Having spent a few years in Friuli, i have been able to visit some local gems that have maintained…read moretheir amazing historical flavor. Palmanova is one such amazing example. Built in the the late 1500s by venetian magnates, this fortress city has maintained its original shape and size. It is a well-preserved Friulian medium-size town/city. If you are looking for modern buildings, this is definitely NOT your place. This place proudly maintains its local flavor (holding many a fair during the summer time). It is quite peaceful and has many an historical places to visit and freshen up on local history. So, grab a detailed Friuli tourists book, or head to the visitors center. Better just yet, consult google-san and yoy won't regret the visit. AND, just grab a bite to eat (ask locals on which is the best restaurant, they know the tiniest but greatest places). Better just yet, get yourself a nice gelato, sit down on a bench in the center of the town and do some people's watching. .. it is endlessly entertaining: specially nonnos playing cards and nonnas knitting.

This is the city hall of the town in Italy where I lived for many years. Not much has changed since…read moreI left, but the city hall administration has done any things to improve the life style if the residents of Codroipo.

A great place to visit to obtain really stunning views of the city. Only 80 steps and 6€ and you…read morewill have hundreds of opportunities to take THE picture. Steeped in history this architectural wonder hits all the notes on what you want in Venice. The eighty monolithic steps, which climb counterclockwise, find their end at the wonderful terrace "Belvedere", from which it is possible to admire the whole City on the lagoon. The Palace, in its century-old history, has been inhabited by several owners. In the nineteenth century, for example, it was turned into a lodging-house by Arnaux Marseille, called "il Maltese", who local rumours suggest had been the inspiration for Corto Maltese, the main character of Hugo Pratt's comics. It was really one of the lodging-house guests, the German astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Tempel, who discovered the C/1859 comet and the Merope Nebula of the Pleiades during one of his sky observation activities. In 1849 the Palace was donated by its last owner to the "Fraterna dei Poveri di San Luca".

The hidden staircase. After a bit of searching you stumble (ask for directions) across a small…read morelane that leads you down to the hidden staircase. When we were there a couple of years back it was all closed off and we had to take the picture though some barred gates. Even then it was impressive. I think if one day they open it up and you can go inside it would get extra stars. For now though for a impressive building just out of touching distance you can only really give it three. Still worth a look though, if you can find it. Plus it only takes ten mins out your day to grab some great snaps of a staircase that gives you a glimpse into the past.