After living in Pordenone, Italy, for four years, fellow blogger Christina DeGruchy of PatriotWrites, shares with us how magical Italy is and why she loved where she lived.
If I only had 24 hours to visit Pordenone, Italy, describe what I should do?
There is so much to fit in a mere 24-hours, and rushed just isn’t the Italian way. Visiting the vineyards is a must. Your a short car ride from Prosecco road, grab a panini and a bottle of Prosecco and sit overlooking endless vineyards at L’Osteria senz’Oste. Eat all the gelato you possibly can with flavors like toasted almond, pistachio, or Nutella. Eat pasta, order fresh tagliatelle. Visit a local latteria and nibble on montasio, and bufala mozzarella, of my favorite truffle pecorino. Wander, whether a quiet peaceful walk around Santissima, a stroll around the mystical blue Lago di Barcis, or a stunning hike up to Mezzomonte, just enjoy the beauty all around you.
What is your favourite restaurant / cafe / eating / drinking place there?
If you were looking for me, you could likely find be at Pasticceria Fabris (Via XX Settembre 4. 33080 Roveredo in Piano) in Roveredo in Piano. It is nothing fancy, but it was my favorite of the local bars. It offers perfect coffee options, aperol spritzs, and the best pistachio creme croissants around. Above all the ladies who work at Fabris are the very BEST! All gelato is amazing, but just a short 50 minute train ride brings you to Venezia where you can visit GELATOTECA_SUSO it what became known as “life changing gelato” in our house. During the summer months the mimosa gelato was my favorite, but the notanera (deep dark chocolate and raspberry) is amazing!
For pasta dishes, I can’t even narrow down the restaurants because they are all so amazing!
If you could suggest for me to just do ONE thing in Pordenone, what would it be and why?
Slow down and take it all in, treat your time in Italy like the Italians do – sempre domani (there’s always tomorrow).
What is one thing Pordenone should be known for and why?
The obvious is the food – wine, pasta, cheese, wine, gelato, wine….but beyond that Italians take pride in their craft, every town has something different they are known for. Visit Maniago and buy knives in a city that has been producing knives for over 600 years. Visit Polcenigo in September for their annual basket festival where they highlight the art of basket weaving. Down the road you can wander Spilimbergo, famous for mosaic making you will find trees wrapped in mosaic artwork.
Tell me about your favourite outdoor activity there?
It depends on the time of year. Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, there’s no shortage of skiing and snowboarding during the winter months. During the warmer months – the views when hiking are second to none. Probably my favorite all year outdoor activity is the markets. Filled with fresh produce, meats, cheeses, clothing, scarves, housewares, there is something for everyone. Then during the Christmas season the Christmas markets are truly magical.
Tell me about your favourite indoor activity there?
Eating and there is certainly no shortage of options!
What makes Pordenone stand out compared to nearby places?
Pordenone is only a short train ride from Venice, but is another world. More rural and quiet it feels like everything you expect from Italy but on a more quaint scale.
What is the best thing to do with children in Pordenone and why?
You won’t find Great Wolf Lodges or Chuckie Cheeses here (although Caribe Bay waterpark and Gardaland Amusement Park are a short drive away). Children’s activities seem more mindful here. My kids favorite thing to do was walk to the local gelato shops, hiking in the caves, or paddle boarding at Barcis.
What is the best thing to do as a solo traveller, and why?
Whether you are on your own or not, take a cooking class. Tour a vineyard. Walk the streets. At Christmas time several of the towns have Presepi di Natale, which is one of my FAVORITE events. You will find every house, every business with the Nativity scene beautifully displayed in windows in front of their houses. Some are traditional, some are made of stained glass, mosaic, or painted. Every one is different and unique.
What is the best thing to do as a couple, and why?
Whether you are on your own or not, take a cooking class. Tour a vineyard. Walk the streets. At Christmas time several of the towns have Presepi di Natale, which is one of my FAVORITE events. You will find every house, every business with the Nativity scene beautifully displayed in windows in front of their houses.
Some are traditional, some are made of stained glass, mosaic, or painted. Every one is different and unique.
Is there anything else I should know about why you love where you live?
Italy is on a different time, especially when you step away from the cities and tourist locations. If you go with a packed schedule of a million and one things to do and don’t give yourself TIME to enjoy your cappuccino, your pasta, your talks
with local people – then you won’t get to enjoy the best part of Italy, just breathing in the beauty. “Piano piano”, just take your time and enjoy.
Would you like to share why you love where YOU live? Send an email to happylifesafari.com to be included!
