Fagagna, the village made up of seven ancient hamlets

Fagagna, the enchanting village of Friuli, owes its name to the Latin word fagus (beech), in memory of the forests that once covered these hills. 

Its history dates back to Roman times, when the area was crossed by the road connecting Iulia Concordia to Artegna. Between the 5th and 6th centuries, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta was built, while the first official mention of Fagagna dates to 983, when Emperor Otto II donated five castles to the Patriarch of Aquileia, including the local one. In the following centuries, Villalta Castle (1216) and the first hamlets (14th century) appeared, paving the way for the formation of the Community of Fagagna, which endured and adapted through conquests, dominations, and oaths of loyalty until the unification of Italy.

What to see in Fagagna 

The village of Fagagna is made up of seven ancient hamlets now united into a single center. From the town hall, you climb to the castle hill along cobbled alleys: here lie the ruins from the 11th century and the Community Palace, the administrative seat until 1797. Not far away, along Via Salizzada, stands the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the 13th century possibly on early Christian foundations, with a bell tower that dominates the landscape. Continuing along Via dei Tigli, you’ll find a 14th-century fortified house and then the Cjase Cocèl, a 17th-century rural home that hosts the famous Museum of Peasant Life: an immersive journey through the environments, trades, and scents of Friulian tradition. Nearby stands the small Church of San Leonardo (14th century) with 14th-century frescoes, while Via Umberto I preserves noble residences such as the 18th-century Nigris, the Asquini, and the proto-industrial Pico. From Borgo Paludo, you reach the castle and, along a scenic route, a World War I fort and the hamlet of Riolo. Worth a visit are also the churches with five historic 18th–19th-century organs and the evocative Villalta Castle, fief of the noble family of the same name, which still towers with its turrets and crenellated walls over the Friulian countryside.

Events in the village 

Fagagna thrives year-round with traditions and events that blend history and flavor. In January, the Norcino Festival celebrates the tastes of Friulian pork butchery at the Cjase Cocèl Museum, which also hosts the evocative Threshing Day in July and the joyful Pumpkin Festival in November. The Via Crucis of Ciconicco, unique in the region, enlivens Easter with a choral representation of the Passion. Between spring and autumn, the Castelli Aperti days allow visits to Villalta. May brings the Sagre dai Cais and Dairies Without Borders, while September lights up the square with the famous Donkey Race and the Palio of the Hamlets.

Exploring the surroundings of Fagagna 

Exploring the surroundings of Fagagna means immersing yourself in a landscape where nature, art, and history intertwine harmoniously. From the hills surrounding the village, panoramic routes open toward the moraine hills and the Friulian plain, ideal for walking or cycling. Not far away are the evocative Villalta Castle, the medieval village of San Daniele del Friuli—famous for its prosciutto—and natural oases like the Quadris of Fagagna, a reserve that hosts storks and northern bald ibises. A territory that invites you to discover ancient villages, rural traditions, and authentic flavors, in an atmosphere of timeless tranquility.

Run to discover Fagagna—you won’t regret it!

photo credits PHLD Luca