Gruaro: Mills, Churches and Paths along the Lemene

Gruaro draws attention to mills, churches and paths along the Lemene.

Mills and churches with a long history

The Mulini di Stalis are a medieval mill complex with two mills on the Lemene River. The complex is located immediately after entering the municipal area of Gruaro. The older mill was first mentioned in documents in 1432, while the newer mill dates from the late 19th century.

The churches of Gruaro also reach far back into the past. The present-day Chiesa di San Giusto was built between 1482 and 1513 on the remains of an earlier church and has been documented since 1186 or 1187. In the Chiesa di San Tommaso, the walls, apse and round arch between the nave and the chancel are decorated with fresco cycles from the Friulian-Venetian school dating from the late 15th to the first half of the 16th century. For visitors interested in culture, this creates a tour combining architectural history and painting, without the two churches sharing the same historical development.

Another specific link to antiquity is the Sarcofago Romano near Bagnara. It was discovered in 1981 and is dated to Late Antiquity, the 4th or 5th century. The sarcophagus can currently be viewed outside the primary school.

Cycling and walking along the Lemene

The GiraLemene cycling and walking path begins in the municipal area of Gruaro at the Boldara wooden footbridge and leads to the Mulini di Stalis. The route is 38 kilometres long and draws on literary references to Nievo, Pasolini, Russolo and Hemingway.

For a shorter outing, the activity “Passeggiata lungo il Lemene tra acque placide e antichi mulini” is the focus. It begins in Gruaro and follows a flat route of approximately 6.5 kilometres. The path runs along the Lemene, conveys the history of the Boldara Mill and reveals the natural features of this area. The activity is led by an environmental hiking guide authorised under Regional Law L.R. E.R. No. 4/2000 and subsequent amendments.

An annual event in Stalis

The event “Stalis tra arte, storia e natura” has been held annually on the first Sunday in June since 2001. It is organised by the municipalities of Cordovado, Gruaro and Sesto al Reghena. The event connects the place name Stalis with the themes of art, history and nature and provides a clear date for anyone wishing to plan their trip around it.

Discover Gruaro according to your interests

Gruaro can therefore be experienced in several ways: you can focus on the Chiesa di San Giusto and the frescoes of the Chiesa di San Tommaso, explore the history of the Mulini di Stalis, include the Sarcofago Romano or discover the Lemene on foot and by bicycle.

Further destinations

For further planning, you can also explore Concordia Sagittaria, Caorle, San Giorgio di Livenza, Malafesta, Santo Stino Di Livenza, Mirano, Stra and Musile Di Piave.

For the higher-level travel overview: Venice.