Follina: The Venetian Village Among the Prosecco Hills

Framed by the gentle Prosecco hills, Follina is a charming village in the Marca Trevigiana, today listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy.

At the heart of the town lies the Abbey of Follina, called Santa Maria della Fulina in Sanavalle by the Cistercian monks. Its name derives from the “fulling” (follatura) of woolen cloth, an activity that spread from the 12th century thanks to pastures and waterways such as the Fulina stream, perhaps linked to the Roman nymph Furrina. The history of Follina began in the 11th century with the Benedictine monks, later replaced by the Cistercians from 1146 to 1448. Followers of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, they led monastic renewal, transforming the abbey into a cultural and productive hub with mills, wool factories, and land reclamation works between the Piave and Livenza rivers.

What to See in Follina

Santa Maria in Sanavalle represents monastic art in service of beauty: arches, capitals, columns, and plays of light culminating in masterpieces such as the Cloister (1268), the Baroque wooden crucifix, and the 1527 fresco by Francesco da Milano.

It was likely the Cistercian monks who introduced wool processing to Follina, encouraged by abundant pastures and numerous streams. Fulling, from which the name Follina derives, became a central activity, as evidenced by historic buildings such as Palazzo Barberis, built in 1666 by Francesco Fadda.

In 1820, the Andretta Wool Mill was founded, later becoming the San Giuseppe College and today the future Town Hall. The Paoletti Wool Mill, founded in 1795, survived and is still active today, collaborating with renowned fashion brands.

Silk production also flourished: though silkworm farms declined, in 1870 the Serica della Marca was established, excelling in silk for high fashion.

Not to be missed is the ancient forge for metalworking, a reminder of the village’s vibrant industrial past.

Events, Culture, and Traditions

Follina has returned to being the town of wool and silk. In the former Paoletti Wool Mill, the Compagnia della Lana e della Seta launched the event La Via della Lana, open to fascinating intersections between textile manufacturing, art, and design.

The centuries-old Pentecost Festival features, alongside the traditional spit roast, trout prepared in various ways—for example, trout fillets with sage.

What to See Around Follina

Follina is ideally located for exploring the Prosecco area and its treasures. Just a few kilometers away are villages such as Valdobbiadene, Conegliano with its medieval castle, and Asolo, the “City of a Hundred Horizons.” In addition, the surrounding natural parks and hills offer numerous opportunities for hiking or cycling immersed in greenery.

photo credits Amidavegre