Udine
An elegant Venetian-flavoured city with Tiepolo frescoes and Friulano wine country at its doorstep.
About Udine
Udine is the cultural capital of Friuli, a graceful city where Venetian-style palazzos line piazzas decorated with frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo—the great 18th-century painter lived and worked here early in his career. The hilltop castle offers views across the Friulian plain to the Julian Alps, and the old town is a delightful maze of porticoed streets, wine bars, and elegant cafés. Udine is the gateway to the Friulano wine country, particularly the famous Colli Orientali and Collio zones where extraordinary white wines—Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Picolit—are produced in family vineyards minutes from the city.
Best Time to Visit
April to October. The wine harvest in September-October is magical. Friuli DOC, the region's largest wine and food festival, takes place in September. Summer evenings in the piazzas are enchanting.
Local Tips
- Find the Tiepolo trail.
Tiepolo painted extensively in Udine before becoming famous. A local can trace his early masterpieces from the Cathedral to the Archbishop's Palace to the Oratorio della Purità—all in a morning walk.
- Do an aperitivo crawl.
Udine's piazzas come alive at aperitivo hour. A local knows the circuit: start in Piazza Matteotti for a spritz, move to Piazza Libertà for a tajut (small glass of wine), and end with a plate of frico cheese.
- Tour the Colli Orientali.
The eastern hills of Friuli produce some of Italy's finest white wines. A local can arrange tastings at small producers in Buttrio, Cividale, and Prepotto where you'll try wines you can't find outside the region.
(the local lens)
Meet the Local Experts
Your on-the-ground insiders . The ones who know the enduring favourites, the quiet corners and what’s worth your time.
