Amaro

A local popular proverb says, “Carnia would be sweeter if the first town wasn't amaro, o bitter”. Amaro is the first of twenty-eight municipalities that you come across when you enter Carnia from Udine province and stands on the Iulia Augusta Roman road that connected Aquileia and Noricum. Because of its position, it is believed that there was a station for exchanging carts and driving animals here in ancient times. The roots of Amaro are, however, swathed in an aura of legend and mystery. Legend has it that there was a terrible flood that put flight to the inhabitants of the legendary town of Olmade and led to the foundation of Amaro. Another local tradition is the origin of the annual town crayfish festival. It seems, in fact, that the men of the town strutted about with their wives upon winning a heroic battle against a terrible monster, the “rude bestie”, or wicked beast, omitting to mention that it was a mere crayfish. The important commercial and industrial district developed just outside the town, with its very high level technology centre, is instead closely linked to the modern age.