As we have regained our freedom to roam, we seize every occasion to move around, walk, visit, and just enjoy the freedom and the tardy and unwilling Spring we are having.
I’m determined to see many (not all, it may be impossible I’m afraid), of the villages that are part of the prestigious club “The Most Beautiful Villages.”
(Or see the list by regions on Wikipedia)
The admission of any village or town to the club requires meeting a number of prerequisites, both structural—such as the architectonic harmony of the urban fabric and the quality of the public and private building heritage—and general, regarding the quality of life in the village itself, in terms of activities and services for the people.
Villages that belong to the list are kept squeaky clean, and Clauiano was just like that!
A Little History
A small fraction of the municipality of Trivignano Udinese, an ancient medieval center included since 2004 in the prestigious lists of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Clauiano is wonderfully set in the countryside. Its name probably derives from the Roman name “Claudius,” which make us believe that the village dates back to Roman times. There are documents naming Clauiano since 1013.
It was eventually annexed to the Republic of Venice in 1420, Clauiano goes through eras and events up to the present day still steeped in medieval spirit and incredible charm.
Clauiano has been able to maintain a well-defined identity, preserving the original urban structure and its characteristic stone architecture.
Relaxation is Key
The village is an oasis of peace and relaxation, ideal for those who want to discover the area slowly.
The main attractions of Clauiano are its typical houses dating back to the fifteenth century, and buildings dating from the seventeenth to the eighteenth century.
The main front of the house on the street side and a splendid access portal that leads to the internal courtyard. Among the oldest buildings in Clauiano is Casa Gardellini, originally from the 1400s, which keeps its façade intact with its ancient red and white lozenge decorations.
The manor complex of Villa Ariis, dates back to the eighteenth century: the house has a wonderful stone facade and above the portal stands a mullioned window surmounted by the Lion of St. Mark. Its access portal opens onto a lush internal courtyard and the villa is now home to the Ariis farm, a producer of wine and excellent honey.
The buildings that make up Casa Palladini are located inside a courtyard, consisting of two different courtyards overlooked by the main house. It preserves genuinely local architectural elements, such as the hearth with hood and fireplace, a sundial on the main facade, enchanting colonnades and stone basins.
Places to Stay
The elegant Casa Foffani is instead an urban building whose rooms were used since the eighteenth century for the production of fine vines and tobacco and for the breeding of silkworms, a very widespread activity in these lands at the time.
While its eighteenth-century stuccos still stand out on its ceilings, this residence is now home to the Foffani winery, and its B&B offers the opportunity to reside in a real villa and to venture into exciting guided wine tastings.
Mosaic sculptures: The colors of wine,
White & Red
“Casa Barnaba-Manin” B&B is an ancient manor house dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, where we received a most warm-hearted welcoming by Signora Valentina.
Villa Manin, an ancient noble residence that belonged to the Manin family, one of the most prestigious families of the Serenissima, and still retains its royalty and refinement today.
Just outside the town boundaries, the fourteenth-century rural church of San Marco watches undisturbed over the life of the town and protects frescoes from the first half of the fifteenth century, while the church of San Giorgio dating back to the eighteenth century certainly stands on the remains of older buildings. religious and houses a sixteenth-century baptismal font made by Pietro da Carona.
At the end of this lovely walk we stopped at Borgo Claudius Agriturismo, for a wine tasting session and snacks offered by the house. The winery is still a family-run winery, from the vineyard to the farm through the cellar all the tasks are carried out by the members of the Bosco family.
Life in Italy 