Travels in unknown territory. (Pordenone)

Member Name: vhart

Product:	Pordenone
Date:	13/07/02 (152 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: pretty town hall

Disadvantages: dull

Somehow, I thought I might be the first person to submit an opinion on Pordenone! I doubt it is the first place to pop into ones mind when considering Italy as a holiday destination, and without wanting to be too rude, this is for a good reason.

Pordenone is in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the region tucked away in the North-East corner of Italy, and the province of Pordenone borders Austria in the north and Udine in ther east and south, and Treviso to the west.

So now that I've located the province, at least, geographically, we'll look at the town herself. Poor old Pordenone will never win any prizes for her beauty, although she has a charm which exists in many smaller italian cities. There is no large main piazza and the town seems to be something of a traffic hub, in serious need of a by-pass, but if you find yourself in the centre (if you find the centre at all.. it took me a few tries and lots of direction-asking!) you will find a pleasant enough town.

The architectural style is definitely Venetian, being a part of the mainland Empire of the Most Serene Republic for centuries, Pordenone houses a most impressive town hall (which I thought, for about my first few visits was actually the cathedral!.. hmm.. i probably shouldn't admit to that!). It is in the centre, on Corso Garibaldi, and next to the town hall (which looks like a cathedral!) is San Marco Cathedral (which doesn't look like a town hall).

It's quite a small cathedral by italian standards, and has nothing earth-shatteringly striking, but it is a pretty place and worth a visit if you find yourself, by some chance, in Pordenone without anything to do!

The range of shops is good but not great, if you want to do your shopping in the area, Treviso is a far better bet, but there is a fair range in the town and there is a market on Wednesdays and a smaller one on Saturdays.

Pordenone is a rich area, there is lots of work there and many ma
ny industrial estates scattered in the surrounding countryside.

There are a few museums, but I can't say I checked them out.. I was spoilt by Venice and almost all my trips to Pordenone were of a strictly functional basis.. it is that kind of a town!

But the Museo Civico d'Arte is apparently very pleasant. I know I shouldn't recommend things I haven't seen, but if you are there, you'll probably not find many other things to do! It's on the main road, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele and usual Italian opening times (ie. not open monday and long lunch breaks!).

As for the province it contains a very large American airforce base at Aviano, which is about 15 km north of the city. This leads to a large amount of young American men wandering around in town which could either be a plus or a minus! And it certainly does good business for a local clubs and pubs.

So, it's not a town i'd go out of my way to visit, but i'm sure there are worse places in the world, just perhaps not many duller!

Summary: