Bagnaria Arsa: Churches, Roman Traces and Murals

Churches and Roman history

During a cultural and historical journey through Bagnaria Arsa, you will encounter several clearly dated architectural monuments. The Church of S. Maria Assunta di Castions was built in 1547 and renovated in 1767 by Count Giuseppe Antonio di Strassoldo. S. Andrea in Sevegliano was built in the mid-17th century over an existing building; in 1744, it received its present-day bell tower. The original church of Villa Antonini Dessy was built as a chapel in 1540. The sequence of different construction phases helps you avoid viewing the churches as contemporary monuments and instead distinguish their origins chronologically.

A Roman settlement stood near Sevegliano along the Aquileia–Norico road axis. This settlement included a small sanctuary that may have been dedicated to Hercules. Finds from the archaeological site cover the period from the 2nd century BC to the 4th century AD. However, continuous use throughout this entire period has not been proven. Sevegliano’s Roman history therefore requires a precise distinction between the chronological span of the finds and continuous use.

Murals on house façades

The Museo delle Case Narranti in Campolonghetto offers a different cultural perspective. The museum is an open-air museum with murals on house façades; the façades serve as canvases for artists from all over Italy. On the façades, artists from all over Italy depict the history, legends, crafts and traditions of Friuli. If you would like to explore culture through images and stories, you will find an engaging introduction to Friuli here.

An app brings together the audio guides for the museum; they are also accessible via QR codes next to the murals. The combination of façade paintings and audio information presents the history, legends, crafts and traditions of Friuli both visually and aurally.

Circular trail from Piazza Sant’Andrea

The Path of the Narrating Houses is an approximately 9 km circular trail starting from Piazza Sant’Andrea. Bagnaria Arsa’s town hall is located on this piazza; there is also a large car park and the Garden of Poetry. In sections, the trail follows the ancient Roman road Via Julia Augusta. The approximate distance is therefore a useful planning figure when dividing your time between the circular trail, the churches and the cultural attractions.

A Changing Landscape

The area around Bagnaria Arsa also has a history of change. It was formerly wet and marshy; later, the area was drained. If you would like to view Italy not only through individual sights but also through the development of its towns and villages, you can take this transformation into account when planning your trip.

Discover More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also find Castions Delle Mura, Pulfero, Corno Di Rosazzo, Résiatal, Campoformido, Cervignano Del Friuli, Prepotto and Polizza.

For the higher-level travel overview: Udine.