San Giovanni al Natisone

San Giovanni al Natisone is a municipality in the province of Udine, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, known as the heart of Italy's chair-making district, a manufacturing tradition recognised well beyond national borders. The surrounding landscape of gentle hills and vineyards forms part of the Colli Orientali del Friuli wine area, celebrated for its white wines. The town lies just a few kilometres from Cividale del Friuli, a historic Lombard-founded town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose old town, Tempietto Longobardo and Devil's Bridge draw many visitors. Thanks to its location, San Giovanni al Natisone makes a convenient base for exploring both the wine-growing hills of Friuli and the plains near Udine, the provincial capital, rich in monuments and cultural life. The climate is temperate continental, with warm summers and cool winters, typical of this part of north-eastern Italy. The area suits stays combining heritage discovery, local wine tasting and walks through the surrounding hills.