Overview
Along the road between Polcenigo and Maniago, the town's name recalls above all the NATO military base that has been housed in the local airport since the 1950s. The 18th-century cathedral, dedicated to San Zenone, is a neoclassical building with remarkable 16th–17th-century paintings, while among the historical civil buildings, the Palazzo Menegozzi with its statues crowning the façade stands out in the same square.
The history of the settlement had begun further south, in what is now the hamlet Castello d’Aviano. The name obviously derives from a castle, which had been the seat of the Patriarchs of Aquileia since before the year 1000, but today is little more than a ruin. In contrast, the late 15th century frescoes in the Church of St. Gregory are completely intact, at the foot of the village along the road leading to the railway, and the 14th-15th century ones in the Pieve di S. Giuliana.
From Aviano, a panoramic road climbs in hairpin bends over 1,200 metres to the plateau of Piancavallo. Here, the alpine pastures of centuries past have given way to a ski resort, which is also very popular because it can be reached quickly from the plains. In fine weather, the area is perfect for walking through meadows and forests, mountain biking and even climbing, not to mention the presence of an adventure park among the beech trees. The plateau is involved in the performances of the International Folklore Festival organised every August by the Pro Loco di Aviano: its events take place in numerous towns in the province.
33081 Aviano PN, Italia
