Tolmezzo

The city’s history has left its mark on the elegant palazzos of noble families, the arcades and the rows of more modestly sized dwellings in the old Borgat district that surrounds Piazza Mazzini. Here you can admire the Church of Santa Caterina where one of Pomponio Amalteo's nest works, the altar piece of the wedding of Saint Catherine (1537), is kept. Almost opposite the church you can see the elegant façade of Casa Janesi (15th century), with typical Venetian Gothic mullioned windows. From here you can take a pleasant stroll towards the centre through the characteristic arcades and galleries for some light shopping. Piazza XX Settembre is the heart of the city. It is overlooked by historic institutional buildings like the Palazzo del Municipio (Town Hall) and Palazzo Garzolini, the town’s courthouse, and the eighteenth century Duomo (cathedral). The Duomo houses a number of important works by Veneto painters Bassano, Diziani and Novelli, frescos by Angelo Schiavi, the altarpiece by Fontebasso, the canvases of the Evangelists and Apostles by Carnic artist Nicola Grassi and the sixteenth century stoup attributed to Comacine master Bernardino da Bissone. After passing through the so-called Borgo della Muffa (Via Ermacora, Piazza Garibaldi), north of the main piazza, we recommend a visit to Palazzo Campeis, home of the Michele Gortani Carnic Museum of Popular Arts, where one of the richest collections of artworks and objects of popular art is kept. Equally interesting from an artistic point of view is the eighteenth century Palazzo Frisacco, to the south of the piazza, which is a prestigious venue for exhibitions and art shows. Not far from the centre is Palazzo Linussio, designed by Tolmezzo architect Domenico Schiavi, the former site of the factory and residence of industrialist Jacopo Linussio, which now belongs to the Italian Military. The palazzo has a collection of important frescos and bas-relief works in its extraordinary central salon.