Chions: Villas, Churches and Routes Between History and Nature
Accommodation in Chions
Discover Chions by Bicycle and on Foot
Chions combines historic buildings, straight landscape features and paths through wetlands to create a varied destination in western Friuli. The town is particularly easy to explore on cycling routes: a circular cycling route to historic villas and residences passes through Chions, includes Villa Sbrojavacca in Villotta and Villa Perotti in Chions, and partly follows the route of the Ciclovia della Bassa Pianura Pordenonese (FVG 9). The outward journey covers 23.6 kilometres, while the return journey covers 20.3 kilometres. Another cycling tour leads from Sesto al Reghena via Cordovado and Chions to Taiedo.
Villas, Towers and Traces of the Past
Villa Sbrojavacca in Chions was probably built in the second half of the 17th century. As a complex, it is described as consisting of a garden, a rectangular two-storey main building, a barchessa and an auxiliary building. Villa Perotti was built in the second half of the 19th century, more precisely around the final quarter of that century. Its rectangular building has three floors above ground and is topped by a strongly projecting cornice.
The historical heritage of the Sbrojavacca family also includes the surviving square brick tower, Torre di Sbrojavacca. It is 20 metres high, each side measures 8 metres, and the wall is 1.65 metres thick at the base. The Sbrojavacca castle in the Torrate district, by contrast, was destroyed in 1820. Thus, surviving structures and documented elements that no longer exist from the same historic setting stand side by side in Chions.
Churches in Chions and Basedo
The Chiesetta di San Giuliano was built in 1332, demolished in 1630 and rebuilt in the following years; the reconstruction was completed in 1664. Originally, it was attached to the Sbrojavacca castle. The church received its battlemented bell tower in 1934. It was designed by Vittorio Pascatti from San Vito.
In Basedo, a district of Chions, stands the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo, which 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. These took place on the occasion of a very old fair held on 12 July and attracted believers from all over Friuli and Carnia.
Waterways, Land Traces and a Market in May
Chions preserves clear traces of the Roman centuriation of the Agro of Julia Concordia in the right-angled arrangement of its roads and fields. The Parco delle Fonti di Torrate offers a different landscape impression: 8 kilometres of walking and cycling paths run through meadows, wetlands and waterways. The park has a large car park accessible from the S. Vito al Tagliamento–Villotta di Chions road. Information boards are positioned along the park paths.
Between Chions and Basedo lies the artificial body of water Le Roste, with a sport-fishing centre where angling is possible. In May, the annual market Chions in fiore is also held. It extends along the streets in the centre of Chions and is dedicated to flowers, plants and animals. Cultural events, performers, musicians and street artists accompany the market; the programme also includes tastings of flowers and medicinal herbs.
Another destination is Villalta.
For the overarching travel overview: Pordenone.
More Destinations
More places under the same destination:
