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Things to Do in Camporosso in Valcanale, Italy - Camporosso in Valcanale Attractions

Things to do in camporosso in valcanale.

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1. Santuario del Monte Lussari

2. Telecabina Monte Lussari/Italia

3. Chiesa di Santa Dorotea

4. Ice Driving

5. anello del capin di ponente da camporosso.

6. Sentiero Bobnia

7. Bottega di restauro e decorazione

8. bar lussari.

• Santuario del Monte Lussari
• Chiesa di Santa Dorotea
• Telecabina Monte Lussari/Italia
• Ice Driving
• Bar Lussari

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The Val Canale: Meeting Point of Three Cultures in an Alpine Setting, with Historic Forests and Enchanting Lakes.

The Val Canale ( Val Cjanâl in Friulan language, Kanalska dolina in Slovene, Kanaltal in German – which can literally be translated as Canal Valley  into English) is a valley of the Oriental Alps, extended between Pontebba in the west and the Coccau Pass in the east, with a predominant west-east direction.

The Val Canale is crossed in its initial section by the river Fella – a tributary of the Tagliamento – and the Slizza stream, which can be encountered after the ‘ Sella di Camporosso ’ ( 816 m), which represents a watershed that divides the two hydrographic basins (this is expalined in more detail just below ).

The Val Canale separates the Carnian Alps ( Alpi Carniche ) to the west from the Julian Alps ( Alpi Giulie ) to the east. The man centers in the valley are:

• Malborghetto-Valbruna
• Pontebba – but only the section of territory to the hydrographic left of the Pontebbana stream.

These centers are all described in more detail in the following sections of the page.

The Val Canale was annexed to Italy with the Treaty of Saint-Germain in 1919; before this date, the majority of the valley had been part – for centuries – of the Duchy of Carinthia, while its oriental secton had belonged, since the 11th Century, to the Duchy of Carniola. With the treaty over the so-called ‘options’, signed in 1939 between Germany and Italy, 80% of the Germans (circa 5.600) and about 100 Slovenes left the Italian territory towards Germany. Only about 20% returned after the war, while the majority preferred to remain in what is actually Carinthia (Austria). In year 2000 there was still about 20% of the local German and Slovene autochthonous population in the Val Canale .

The German and Slovenian characteres remain detectable today, more than anything, in the architecture. Typical houses in Carinthian style can be seen in Oltreacqua-Sant ’ Antonio . The hamlet around the Sanctuary in Monte Lussari (German Luschariberg ; described in more detail below ) also displays buildings in Carinthian style. A beautiful church in typical Carinthian style can be admired in Camporosso ( German Saifnitz ).

From a linguistic point of view, the Val Canale represents a unique case in the European cultural panorama, as within it coexist Neo-latin (Friulan and Italian), Slavs (Slovenian) and Germanic (Carinthian) native speakers. In particular, for Slavs and Germanic peoples, this represents a ‘linguistic peninsula’, as it were - as it borders with both Austria and Slovenia.

The Friulan, Slovenian and German linguistic minority are now protected by a law of the Italian State, which regulates all matters concerning linguistic minorities.

The Sella di Camporosso

The Sella di Camporosso ( Saifnitzer Sattel ) is a pass situated in the Val Canale , in the Julian Alps , at 816 m of altitude. For this reason, it is the lowest pass in the Alps, located right on the watershed between Malborghetto – where the river Fella flows, whose waters drain into the Tagliamento and end up in the Adriatic sea – and Tarvisio, where the Slizza ( Gailitz ) stream flows, whose waters drain into the Gail (then the Drava/ Drau , Danube, and finally the Black Sea).

The pass is located between Camporosso ( Saifnitz ) – a frazione of Tarvisio – and Valbruna ( Wolfsbach ), in the municipality of Malborghetto.

It is crossed by the National Road SS 13 Pontebbana , by the Pontebbana railway, and the Autostrada A23 Alpe-Adria (motorway).

The Municipality of Tarvisio

Tarvisio (German and Friulian: Tarvis , Slovene: Trbiž ) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Udine, located in the north-easternmost part of the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Northern Italy.

The town is situated in the Canal Valley ( Val Canale ), ‘squeezed’ between the Carnic Alps and Karawanks ranges in the north, and the Julian Alps to the south.

Located at the border with both Austria and Slovenia, Tarvisio and the neighbouring municipalities of Arnoldstein (Austria) and Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) form the ‘triangular’ meeting point of Romance, Germanic and Slavic Europe. The height west of the town centre (‘ Sella di Camporosso’ / Saifnitzer Sattel , 816 m ; also described above ) marks the watershed between the Slizza creek – a tributary of the Gail River, which is part of the Danube basin – and the Fella River: a tributary of the Tagliamento discharging into the Adriatic Sea.

Tarvisio has access to the Autostrada A23 Alpe-Adria (motorway), part of the European route E55, running from the Austrian border to Udine, and further south to the Autostrada A4 at Palmanova. Tarvisio railway station is located on the new Pontebbana line from Villach to Udine opened in 2000, which replaces the tracks of the former Austro-Hungarian Staatsbahn built in 1879.

Despite the modest elevation, the town has a continental climate with harsh, cold winters (lowest recorded temperature is −23° C / −9 ° F in January 1985). Summers can be very hot; the highest temperature of 37° C / 99 ° F was recorded in July 1983.

Until 1918, the town – as the rest of the Canal Valley ( Val Canale ) – was overwhelmingly German and Slovenian-speaking. Today, residents of the municipality mostly speak Italian; Germans and Slovenes, however, make up a substantial minority (about 20%). In 2012, the mayor put up multilingual signs in four languages: Italian, German, Slovene and Friulian, declaring “the inhabitants deserve to use their mother tongues freely”: an apt statement for a community that always has always stood at theborder, and at the threshold between different cultures.

As a town built along ancient trade routes across the Alps to Venice, Tarvisio ’ s roots date back to Roman times. In 1007 Emperor Henry II vested the newly created Diocese of Bamberg with territories that included the then Carinthian Canal Valley ( Val Canale ), all the way down to Pontebba: a region which had considerable importance because of nearby ore mines and ironworks – especially around the village of Fusine in Valromana ( Weißenfels / Bela Peč / Fusinis ; described below ). Tarvisio remained a southern exclave of the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg, until in 1758 the Bishop finally sold the town to the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Until 1918 Tarvisio was part of the Duchy of Carinthia; it received town privileges in 1909.

Main sights

Tarvisio features include the parish church of the Saints Peter and Paul , built in the 15th century, displaying the typical onion-domed belltower – which is an undoutable sign of German origin – as well as outstanding natural sceneries like the Laghi di Fusine ( Fusine lakes). At the summit of the 1,789-metre (5,869 ft) high Mount Lussari ( Luschariberg / Svete Višarje ; read below ) is a pilgrimage church where, according to legend, in 1360 a shepherd discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary. The church and the nearby ski centre can easily be reached by cable car from Camporosso. The area around the Sella Nevea mountain pass ( 1,190 m) – between the municipalities of Tarvisio and Chiusaforte – is also a popular ski resort.

For decades, Tarvisio has benefited economically from people coming from Austria and Yugoslavia for shopping trips. However, trade at the notorious ‘ Rag Market ’ diminished considerably after the implementation of the Schengen agreement and the establishment of the Eurozone . Today, tourism and winter sports in the Karawanks, Carnic Alps and Julian Alps have become the most important local industry. Tarvisio is well-known for its heavy Alpine snow, which attracts many tourists for skiing and snowboarding – especially school groups .

The comune of Tarvisio includes the following frazioni (fractional parishes):

Names in: Italian ( German , Slovene , Friulian ):

• Camporosso ( Saifnitz , Žabnice , Cjamparos )
• Cave del Predil ( Raibl , Rabelj , Rabil / Predil )
• Coccau ( Goggau , Kokova , Cocau )
• Fusine in Valromana ( Weißenfels / Weissenfels , Fužine / Bela Peč , Fusinis )
• Monte Lussari ( Luschariberg , Sv.Višárje , Mont Sante di Lussàri )
• Muda ( Mauth , Múta , Mude )
• Plezzut ( Flitschl , Flíčl , Pleçùt )
• Poscolle ( Hinterschloss , Zágradec , Puscuèl )
• Rutte ( Greuth , Trbiške rute , Rute )
• Sant'Antonio ( Sankt Anton , Sant Antòni )
• Riofreddo ( Kaltwasser , Mrzla Voda )

The main frazioni (highlighted above ) will be described in more detail below .

The  ‘ frazione ’   of Cave del Predil

Cave del Predil (German: Raibl , Slovene: Rabelj ) is a frazione (subdivision) of the comune of Tarvisio. The hamlet is located about 15 km (9 mi) south of the town centre, in the valley of the Rio del Lago stream ( Seebach ), along the road to the Predil Pass (1,156 m) in the western Julian Alps , close to the border with Slovenia.

A lead and zinc mining settlement was established here about 1320, then part of the Carinthian possessions of the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. The Bishop also gained control over the trade route across the mountain pass leading to the city of Cividale del Friuli – the importance of which, however, diminished after the Friulian lands had been conquered by the Republic of Venice in 1420. Bamberg finally sold the area to Empress Maria Theresa of Austria in 1759, who incorporated it into the Hapsburg Monarchy.

With the Duchy of Carinthia, Cave del Predil was part of Austria-Hungary until World War I, but by 1919 (with the Treaty of Saint-Germain) it came under control of the Kingdom of Italy. Its mines operated until 1991; since then, the population has strongly decreased. On a curios note, a tunnel – originally used for water drainage, and then for the transport of miners and political refugees escaping from Communist Yugoslavia – connects the village with Log pod Mangartom , in nearby Slovenia.

The  ‘ frazione ’   of Coccau

Coccau ( Cocau in Friulan, Goccau in German, Kokova in Slovenian) is a ‘ frazione ’ of the municipality of Tarvisio.

The settlement is divided into Coccau di Sopra , Coccau di Sotto and Coccau Valico . In this latter part passes the boundary between Italy and Austria, as decreed by the Treaty of Saint-Germain after the end of WW1 in 1919.

The  ‘ frazione ’  of Fusine in Valromana

Fusine in Valromana (Slovene: Bela Peč , German: Weißenfels ) is another frazione (fractional parish) of the comune (municipality) of Tarvisio.

The locality takes its name from the Slovene ( Fužine ) and Friulian ( Fusinis ) – terms that denoted the presence of historic ironworks sites. The Italian name is a slight modification from the Friulan, with in Valromana  added referring to an adjacent valley, which however is located a fair way off. The Slovene denotation Bela Peč – like the German name Weißenfels (literally “white rock”) – refers instead to a historic castle erected by the Counts of Celje in the early 15th century.

The hamlet is located in the western Julian Alps , about 8 km (5 mi) east of Tarvisio town centre and close to the point where the borders of Slovenia, Austria, and Italy meet. It is a stop along the Italian highway No. 54 (SS 54), which leads from Tarvisio to the Slovenian border through the Fusine saddle (‘ Valico di Fusine ’ or Rateče Pass , 850 m), which continues on to Podkoren via Rateče , then leading further to the town of Kranjska Gora , down in the upper Sava valley ( Sava dolinka ).

The mountains and lakes in the vicinity of Fusine in Valromana are popular destinations for mountaineers and trekkers. The upper and lower lakes known as Laghi di Fusine ( Fusine lakes) are fed by artesian springs, arising from the northern face of the majestic Mangart peak (2,677 m / 8,783 ft), and attract many tourists.

The area immediately surrounding both lakes is protected by the 45-hectare scenic Natural Park called Parco Naturale dei Laghi di Fusine ( Fusine Nature Park ), while meadows and pasture lands above the lake belong to the Fusine in Valromana pasture cooperative. This area includes the entire valley, with about 180 hectares of Alpine pastureland and 200 hectares of forest.

A first mining settlement was probably established about 1320, when the area was still part of the March of Carniola. Unlike other neighbouring villages in the west, the easternmost part of the Canal Valley ( Val Canale ) was not included in the Carinthian possessions of the Prince Bishop of Bamberg, which were granted him by King Henry II of Germany in 1007.

In 1404, the reigning Ortenburg count Frederick III gave the consort Bartholomew the right to build a forge, which established the iron industry in the area and instigated the settlement of German-speaking workers. Several more forges were operating within the village by 1456, when cooperation agreements were made with the Austrian House of Habsburg, which had inherited the estates from the last Count of Celje, Ulrich II.

The Lordship of Weißenfels remained the north-westernmost part of the Habsburg Duchy of Carniola, and from 1804 it fell under the control of the Austrian Empire and of Austria-Hungary until the end of WW1. According to the terms of the 1919 Treaty of St. Germain, it then passed under the authority of the Kingdom of Italy.

The  ‘ frazione ’  of Monte Lussari

Monte Lussari is a jewel of incomparable beauty; here you can see (and enjoy) the wonderful natural scene of majestic high mountain peaks. This place is not only an important naturalistic site, but also a Sanctuary – a Sanctuary that brings the Slavic, Italian and German ethnic stocks together. In the 16th century the mountain was already the destination of pilgrimages for the three people; today it can undoubtedly be considered as a European Sanctuary.

According to an ancient tradition, in 1360 a shepherd from Camporosso lost his flock of sheep, which he found shortly after around a pine bush. With great wonder, he noticed that in the center of the bush there was also a little statue of a Madonna with the Baby. He took the statue with him and brought it down in the valley, and carried it to the Parish priest of Camporosso. But the following morning the statue was found again on the Lussari mountain, surrounded as before by sheep kneeling down. Such episode was repeated another time. The Parish priest informed about the fact the Patriarch of Aquileia, who therefore ordered that on the place in which the statue was found a chapel should be constructed.

Today the original chapel exists no more; it was replaced instead in the 1500s by the actual chorus, made all in stone – as the vault. In 1760 the community of Slovenian believers celebrated the fourth centenary of the Sanctuary. In 1786, the then Emperor of Austria – Joseph the Second – prohibited the celebration of whichever religious function inside the church. The building was therefore closed; the interior was stripped of all its sacred objects, and the pilgrimages were prohibited. But in 1790 the successor, his brother Leopoldo, cancelled the decree: the Madonna could therefore return to her dwelling on Mount Lussari. In 1807 a lighting hit and destroyed the wooden part of the church; however, the industrious believers rebuilt it in a short time, expanding it.

In 1915 the Sanctuary was caught in the combat lines of the Great War; on September 16th a bomb was launched against the church and caused a fire, which destroyed it. Under the order of the then Parish priest, Padre Pio, the statue was carried downhill by the keeper of the church. From the day of Pentecost to the month of July it was conserved in the presbytery of the parish church at Camporosso; later it was carried out to Villach, Klagenfurt and Maribor, in the Basilica of the “ Madonna delle Grazie ”. In September 1920, it was taken to the Church of the Pilgrims of the Saint Cross in Davograd; in August of the successive year it could return to Camporosso: on June 24th, 1925, it was finally replaced in the small church on the Mount, which meanwhile was being reconstructed.

During the Second world-wide conflict the Sanctuary also remained closed: the statue of the Virgin Mary was transported again in the presbytery of the parish church at Camporosso, where it remained from August 1943 until August 1945, when it was taken back to its home on Mt. Lussari for good.

In 1960, the sixth anniversary of the Sanctuary was celebrated: on that occasion, the church was restored, and a lot of the works to renovate the houses around the Sanctuary were started. The most important restoration coincided with the Jubilee of 2000, when a lot of maintenance works were executed in the Sanctuary, and the presbytery was completely renewed.

Mt. Lussari has always been a place of pilgrimage of excellence for the Slovenian population. The interior of the church holds valuable paintings; they were executed by the Slovenian painter Tone Kralj: there is a representation of “ The Comforting Madonna of the Plagued ”, “ The Annunciation ”, “ The Flight to Egypt ”, “ Twelve-year-old-Jesus in the Temple ”, “ Maria who prays under the Cross ” and “ The Coronation of the Virgin ”. The season of the summer pilgrimages starts in June and finishes on the first Sunday in October.

Opening times vary slightly from year to year; in the summer season of 2016  the visits at Monte Lussari will follow the following schedule: from June 20th through to September 18th daily; September: 25th, 26th; October: 2nd, 3rd. Hours: weekdays: 9.00 – 17.15; holidays: 8.30 – 18.15. Bear in mind that the last run of the cable car down to Camporosso is also at 17.15 on weekdays and at 18.15 at the weekends/holidays. [In 2020, as I am updating this page, all this is being changed and revised because of the Covid-19 emergency, so it is best to visit the website before coming, to make sure of the opening times].

The Municipality of Malborghetto-Valbruna

Malborghetto-Valbruna (Friulian: Malborghet-Valbrune , Slovene: Naborjet-Ovčja ves ; German: Malborgeth-Wolfsbach ) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Udine, in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Malborghetto-Valbruna is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northwest of Trieste and about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of the regional capital Udine, not far from the border with Austria. It is one of the three municipalities of the Canal Valley ( Val Canale ), along the Fella River, in a central position between Tarvisio in the east and Pontebba in the west.

In the north, the crest of the Carnic Alps forms the border with the Austrian region of Carinthia and the neighbouring municipalities of Hermagor-Pressegger See , Sankt Stefan im Gailtal , Feistritz an der Gail and Hohenthurn . In the south, the Jôf di Montasio (2,752 m/9,029 ft) massif of the Julian Alps separates the territory of Malborghetto-Valbruna from the Italian municipalities of Chiusaforte and Dogna.

Beside the villages of Malborghetto and Valbruna, the municipal area includes the frazioni of Bagni di Lusnizza ( Lusniz, Lužnice, Lusnitz ), Santa Caterina ( Sante Catarine, Šenkatríja, St. Kathrein ) and Ugovizza ( Ugovize, Ukve, Uggowitz ), as well as the localitiy of Cucco ( Cuc, Kuk, Kúk ). Ugovizza-Valbruna station is a stop on the Pontebbana railway line from Udine to Tarvisio, which was largely rebuilt in the year 2000. Valbruna also has access to the Autostrada A23 Alpe-Adria (motorway), running from the Austrian border to Udine as part of the European route E55.

For centuries, German-, Romance- (Italian and Friulian) as well as Slavic- (Slovene) speaking people settled in the Canal Valley ( Val Canale ), which from 1077 was ruled by the Carinthian duke Liutold of Eppenstein, while King Henry IV of Germany ceded the adjacent territory of the Imperial March of Verona (in the south) to the Patriarchate of Aquileia. While the Aquileia territory was gradually conquered by Venice and incorporated into the Domini di Terraferma by 1433, the settlement then named Buonborgeth (which could roughly be translated as ‘Good Borough’) remained part of the Carinthian possessions held by the Prince-Bishops of Bamberg. The village – economically relevant for its iron ore and silver deposits at Valbruna, as well as for its forests – then had its name changed, and received the epithet of Malborgeth (turned into the current Italian Malborghetto, 'Bad Borough’) due to the constant border quarrels with the Serenissima .

The Austrian Habsburgs – dukes of Carinthia since 1335 – had a border fortress built at Malborgeth, which was occupied by Venice in 1616, then by the French Revolutionary troops led by General Masséna during the War of the First Coalition in 1797, and finally by the French Imperial forces under Napoleon's stepson (Eugène de Beauharnais) in 1805. Attacked again by Beauharnais’ troops during the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809, the fortress was defended by an Austrian contingent under the command of Captain Friedrich Hensel. The Austrian finally succumbed to the French, but prevented their arrival at the Battle of Aspern-Esling , where Archduke Charles was able to repel Napoleon’s forces. The Malborgeth fortress was then re-named Fort Hensel in honour of the captain, who was killed in the battle.

After WW1 and the dissolution of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Malborghetto – together with the rest of the Canal Valley ( Val Canale ) – was adjudicated to the Kingdom of Italy, according to the Treaty of Saint-Germain and the 1915 London Pact. During the course of the 1939 South Tyrol Option Agreement between Italy and Germany, most of the local German-speaking population was resettled to Carinthia.

Demographic evolution

As of 31 December 2004, Malborghetto-Valbruna had a population of 1,025 and an area of 120.5 km². According to the 1971 census, 46,2% of the population were Slovene.

The Municipality of Pontebba

Pontebba ( Pontebe in standard Friulan language, Ponteibe in Carnic Friulan, Tablja in Slovenian, Puntafel in German – a name that only designates the German section of town, however) is an Italian municipality of 1,527 inhabitants of the Province of Udine, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

The ancient stone demarcating the historic boundary carries an iscription dating back to the “ Impero d ’A ustria – Ducato di Carinzia ” ( Austrian Empire/Duchy of Carinthia ) –   “ 10 miriametri da Klagenfurt ”  (myriameters – an ancient unity of measurement – from Klagenfurt).

The town is crossed by the Pontebbana stream, which, until 1919, marked the boundary between Italy and Austria, thus dividing the town into two parts – which, as a matter of fact, were at one time also two separate municipalities: Pontebba (Italy – ‘ Provincia del Friuli ’) and Pontafel (Austria – Carinthia). This ancient boundary, dating back to the Venetian time, has constituted for centuries a barrier – not only political, but also cultural – between the Val Canale (of predominantly German and Slovenian language) and the other valleys of Friuli. The Pontebbana stream flows soon after into the river Fella, which skirts the town centre of Pontebba as it descends through the Val Canale.

Anthropic Geography

Main Frazioni:

• Aupa (Friulan Aupe )
• Frattis (Friulan Frattis )
• Pietratagliata (Friulan Perteade o Pieretaiade ).
• Laglesie-San Leopoldo (Friulan La Glesie , Slovenian Lipalja vas , German Leopoldskirchen ) – this hamlet (‘ frazione ’) is rather famous in the field of linguistics, as it has been several times the object of study: it was precisely here, in fact, that – until 20-30 yearso ago – lived a relevant number of people (now in constant decrease) speaking correctly – besides Italian – also all the other languages that are beink spoken in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and now recognised as ‘minorities’ by the Italian State (Friulan, Slovenian and German). Nevertheless, the Comune di Pontebba (Municipality of Pontebba) is included only in the list of municipalities with historic Friulan-speaking and German-speaking communities, and does not befall, therefore, in the list of ‘ Comuni ’ with Slovenian-speaking minorities.
• Studena Alta (Friulan Studene Alte )
• Studena Bassa (Friulan Studene Basse )

For a long time, the Val Canale fell into the jurisdiction of the Prince-Bishops of Bamberg (in Bayern, Germany). The Canal del Ferro (the Fella valley south of Pontebba) gravitated instead onto the Italian area, with the Patriarchal feuds belonging to the Abbey of Moggio Udinese before, and to Carnia (when administered by the Venetian Republic) afterwards. For the four centuries of dominion of the ‘ Serenissima ’, the boundary with the Austrian territories was passing right through Pontebba: there was, at that time, a ‘Venetian’ Pontebba and an ‘Imperial’ Pontebba ( Pontafel ), separated by the Pontebbana stream. Once annexed to Italy in 1918, Pontafel then took the name of ‘Pontebba Nuova’, and was joined with the other Pontebba in 1924. In 1926 the former municipality of La Glesie-San Leopoldo was also aggregated to Pontebba.

In 1976, the territory of Pontebba was devastated by the earthquake, which provoked several collpases and extensive damage. Pontebba was later awarded the decoration of the “ Medaglia d ’ Oro al Merito Civile ” (‘Golden Medal for Civil Value’) for the difficult endeavor of reconstruction of the town.

Language and Dialects

As the other two munic ipalities of the Val Canale, described above (Malborghetto-Valbruna and Tarvisio), Pontebba is also a plurilingual reality in which – besides Italian – Friulan, Slovenian and German are spoken.

In reality, the linguistic situation has changed considerably over the course of the centuries; it is interesting, in particular, to consider the case of the Friulan language – but in order to explain it, it is necessary to report some historic peculiarities first. Before annexation to the Kingdom of Italy, both the ‘ frazione ’ of San Leopoldo and the actual part of Pontebba that is known in German as Pontafel – and in Friulan Puntafel (the section of Pontebba to the left of the Pontebbana stream) – have constituted two self-standing municipalities (‘ Comuni ’) of their own, part – since centuries – of the cultural area of Carinthia.

San Leopoldo (described in more detail below ) was diverse ethnically and linguistically from Pontafel , as in it both German and Slovenian were spoken (as still today in the greatest part of southern Carinthia), while in Pontafel the language used was almost exclusively German. Both in San Leopoldo and in Pontafel , the Friulan language (before 1919 spoken only in the part of the current territory of the municipality to the right of the Pontebbana stream) has grown in presence only after that date (1919) – and even more following the annexation of the two municipalities, formerly autonomous, to that of ‘unified’ Pontebba (Pontebba Nuova/ Pontafel , 1924; San Leopoldo, 1926), as well as after the ‘Options’ of 1939. These events, as a matter of fact, have encouraged the immigration of families from the rest of Friuli and of Italy.

After the Italian, in the whole territory of the municipality of Pontebba, currently, it is precisely the Friulan the most widespread and vital language. In the typical variant of Pontebba, it is distinguished by two types: ‘ Carnico ’ (Carnian) and ‘ centrale ’ (central). German is almost completely disappeared from the ‘ capoluogo ’ (the town centre), but it survives – albeit patchy – in the part of town still known as Puntafel (in Friulan ; Pontafel in German) – as well as in San Leopoldo.

F rom the point of view of legal protection of the linguistic minorities, in the municipality of Pontebba is applied the Regional Law (18 December 2007, no. 29  “ Norme per la tutela, valorizzazione e promozione della lingua friulana ”), with which the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia protects linguistic minorities, and all official denominations must be in standard and local Friulan, as established for all the ‘ Comuni ’ in which Friulan is effectively spoken. In the municipality, also subject to protection are the German-speaking linguistic communities of San Leopoldo/ Leopoldskirchen and Pontafel . The Slovenian dialect spoken in San Leopoldo is also the object of studies and research on the part of the linguistic International scientific community – but at this stage it does not enjoy any degree of legislative protection.

San Leopoldo- La Glesie

Until before the Opzioni (‘Options’) of 1939, in San Leopoldo (Slovenian Lipalja vas ) Slovenian was currently spoken in the dialect variant known as ‘ diepuško ’ (linguistically akin to ‘ zegliano/ziljsko ’ – a dialect group of Slovenian spoken in Carinthia). A plaque witnessing the presence of a Slovenian dialect in the village ( Umgangssprache ; pogovorni jezik ) is fixed to the left of the entrance door to the village church of St. Gertrud – in which, reflecting precisely its status of language of current use in the community, it is stated that the services were once officiated in High-Slovenian. Of Slovenian origin are also many of the names in vulgo of the local homes. Nowadays, however, in San Leopoldo the Slovenian dialect is spoken only by very few inhabitants. The remaning part of the population, often descending from immigrants to the village following the already mentioned ‘ Opzioni ’, seems to have only a vague historic memory of this linguistic change. Additionally, also in this f razione  – as we wer e already saying before – after the Italian, now the more spoken minority language is Friulan, followed by German, which survives a bit better than Slovenian.

Culture and Folkore

The ‘Festa della Tae’

Pontebba is the only remaining locality of the Valcanale in which the feast called ‘Festa della Tae’ – but also known as ‘ Festa del Cioch ’ , ‘ del Puch ’ or even ‘ Ploch ’ – is celebrated: a manifestation that usually takes place in the second to last Sunday of Carnival. ‘ La Tae ’ – that is, a tree trunk (normally of spruce) – is being cut and embellished by the youngsters of the village, to then be taken around the streets and finally be sold at an auction.

The ‘Krampus’

Each year, on the 8th of December, the Krampus of Pontebba parade the streets, and are joined by groups from Hermagor (and surroundings), Malborghetto, Coccau, Cave del Predil – and many others.

Monuments and Other Items of Interest

Pontebba possesses a Gothic church of a certain interest, Santa Maria Maggiore , built over the years straddling the 15th and 16th centuries. In the interior, a Flügealtar can be admired – an exquisite wooden altar attribuited to Wolfang Haller – and a painting by Palma il Giovane that portrays a ‘ Madonna con i Santi Rocco e Sebastiano ’ , from the third decade of the 17th century. The building has been completely renovated after the severe damages caused by the earthquake of 1976.

The Palazzo Municipale (Town Hall) , erected in 1923, is the work of architect Provino Valle, and it stands in the main square (‘ piazza ’) of Pontebba.

In the village there are also a few other historic buildings worth noticing:

• Casa Micossi (18th century): belonging to the Micossi family, who arrived from Carinthia in the 1500s;
• Casa Gaspero-Rizzi : this house is the most ancient in town, and it dates to the 17th century. In 1870 it became the seat of a spinning mill, owned by Leonardo Di Gaspero.

The Venetian lions date back to the 17th – 18th century: these are bas-reliefs, sculpted and inserted in different locations: in the right embankment of the Pontebbana stream, in the vicinity of Piazza Garibaldi (the so-called ‘ Leone della Rosta ’), within the balustrade of the Palazzo Comunale and in the containment wall of the stream’s embankment itself.

Notable people connected to Pontebba include:

• Arturo Zardini, composer and poet, author of the traditional song Stelutis alpinis ;
• Ernesto Lomasti, Italian mountaineer;
• Alberto Primicerj, belonging to the ‘ Corpo d’Armata dell’Esercito Italiano ’, since 2009 Captain of the Alpine Troops (‘ Truppe Alpine ’).

Economy and Tourism

Pontebba lies at the foot of the ski area of ‘ Nassfeld-Pramollo ’ – the largest ski carrousel in Carinthia (Austria), straddling the border with Italy.

There is a local, historical ice-hockey team in Pontebba.

The Ice Rink (‘ Palaghiaccio ’) in Pontebba often hosts important hockey competitions too.

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Canal del Ferro-Val Canale Ethnographic Museum in “Palazzo Veneziano” – Malborghetto

The Canal del Ferro – Val Canale Ethnographic Museum is the indispensable starting point to get to know the Valcanale, its history, its traditions, its splendid nature and, last, but not least, the geological history of this territory. A trip to the Museum in Malborghetto means undertaking a fascinating “journey” through geology, palaeontology, natural science, history and ethnography, carrying out an in-depth study, also through dioramas and slideshows of great beauty, aspects regarding the Tarvisio Forest – the largest Italian state forest – and the ancient, vital traditions, result of the convergence of the three great European cultures: Latin, German and Slavic.

The halls dedicated to the history of the Earth illustrate, in particular, the numerous palaeontological findings in the local area as well as the characteristics that in the recent past have made this terminal section of the Carnic Ridge also a mining site of the utmost importance.

The Museum is situated in the so-called “Palazzo Veneziano”, a suggestive historical building.

In fact, in the years after 1591, Giorgio Paul, was responsible for the construction of this building; he was a leading figure of an entrepreneurial family originating in Gemona del Friuli, devoted to the trade and processing of iron in the several local forges and smithies. Many members of the family abandoned Malborghetto during the Counter-Reformation for religious reasons.

In 1646, as a consequence of the wedding of Paul’s last descendant, the ownership of the building and the vast property associated with such was inherited Canal family of Villaco. Since then, the building has been known as “Palazzo Veneziano”, because during the course of 230 years it was the home of the rich Canal family, the name of which betrays its evident Venetian origins.

In 1881, once it was no longer used as the residence of wealthy families, the palace was turned into a hotel. The creator of such was the mine owner Gaetano Schnablegger of Tarvisio, who was involved in several sectors, including the valorisation of tourism in Valcanale. With systems that were considered state-of-the-art at that time, such as showers and sulphurous water baths, it immediately became a hotel of reference for the nobility and wealthy members of society between Vienna and Venice.

The palace continued to be a hotel until World War II and then, for a few decades, it was used as a summer camp. In 1982, it was purchased by the Canal del Ferro – Val Canale Mountain Community and is now the venue of the Ethnographic Museum and documentation centre.

Information

Canal del Ferro-Val Canale Ethnographic Museum in “Palazzo Veneziano”

Via Bamberga, n. 52 33010 Malborghetto-Valbruna (UD) Tel. Fax +39 0428/64970 email: [email protected] Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday 10.30 a.m./12.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. /6.00 p.m. Closed on Mondays and on the following days: 1 st January, Palm Sunday, 1 st May and 25 th December. Extraordinary opening on: Easter Monday.

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Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

• September 2, 2023

What are the best things to do in Moscow? What to do in Moscow? First, I will list the main places to visit by theme, passing by the must-sees, but also more unusual places in Moscow. Then, I will describe what to see in Moscow in one day and how to visit Moscow in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days. Let’s go!

Good to know. For more information, click on the places to open the dedicated blog posts.

Main places to visit in Moscow & best things to do in Moscow

I worked in Moscow and I loved this city for its dynamism and energy. We find there from time to time to see friends, remember good memories and enjoy this giant city! Then the time has come for us to share with you our practical guide.

TOP 5 must-see places in Moscow

• Moscow Red Square
• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Bolshoi Theatre

Places of cultural, historical and religious interest in Moscow

• Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Kremlin Izmaïlovo (pseudo-historic place, recently built in the image of the old, one of the best things to do in Moscow for your Instagram account 😉 )
• Park and ancient village of Kolomenskoye

Visit Moscow of the Soviet era

• Moscow State University and Sparrows Hill
• VDNKh and the Museum of Astronautics, one of the key landmarks of the Soviet era in Moscow
• GULAG Museum
• Metro stations
• The Stalinist skyscrapers, scattered all over the city

Less touristy places in Moscow

• Gorky Park and the GARAGE museum
• The old Krasny Oktyabr factory
• Zaryadye Park
• Center for Contemporary Art, WINZAVOD
• Business center, Moscow City

Main districts of Moscow to visit

• Patriarch Ponds
• Tchistye Prudy
• Kuznetsky most
• Arbat Street

However, regardless of the length of your stay, whether you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days or in 2, you need a visa. The article Obtaining a tourist visa for Russia could then be useful in any case.

What to do and see in Moscow in one day?

List of things to see and do in Moscow in one day:

• Go to Red Square
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral
• See Kremlin walls (but not to visit)
• Visit Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Discover Kuznetsky most districts and see Bolshoi Theatre building
• And if you have time at the end of the day: go to the Sparrows Hill or to the Moscow City for a beautiful view

Things to do in Moscow in 2 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, there are 2 purposes: do not miss the essential places of Moscow and optimize travel.

• First day: Red Square , Saint Basil’s Cathedral , Zariadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre , Kremlin
• Day 2: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the former Krasny Oktyabr factory on Balchug Island, Gorky Park, Moscow State University (one of the Seven Sisters buildings ) and Sparrow Hill

As 2 days os really short, be sure to choose an accommodation in the best districts where to stay in Moscow .

Walking on Red Square in Moscow: one of the unmissable things to do in Moscow

Iconic place and one of the must-see places in Moscow and even in Russia! Besides, if there was only one place to visit in Moscow in 2 days, this place would then be Red Square, without hesitation. Therefore, starting the city tour with Red Square is ideal . Several buildings are on the square, but not all of them have to be visited. Check out my blog post about Moscow’s Red Square in detail to learn more and not miss anything.

Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside

Even more emblematic than Moscow’s Red Square! Built in the middle of the 16th century under the orders of Tsar Ivan Le Terrible, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Orthodox art, and definitely one of the unmissable places in Moscow. Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside is one of the most beautiful things to do in Moscow!

• Visit estimate time : 1h30
• Entry ticket : 700 RUB. Tickets can be purchased on the cathedral’s official website 45 days before the tour.
• Audio guide (recommended): 500 RUB
• Opening hours : June to August 10 am-6pm; from November to April: 11 am-5pm; May, September, October 11 am-5pm. Cathedral closed on Wednesdays. Entrance is closed 45 minutes before closing.
• Find out more in the dedicated article: Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

Take a walk in Zariadye park: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow after visiting Red Square

Zaryadie Park is just a 10-minute walk from St. Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to include in your itinerary if you’re going to visit Moscow in 2 days. From its heights, you can see the red walls of the Kremlin. But, the most impressive point of view is the platform which overlooks the Moskva river. A must see! And clearly one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

• Open 24 hours a day
• Good to know! Park Zaryadye is also a place to visit in Moscow in winter. Find out more here: What to do in Moscow in winter?

See the Bolshoi Theatre and discover the Kuznetsky Most district

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy entrance tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets

The Bolshoi Theater is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets are located north of the theater. It is therefore very pleasant to find them to leave the main axes of the megalopolis.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin

Visit Kremlin is on top of things to do in Moscow. A place of power for centuries, the Kremlin then shows us a whole different image when viewed from the inside. If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, the Kremlin is certainly one of the must-see places in Moscow.

• Opening hours : Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday.
• See our blog post about visiting the Moscow Kremlin

Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

This impressive Moscow Cathedral is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a must see if you visit Moscow in 2 days and clearly one of the things to do in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was first built in 1883 in memory of Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army. Then in 1931 Stalin ordered its destruction. It was then rebuilt again (identically) only in 2000.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 15. At the foot of the Kropotkinskaya metro station.
• Opening hours . Daily: 10: 00-17: 00, except Monday: 13: 00-17: 00
• Free entry (some closing restrictions, for example a short)

Good to know! In orthodox religious places, one must avoid excessively uncovered clothing. Women should cover their heads. After visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can explore Bolotny Island and Gorky Park. This is one of the routes our guide to Moscow.

The old Krasny Oktyabr factory: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow

If you cross the Moskva River by a pedestrian bridge which is located just in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and at the same time you can discover Balchug Island. Furthermore, if you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, you can include this island in your itinerary between the cathedral and Gorky park. Here is the old confectionery factory Krasny Oktyabr, which has gradually turned into a fashionable micro-district. There are then some elements of street art, cafes and restaurants and some Moscow bohemian side. At the end of the island you can see a gigantic 98-meter-high monument dedicated to the Russian reforming tsar Pierre The Great.

Good to know! You can find on this island are the trendiest nightclubs in Moscow. On weekends, there are taxi caps after midnight so there are so many people. On the other hand, if you go there in winter and during the day, the island is quite empty and less interesting to see.

Gorky Park is one of the TOP places to visit in Moscow, because it allows you to better understand the life of the locals and their rhythm. In fact, it’s a huge entertainment park. For example, in winter there is a giant ice rink and in summer – free dance or yoga lessons, sandy beaches for playing volleyball, an outdoor cinema. So, like the locals, have a Stakantchik (ice cream or cooked corn), and enjoy the atmosphere of the place: that’s one of the interesting things to do in Moscow to discover the city.

• Where? Krymsky Val 9. 20 minutes’ walk from Krasny Oktyabr, along the quays.

Sparrow Hill and Moscow State University

The Sparrow Hill, Vorobiovy Gori in Russian, is the highest point in Moscow. It is rather known to Russians, but less to travelers. A nice view on Moscow opens from the hill, and in particular on the Luzhniki Stadium. In addition, on the hill itself is the Moscow State University: an impressive skyscraper from the Soviet era.

• How to get there? By bus T7 (35 min) from Oktyaborskaya station, near Gorki Park. By metro (Vorobiovy Gorki station) + climb the hill on foot. On foot along the Moskva along the Gorky Park (1h30) + climb in funiculars.

Good to know! It is possible to cross the Moskva river by funicular. We actually tested it and it was pretty cool! That is one of our favorite things to do in Moscow!

What to do in Moscow in 3 days?

If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days, it would be interesting to dive into the Soviet era which strongly marked the country and the city. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the capital was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, in order to mark the change of power. Moscow then became the world showcase for communist ideology. Here are the best things to do in Moscow for 3-day-trip!

VDNKh, visit Moscow of the Soviet era

VDNKh is a large exhibition center in the north of Moscow, where there are still several striking witnesses of the USSR. The most interesting are the Museum of Cosmonauts and the Statue of the Worker and the Kolkhozian , which will certainly impress you with its size!

GULAG History Museum

The explanations of the museum are very well done. We really have the feeling of going back in time. If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days and you are interested in history and this subject in particular, I recommend this museum. Visit the GULAG History Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Moscow.

Discover the Patriarche Pounds district

It’s a nice neighborhood in Moscow where you can come across rather affluent locals, but not necessarily very bling-bling. Take a walk in this area is really a cool thing to do in Moscow! In addition, the Ponds of Patriarch is one of the places of Bulgakov’s novel “Master and Margarita”. As this is an interesting area to see, we have included it in a walking tour of Moscow. The route ends at the Moscow Kremlin, which is very convenient, because you will be able to visit Moscow in 3 days by optimizing your trips.

What to visit in Moscow in 4 days: TOP things to do in Moscow in 4 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 3 days, you will already see a lot of things. On the other hand, if you stay one more day, you have plenty to do! The Novodevichy Convent, the Tchistie Proudy district and the Izmaylovo Kremlin are very good candidates for you, if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days.

Visiting Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most brilliant examples of Russian architecture, according to UNESCO. This beautiful complex was built in 1524 and today consists of the convent, but also of a cemetery whose status could be compared to that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. Visiting Novodevichy Convent is one of the great things to do in Moscow, if you want to go a little bit outside of the center!

Discovering Tchistye Proudy district

It’s one of the most popular areas of Moscow, with many cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. It is therefore a place to discover if you want to visit Moscow in 4 days. It is just as pleasant for a stroll as for the discovery of local life. For example, in winter the pond turns into an ice rink.

Visiting the Izmaylovo Kremlin, one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

The Izmaylovo Kremlin is more of a tourist than a historic place. On the other hand, it is a pretty impressive place to discover, especially on weekends. Inside the Kremlin, there is a flea market where you can find a little bit of everything, but mostly good souvenirs to bring from Moscow. For example, chapka, traditional Russian scarves or matryoshka (Russian dolls). Add the Kremlin and the Izmaïlovo market to your itinerary if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days, because it is a nice and very colorful place! Visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is one of the things to do in Moscow, if you want to put colors in your Instagram account! 😉

In 4 days, we will have the opportunity to see several Moscow: Classic Moscow, Moscow of old Russia, Soviet Moscow and a little bit of the new Moscow. So what to visit in Moscow on the 5th day of travel?

What to visit in Moscow in 5 days?

Art lovers will be delighted to discover the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, while others will prefer to stroll along Arbat Street, see the buildings of Moskva-City or visit Bunker 42.

Admiring Russian art at Tretyakov Gallery

Founded in 1856 by an industrialist and great lover of art, the gallery has grown over the decades, and then bequeathed to the state. Today the collection includes more than 140,000 pieces, 15,000 of which are paintings. Visiting the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the things to do in Moscow if you want to discover Russian art!

• Where? Pereoulok Lavrouchinski 10. A 5-minute walk from Tretiakovskaya station
• Opening hours. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry tickets. 500 RUB.

Visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts presents the treasures of ancient Egypt, the paintings of Rembrandt and Cézanne, a fine collection of Impressionism.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 12
• Opening hours. Daily: 10: 00-20: 00, except Thursday: 11: 00-21: 00. Closed on Mondays. The boxes close an hour before closing.
• Entry tickets. The prices vary according to the collections from 300 to 750 RUB.

Walking on Arbat Street

All Russians know Rue Arbat. So, walking on Arbat street is one of the things to do in Moscow. However, after the years, little by little it became very touristy. This is a pedestrian street only. There are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes there, but it is no longer the most authentic neighborhood in the city.

Seeing the buildings of Moskva-City (Moscow City)

Moskva-City is Moscow’s business center, much like Paris’s Defense district. The skyscrapers of Moskva-City are among the tallest in Europe: 373 meters high! Very nice place to see at dusk.

Good to know! You can admire a nice view of Moscow City from the docks of Tarasa Shevchenko. It’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the lights on.

Bunker 42, one of the most unusual things to do in Moscow

Bunker 42 is a secret military complex which was to be used by the Soviets in the event of a nuclear attack: a space of 7000 m² 65 meters underground!

• Where? 5 Kotelnitcheski Lane, 11.
• Prices. 2200 RUB per person
• Opening hours. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Restaurant inside. Original, but rather a tourist trap.

What to visit in Moscow in 6 days or more?

There are still so many places to see, because Moscow is a big megalopolis and there is always something exciting to do there. For example: the ancient Kolomenskoye village or the WINZAVOD contemporary art center .

If you are interested in history and want to see Russian cities on a rather “human scale”, it would certainly be interesting for you to discover the cities of the Golden Ring . For example, it is very easy to get to Sergey Posad from Moscow (less than 2 hours in train). Visiting the Golden Ring is one of the best things to do in Moscow if you are staying more than a 5-6 days.

There are still plenty of places to see in Moscow, however I did my best to list here the best things to do in Moscow, what to see in Moscow in one day, but also in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Moscow!

Moscow travel tips:

• Airport transfer: how to go to Moscow?
• Where to stay in Moscow (hotels, districts)?
• Tourist voucher for Russian visa
• Christmas and New Year in Moscow
• What is the best time to visit Moscow?

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Planning a trip to Moscow? Our travel guide contains up-to-date, personal information on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay , and what to eat !

• General Information
• What to see
• How to get to Moscow
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Why visit Moscow?

Majestic churches, impressive historic fortresses, and palatial buildings: Moscow is a fascinating city whose emblematic architecture reflects the turbulent history that has defined Russia throughout the centuries.

The traces of the USSR can be found around every corner of the city , side by side with the iconic relics of Imperial Russia , like the mythical Red Square , the imposing Kremlin , and the beautiful  St Basil's Cathedral . 

Discover a fascinating world of Cold War bunkers, golden-domed basilicas, world-class art museums, and the legendary "palace of the people,"  as the Moscow Metro has been nicknamed. Whether you fancy watching a classical Russian ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre , perusing the fine arts at the Pushkin Museum , or marveling at the sheer size of the monuments to the Soviet state's achievements at the  All-Russia Exhibition Centre , this travel guide will help you on your way!

Where to start?

If you're going to travel to Moscow and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to dive into its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions pique your interest.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Moscow  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

Why is our Moscow travel guide the best?

Introducing Moscow is a  city guide written by travelers for travelers  and contains personalized advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city.

All the information in this guide is valid as of December 2022. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us .

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Ethnographic Museum Palazzo Veneziano di Malborghetto

For a dive into history and Valcanale culture

An essential starting point to get to know Valcanale, its history, traditions, and splendid nature is the Venetian Palace, home to the territorial ethnographic museum and one of the oldest (late 1500s) most magnificent buildings in the valley. Built as the home of a wealthy iron industrialist, at the time when Malborghetto was a flourishing “Market City” of the Bishopric of Bamberg (Germany), the Venetian Palace proposes a fascinating “journey” through geology, palaeontology, natural sciences, history and ethnography. It gives insight and dioramas and engaging projections into aspects concerning the Tarvisio Forest and the very original, ancient and vital traditions resulting from the convergence of the three great European cultures Latin, German and Slavic. In the garden of Palazzo Veneziano, you can admire a centuries-old lime tree, a true natural monument.

Museum opening times

From Tuesday to Sunday 10.30 am-12.30 pm/03.00 pm-06.00 pm Entry: €4,00 full ticket; €2,00 reduced ticket* *Children from 6 to 10 years old and over 65s; groups of more than 20 people. Tel. +39 0428 64970 (n.3)

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Tourist Office of  Malborghetto-Valbruna Via Bamberga, 52 Malborghetto (UD) +39 0428 64970 (n. 2) [email protected]

Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday From 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. From 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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17 Top Tourist Attractions in Moscow

The capital of Russia is an incredible place to explore. Visitors to Moscow come away spellbound at all the amazing sights, impressed at the sheer size and grandeur of the city. Lying at the heart of Moscow, the Red Square and the Kremlin are just two of the must-see tourist attractions; they are the historical, political and spiritual heart of the city – and indeed Russia itself.

A fascinating city to wander around, stunning cathedrals, churches, and palaces lie side-by-side with bleak grey monuments and remains from the Soviet state. In addition to its plethora of historical and cultural tourist attractions, Moscow is home to world-class museums, theaters and art galleries.

Renowned for its performing arts, fantastic ballets and amazing circus acts, catching a show while in Moscow is a must. The wealth of brilliant restaurants, trendy bars, and lively nightlife means there is something for everyone to enjoy.

See also: Where to Stay in Moscow

17. Tsaritsyno Palace

Once the summer residence of Catherine the Great, the stunning Tsaritsyno Palace is now a museum-reserve. The architecture is magnificent and there is a lovely park surrounding it for visitors to explore.

Located in the south of Moscow, the palace was commissioned in 1775 and recent renovations mean its lavish interior looks better than ever before with its elegant halls and beautiful staircases.

The exhibits on display look at the life of the empress as well as the history of Tsaritsyno itself. The huge palace grounds are also home to some other delightful buildings with the elegant opera house and wonderful brickwork of the Small Palace being particularly impressive to gaze upon.

Starting out in 1935 as the ‘All-Union Agricultural Exhibition’, VDNKh has slowly morphed over the years into the fascinating open-air museum of today. Remarkably, over 400 buildings can now be found within its confines.

The huge park complex has numerous pavilions representing former Soviet republics on show, such as those of Armenia and Turkmenistan and the distinctive architecture of each of the buildings is always interesting to gaze upon. In addition to this there is the fascinating Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics which is dedicated to space exploration and the fun Moskvarium aquarium even offers you the chance to swim with dolphins.

With lots of eateries scattered about and numerous entertainment options such as horse-riding and zip-lining, there is something for everyone to enjoy; the Friendship of Nations fountain truly is wonderful.

15. Kremlin Armoury

One of the oldest museums in the city, the Kremlin Armoury has a wealth of treasures; highlights include the ornate Grand Siberian Railway egg, the historic Cap of Monomakh and the stunning Imperial Crown of Russia which often has a crowd of tourists around it, jostling to take a photo.

Once the royal armory, there are loads of fascinating objects on display. Perusing the many sabers, jewelry, armor and more is as interesting as it is educational and entertaining and the swords are so finely crafted that you’ll almost wish you could pick up one and wield if yourself.

Established in 1851, the museum is situated in the Moscow Kremlin.

14. GUM Department Store

Standing for ‘Main Universal Store’ in Russian, GUM is stunning. Its wonderful skylights and beautiful facades mean it doesn’t look out of place alongside its illustrious neighbors on Red Square.

With over 200 shops, boutiques and upmarket eateries inside, it is a shopaholic’s heaven and concerned partners will be glad to find more affordable options alongside luxury brands such as Dior and Prada.

The main department store in the city, GUM was opened in 1893. The stunning architecture makes it well worth a visit even if shopping isn’t your thing.

13. Moscow Metro

It’s not often that public transport looks like a work of art. So many stops on the Moscow Metro will astound visitors with their beauty and elegance.

Decked in marble and with frescoes covering the walls, the stations are amazing to gaze upon and are part of one of the longest metro systems in the world, with the first stations opened in 1935.

Using the metro is the quickest and easiest way to get around Moscow and braving the crowds of commuters is well worth it for the beauty all around you.

12. Arbat Street

An elegant yet lively street, Arbat is full of impressive architecture and was once a popular place to live for aristocrats, artists, and academics.

A historic place, it is down Arbat Street that Napoleon’s troops are said to have headed on their way to capture the Kremlin.

Nowadays, there are many cafes, restaurants, and shops, as well as various monuments and statues to former residents such as Alexander Pushkin who was reputed to be a lover of the Russian Empress due to his massive influence in court.

11. Novodevichy Convent

Drenched in history, the Novodevichy Convent is located in a striking building that was once a fortress. This captivating place is well worth visiting when in Moscow.

Founded in 1524, the convent houses four cathedrals; Smolensk Cathedral is the undoubted highlight due to its delightful 16th-century frescoes.

Wandering around the grounds is like stepping back in time. The Novodevichy Cemetery is where many famous leaders of the Soviet Union are buried, such as Yeltsin and Khrushchev.

10. Pushkin Museum

Despite its name, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts actually has no connection at all to the famous poet other than that it was named in his honor after his death. A delight to visit, its extensive collection focuses on European art with masterpieces by Botticelli, Rembrandt, and van Gogh all featuring.

Sculptures, graphic art, paintings and more can be found in its beautiful galleries; various sections look at themes and epochs such as the Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age, and Byzantine art.

Among the many highlights are the clownish characters which can be found in Cezanne’s Fastnacht (Mardi Gras) and the twirling ballerinas who look so elegant in Degas’ Blue Dancers. Picasso’s Young acrobat on a Ball is also well worth checking out for its interesting use of shapes and colors.

9. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This gorgeous Russian Orthodox cathedral is located on the banks of the Moskva River, just a stone’s throw away from the Kremlin.

The church as it stands today was consecrated in 2000, as the original church that stood here was destroyed on the command of Josef Stalin in 1931 due to the anti-religious campaign.

With its delightful golden dome, spires and dazzling white facades, the Christ the Savior Cathedral is stunning. The interior is just as captivating to wander around, with its beautifully tiled floors and impressive altar.

8. Lenin Mausoleum

Opened to the public in 1924, Lenin’s Mausoleum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Moscow. The red granite structure is located at the heart of the city in Red Square.

Lenin’s embalmed body lies in a glass sarcophagus; it is a somewhat eerie experience walking past the former leader of the Soviet Union but is well worth doing as you understandably can’t do it anywhere else in the world.

After visiting the mausoleum, head to the Kremlin wall right next to it for more graves of important communist figures such as Stalin and Brezhnev.

7. Tretyakov Gallery

Home to the most extensive and impressive collection of Russian fine art in the world, the State Tretyakov Gallery is definitely worth visiting when in Moscow for the wealth of amazing art pieces that it has on display.

Having started out as the private art collection of the Tretyakov brothers, there are now over 130,000 exhibits. Highlights include the iconic Theotokos of Vladimir which you will almost certainly recognise despite probably not knowing the name and Rublev’s Trinity which is considered to be one of highest achievements in Russian art.

An absolute must for art lovers, the State Tretyakov Gallery will delight visitors with all that is has to offer.

6. Kolomenskoye

Once a royal estate, Kolomenskoye is now a museum-reserve and lies a few kilometers outside of the city center. A captivating place to visit, there is a plethora of history on show and the site overlooks the Moskva River.

Consisting of four historical sites, there are extensive gardens for visitors to explore, as well as loads of interesting old buildings, the former village of Kolomenskoye itself and the impressive Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich – once considered the Eighth Wonder of the World by contemporaries.

Among the many stunning sights, it is the brilliantly white Ascension Church that is the undoubted highlight – dating back to 1532.

5. Gorky Park

Lying alongside the Moskva River, the huge Gorky Park is a lovely place to visit. Its extensive gardens are home to numerous cultural institutions and visitors should definitely check out the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and while the eclectic exhibits may not always feature such incredible sights as a balloon-covered rider on a zebra; they certainly always succeed in pushing back the boundaries of art.

Pop-up exhibitions and festivals can be found from time to time in the park itself and there is an open-air theatre and numerous eateries alongside a plethora of leisure activities.

Whether it’s cycling, table tennis or yoga that you are after or beach volleyball and rowing, Gorky Park certainly has it. In winter, there is a huge ice rink for visitors to enjoy.

4. Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre is the main theater in the country. The amazing opera and ballet performances it has put on over the centuries go a long way in explaining Russia’s rich history of performing arts.

While the Bolshoi Ballet Company was established in 1776, the theater itself was opened in 1825. The glittering, six-tier auditorium is lavishly and decadently decorated; it is a fitting setting for the world-class performances that take place on its stage.

Spending a night watching a performance of such classics as The Nutcracker or Swan Lake at the Bolshoi Theatre is sure to be a memorable experience and the beauty all around you only adds to the sense of occasion.

3. Moscow Kremlin

This famously fortified complex is remarkably home to five palaces and four cathedrals and is the historic, political and spiritual center of the city. The Kremlin serves as the residence for the country’s president. It has been used as a fort, and this fact is made clear by its sheer size. The Kremlin’s outer walls were built in the late 1400s.

Under Ivan III, better known as Ivan the Great, the Kremlin became the center of a unified Russian state, and was extensively remodeled. Three of the Kremlin’s cathedrals date to his reign that lasted from 1462-1505. The Deposition Church and the Palace of Facets were also constructed during this time. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was built in 1508. It is the tallest tower at the Kremlin with a height of 266 feet (81 meters).

Joseph Stalin removed many of the relics from the tsarist regimes. However, the Tsar Bell, the world’s largest bell, and the Tsar Cannon, the largest bombard by caliber in the world, are among the remaining items from that era. The Kremlin Armory is one of Moscow’s oldest museums as it was established more than 200 years ago. Its diamond collection is impressive.

The Kremlin’s gardens – Taynitsky, Grand Kremlin Public and Alexander – are beautiful. The Kremlin has also served as the religious center of the country, and there is a tremendous number of preserved churches and cathedrals here. The collections contained within the museums include more than 60,000 historical, cultural and artistic monuments. Those who enjoy the performing arts will want to consider attending a ballet or concert at the State Kremlin Palace. Completed in 1961, it is the only modern building in the Kremlin.

2. Red Square

Lying at the heart of Moscow, Red Square is the most important and impressive square in the city. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions due to its wealth of historical sights and cultural landmarks.

Drenched in history, the huge square is home to incredible sights such as the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Mausoleum, among others. Consequently, it is not to be missed when in Moscow as it really is home to the city’s most stunning monuments.

It is here that many important moments in Russian history took place; the former marketplace has hosted everything from Tsar’s coronations and public ceremonies to rock concerts and Soviet military parades. Wandering around the massive square is a humbling experience and undoubtedly one of the highlights the city has to offer.

1. Saint Basil’s Cathedral

Located in the impressive Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral is gorgeous; its delightful spires appear as if out of a fairytale. The most recognizable building in the country, the cathedral is very much a symbol of Russia. No visit to Moscow is complete without having taken in its unique and distinctive features.

Ivan the Terrible ordered the cathedral’s construction in the mid-16th century, and legend holds that Ivan put out the architect’s eyes so that he would be unable to build another cathedral more glorious than St. Basil’s. Designed to resemble the shape of a bonfire in full flame, the architecture is not only unique to the period in which it was built but to any subsequent period. For various reasons, both Napoleon and Stalin wanted to destroy the cathedral but fortunately did not succeed.

Known for its various colors, shapes and geometric patterns, St. Basil’s Cathedral houses nine different chapels that are all connected by a winding labyrinth of corridors and stairways. On the lower floor, St. Basil’s Chapel contains a silver casket bearing the body of St. Basil the Blessed.

Throughout the cathedral are many beautiful murals, frescoes, wooden icons and other art works and artifacts. Outside the cathedral is a lovely garden with the bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, who rallied an all-volunteer Russian army against Polish invaders during a period of the late 16th century known as the Times of Troubles.

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