Autumn from above

An ancient tavern with its tower welcomes visitors to the medieval village of Villafredda, which in turn is part of the property of the old noble Liruti family, lords of Villafredda. Their founder, who arrived in Friuli in the late Middle Ages, is identified as Bartolomeo di Mantova, vice-gastaldo of Cividale in 1369. His descendants are in fact called “I Mantovani”. The original name of Villafredda was probably “Borgo Vecchio”, from the German of the time “burgfried”. Only around the fifteenth century was “Burgfried” transformed first into “Villafrigida” and then into “Villafredda”. In the turreted village, the residences of the noble families are worth a visit, including in particular that of the historian Gian Giuseppe Liruti, who lived between 1689 and 1780. It preserves various frescoes located within the walled perimeter. Also of interest are the small church of the Trinity and the Biasutti-Puicher palace surrounded by a park full of centuries-old plants.