Chions among Villas, Churches and Nature Trails

Chions between Villa Routes and the Roman Grid

Chions preserves unmistakable traces of the Roman centuriation of the Agro of Julia Concordia in the right-angled arrangement of its roads and fields. A circular cycling route to historic villas and residences runs through Chions: it includes Villa Sbrojavacca in Villotta and Villa Perotti in Chions. In part, it follows the route of the Ciclovia della Bassa Pianura Pordenonese (FVG 9); the outward journey is 23.6 kilometres and the return journey 20.3 kilometres. If you would like to combine a cycling route with historic buildings, you can include both in your travel plans.

Historic Villas and Striking Architecture

Villa Sbrojavacca is a complex surrounded by a garden, consisting of a rectangular, two-storey main building, a barchessa and an ancillary building. It was probably built in the second half of the 17th century. Villa Perotti was built in the second half of the 19th century, approximately in the final quarter of that century. It is rectangular, has three above-ground storeys and is topped by a strongly projecting cornice.

The preserved square brick tower of the Torre di Sbrojavacca is part of the area's striking architecture. It is 20 metres high, each side measures 8 metres, and the wall is 1.65 metres thick at the base. In the Torrate district, the Sbrojavacca castle was destroyed in 1820; the Chiesetta di San Giuliano was originally attached to this castle.

Churches with Their Own History

The Chiesetta di San Giuliano was built in 1332, dismantled in 1630 and rebuilt in the following years; the reconstruction was completed in 1664. In 1934, it received a battlemented bell tower designed by Vittorio Pascatti from San Vito. The Chiesa di San Bartolomeo in Basedo, a district of Chions, was built around 1350.

The Chiesa dei Santi Ermacora e Fortunato is the only church in western Friuli dedicated to the founders of the Church of Aquileia. Historically, it was the destination of annual pilgrimages. The occasion was a very old Mass held on 12 July, attended by believers from all over Friuli and Carnia.

Nature Trails, Water and Cycling Tours

For nature experiences, the Parco delle Fonti di Torrate offers more than 8 kilometres of walking and cycling paths through meadows, wetlands and waterways. The park has a large car park accessible from the S. Vito al Tagliamento–Villotta di Chions road; information panels stand along the park paths. Between Chions and Basedo there is also the artificial body of water Le Roste, with a sport-fishing centre where angling is possible.

A cycling tour runs from Sesto al Reghena via Cordovado and Chions to Taiedo. In the centre of Chions, Chions in fiore takes place every year in May along the streets. The market for flowers, plants and animals is accompanied by cultural events, performers, musicians and street artists. Chions in fiore also includes tastings of flowers and medicinal herbs.

Further destinations: Villalta

For the overview of the wider destination: Pordenone.

More Destinations

More places under the same destination:

Paludea, Vito D'asio, Pinzano Al Tagliamento, Valeriano, Vivaro, Sesto Al Reghena, Erto.