The first stop of the route to discover the Province is Pordenone - its old city center is well-preserved, and complete an impressive Palazzo Comunale and clock tower, a Gothic loggia and a Cathedral bearing a superb bell tower and richly-frescoed interior.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is the city's main thoroughfare, and it is lined with handsome historical buildings, such as Palazzo Mantica-Cattaneo and Palazzo Ricchieri; Palazzo Ricchieri is the site of the Civic Museum of Art, with its collection of precious paintings and wooden sculptures.
Close to the Provincial Capital, Porcìa is well-worth a visit. It is dominated by its majestic castle, and is dotted with invaluable religious and monumental palazzi. Not far from the residential area, in a beautiful park, rises Villa Correr-Dolfin, one of the Region's most important Venetian villas, built at the end of the 17th Century.
Then, Sesto al Reghena is outstanding: it is an age-old village not far from the Abbey of Santa Maria in Sylvis, a monastic complex bearing great historic and artistic value. Also nearby is the Vincheredo Fountain. The surrounding environment is known for its karst springs, beauty and charm, and is one of Friuli's most celebrated places in literature.
The small village of Valvasone is replete with history: in the old city center is the Medieval castle, palazzi with their loggias, and the cathedral well-known for its exemplary Venetian school organ from the 16th Century.
Spilimbergo also deserves a visit. As location of the Scuola Mosaicisti of Friuli and the "city of mosaics," it is world-famous for its production of decorative pavement and wall mosaics. Its historic center is also very charming: think characteristic houses decorated with frescoes, a (once-rebuilt) castle and a Cathedral also known for being an a treasure trove of art.
Sacile is a small town located on the banks of the River Livenza; of a peculiar physiognomy, it preserves the traces of its long existence under Venetian rule, particularly in its monuments and buildings.
Among the Province's other distinctive towns and borgos, Maniago is the ?city of cutlery works,? Polcenigo is dominated by its Medieval fortress, and Barcis and Andreis offer typical examples of mountain architecture.
Castles and places of faith also abound in these parts: two examples are the Santuario della Santissima, located near the springs of the Livenza; and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Cordovado, decorated with an enthralling wooden ceiling.
The Diogene Penzi Provincial Museum of Peasant Life (in San Vito al Tagliamento, Maniago and Cavasso Nuovo) explores local culture and folkloric traditions, while the Clautana House Museum is a window into daily life in the Valcellina.
