Manzano – Abbey, Vineyards and Chairmaking Culture

Manzano can be explored through several clearly distinct aspects: historical sites, paths through forests and vineyards, the traditional craft of chairmaking, as well as oil, wine and vinegar. This gives you various starting points for planning your stay, without reducing the municipality to just one theme.

Rosazzo Abbey and the Sentiero delle rose

Rosazzo Abbey is open from 30 March to 25 October 2026. From Monday to Friday, opening hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, the abbey is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. When planning a visit, you therefore need to take into account not only the day of the week but also the different afternoon opening hours at the weekend.

Guided tours of Rosazzo Abbey and the “Sentiero delle rose” are available on request and with advance reservation.

Nature along the Natisone and paths through the hills

The Parco del Natisone is an important breeding area for birds. The stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) breeds on the gravel areas, while the tawny pipit (Anthus campestris) breeds in the dry grasslands.

The riverbed of the Natisone in the Parco del Natisone can be reached via unpaved roads branching off from the village of San Nicolò. This access route is part of getting your bearings around the park. The hills around Manzano are also well suited to walks among the vineyards. The “Sentiero della Sdricca” is a medieval path that passes through lush forests and sunny vineyards.

Historical sites and local crafts

Palazzo Romano in Case di Manzano stands on the remains of an older manor house. The building lies within a crenellated perimeter wall that also encloses a park. In the center of San Lorenzo, you can also find the 17th-century birthplace of the Friulian writer Caterina Percoto (1812–1887).

The municipality of Manzano has a historical and a modern collection of chairs and tools representing the local craft tradition. These collections reflect the town’s traditional economic profile: Manzano is one of the three original municipalities of the so-called “Triangolo della sedia”, a production community originally specializing in chairmaking. The other two municipalities are Corno di Rosazzo and San Giovanni al Natisone.

Events with regional connections

The “Gimcana della Sedia” is considered a traditional event held as part of the “Festa della Sedia” and is an obstacle race for historic carriages. The “Settembre Manzanese” has a different connection to contemporary history: its first edition took place in 1971. The Pro Loco Manzano celebrated its founding with the event and organized a late-summer festival to bring together the local districts and associations. The two events therefore represent different forms of local community life: one rooted in the chairmaking tradition and the other as a festival connecting districts and associations.

Oil, wineries and vinegar production

Olive oil production has been deeply rooted in Manzano since the 11th century. In the area around Manzano, visitors can visit numerous wineries and taste their products together with local specialties. At a local acetaia, visitors can also learn about the ancient art of vinegar making. This gives you three distinct themes to explore gastronomically: the long history of olive oil, tasting wine products with local specialties, and traditional vinegar production.

Compare other destinations

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Manzano, you can find the town pages for San Pietro Al Natisone, Faedis, Aquileia, Azzano, Pontebba, Remanzacco, Villa Santina and Tarvisio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Udine.