visit.Gemona

The plain of Gemona del Friuli:
nature and history

Information and details

  • place start: Godo, 198m
  • straighten length: 32Km
  • height altitude difference: 23m
  • schedule duration: 4h 00m
  1. The itinerary
  2. Physical/hydrological properties of the soil
  3. Human intervention
  4. An amazing natural path

An itinerary surrounded by nature, demonstrating the extraordinary variety of
the historical and geographical records that have come down to us.

The itinerary

Head southward from Godo, partly along the route of the ancient Roman road leading from Aquileia to the Alps and beyond. This borgata was one of the first hamlets of Gemona (the name is of Germanic origin, dating to the period of  Gothic domination): located in a strategic position, protected against the repeated flooding of the plains, it had plenty of springs. The Celts passed through here, and it was already a popular stopping place by Roman times.

This is where the line of springs cutting across the Osoppo-Gemona field from northeast to southwest begins. The floodplains of Osoppo and Gemona are surrounded by mountains on either side and moraine hills to the south. Studies have found that lake and river sediments in this area are 8000 years old.

Physical/hydrological properties of the soil

The northernmost part of the area is characterised by coarse flood deposits. These are primarily gravelly sediments of a calcareous and calcareous-dolomitic nature, sometimes gravelly and sandy, with sporadic silty material. Less coarse, more fertile soil and ample surface water has encouraged farming in this area.

Human intervention

In these areas on the western edge of the plain, effective land improvement actions began in the nineteenth century. Traces are still visible today of the fences around the properties; lots were surrounded by walls and planted with pergolas and rows of pollarded mulberry trees. The route winds
between permanent meadows and agricultural crops, hedges and stands of trees, irrigation ditches and springs. The ancient Roggia di Gemona was an irrigation channel from the Tagliamento, used not only for irrigation but to provide motive power for operating the numerous mills and ironmongers once located in the plain.

An amazing natural path

In the course of this itinerary you ford the Orvenco, a stream which flows with natural water when the level is low. The plain of Osoppo and Gemona was subject to the powerful abrasive action of ice, later filled in with river and glacial sediments from the Tagliamento River as well as the Vegliato and Orvenco streams.


The Macile is a river fed by the numerous springs emerging at the base of the cone-shaped mass of Gemona. All these waters flow together into the River Ledra, which, beyond Highway 13, takes a winding path surrounded by riverside vegetation.

What to see
Itineraries

Lavadôr-Silans

Routes

A series of votive chapels

Discover the hamlets of Gemona

The “Borgate” or hamlets