Discover Castions Di Strada: Culture, Wetland and Cycling Route

Castions Di Strada combines traces of its past with the Torbiera Selvote and routes for walks and cycling tours. In Castions Di Strada, religious architecture, local everyday culture and natural areas come together across different areas of interest. Depending on your interests, you can see Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Martino, explore the Torbiera Selvote or plan a route by bicycle.

Cultural history between church and settlement

The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie contains a 16th-century fresco cycle depicting the life of Saint Blaise. The present complex dates from the first half of the 16th century and was partly built using reused Roman building materials. For those interested in culture, the fresco cycle is a particular focus for observation within the church.

Southwest of the centre of Castions Di Strada there was a fortified settlement with settlement phases ranging from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age (1500/1400 BC) to the Early Iron Age (900–800 BC). San Martino also has a very long history: the original building dates from the 11th century.

Torbiera Selvote: Wetland and protected landscape

In Castions Di Strada, the Torbiera Selvote covers an area of 59.78 hectares and overlaps with the protected area IT3320028 Palude Selvote. The Biotopo Torbiera Selvote route runs between Castions Di Strada and Morsano Di Strada through a Site of Community Importance that has been included in the Natura 2000 network.

Both routes to the Biotopo Torbiera Selvote lead into the centre of the wetland. In spring, Iris sibirica and Gladiolus palustris bloom there; anyone wishing to observe these plants can take the season into account when planning.

For day planning, the longer version of the Biotopo Torbiera Selvote route, at 9.7 kilometres, is a clearly defined trail; it passes through Morsano Di Strada and reaches the church of Santa Maria Maddalena.

Routes for Walking and Cycling

The Castions Di Strada–Ariis route is suitable for cycling all year round and begins in a square in Castions Di Strada. This means it can be planned as a cycling excursion independently of the wetland's spring season. The ancient Via Postumia was renovated and is now called Napoleonica.

Local Character and Travel Planning

Everyday culture includes the Latteria sociale di Castions di St. S.C.A. It was established as a village cheese dairy and is still used as a social dairy. Dairy products are sold on the ground floor. Those wishing to include local everyday culture can treat the Latteria as a separate stop in their day plan.

When planning your day, you can schedule Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Martino, a spring walk through the Torbiera Selvote or a cycling tour along the route to Ariis as separate activities.

For further regional orientation, you can also include San Giorgio Di Nogaro, Forni di Sotto, Ragogna, Bertiolo, Tolmezzo, Palmanova, Santa Maria la Longa and Bagnaria Arsa as well.

For the broader travel overview: Udine.