Meduna di Livenza between villas, river and history

Meduna di Livenza combines Venetian architectural history with a distinctive river landscape. The river, squares, palaces, churches and a bridge represent different aspects of the same municipality. The Natura 2000 site complements the river landscape with a protected natural area within the municipality of Meduna di Livenza.

River landscape and protected natural area

The Livenza is a meandering lowland river with natural and near-natural dynamics. Its banks are home to wet alluvial forests, wet meadows, amphibious reed beds and diverse aquatic vegetation. Along the Livenza, the watercourse and riparian vegetation belong together. The Natura 2000 site IT3240029, the Special Protection Area “Ambito fluviale del Livenza e corso inferiore del Monticano”, is also located within the municipality.

Historic centre and art

The historic centre developed around what is now Piazza Campiello. The palace of the noble Michiel family dominated the centre and bordered the remains of the medieval castle. Jacopo Tintoretto’s painting “The Last Supper” is housed in the Church of San Giovanni Battista in the centre of Meduna di Livenza. The castle remains and the painting create different historical focal points in the centre.

Venetian villas in Meduna di Livenza

Palazzo Michiel-Loredan is a Venetian villa built in the 16th century in Meduna di Livenza. Palazzo Michiel Saccomani della Meduna is located at Via Boccheporte 1 in Meduna di Livenza. Quartarezza is home to two further Venetian villas: Villa Girardi-Policreti-Wiel, built in the 17th century, and Villa Girardi-Della Frattina-Zanussi, built in the 16th century. The two villas in Quartarezza date from different centuries. The Church of Santa Maria in Brische has ancient origins. The Venetian buildings are therefore distributed across several specific locations within the municipality.

Ponte della Vitoria for walking and cycling

Ponte della Vitoria is a combined pedestrian and cycling bridge. It connects the centre of Meduna di Livenza with the cycle path in the neighbouring municipality of Motta di Livenza. The bridge is 100 metres long and dates from 1917. The 100 metres refers to the bridge section itself and can be considered separately from the subsequent connection to the cycle path during a walking or cycling tour. The construction year, 1917, dates from after the medieval castle remains and the villas built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Ponte della Vitoria thus combines a present-day route function with a historic construction date.

History and typical cuisine

On 12 October 1881, a protest rally was held in Meduna di Livenza against the plan to dissolve the municipality and incorporate it into Motta di Livenza. The “de a boie” festivities, held again for several years, take place in Meduna di Livenza over several evenings featuring entertainment and typical cuisine. The multi-evening format means that the festivities are not concentrated on a single date.

Further places to explore

Breda Di Piave, Ca' Tron, Villa di Villa, Borso Del Grappa, Altivole, San Pietro Di Feletto, Cavasagra and Santa Lucia Di Piave.

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