offer rather than treating Villa Vicentina as one compact place. If you are particularly interested in the history of a specific borgo, you can take its location into account when comparing options. This lets you choose where to stay in line with the actual settlement pattern.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Lavariano, Latisana, Savogna di Cividale, Tricesimo, Pulfero, Tolmezzo, Venzone, Forni Di Sopra

For the main travel overview: Udine.