Chiusaforte
Chiusaforte, a municipality surrounded by nature in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
If you love nature, Chiusaforte is the right place for you. Located in a particular geographical position, among the mountains of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, the municipality offers numerous opportunities for excursions.
Physical geography
Chiusaforte is located near a narrow passage in the Fella valley and extends from west to east, including the Val Raccolana until about 2 km from the tourist resort of Sella Nevea, a village in the municipality. The vast municipal territory is crossed by the SP76, which connects the center of Chiusaforte to the junction with the SS54 in the vicinity of Lake Predil. The area also includes the Montasio plateau, and the most important peaks present in the municipal territory are Mount Canin and Jôf di Montasio. The Chiusaforte-Saletto di Raccolana meteorological station is also located within the municipality.
History
Did you know that Chiusaforte was once a toll payment station? It was the Patriarch of Aquileia, Vodolrico di Eppenstein, who established and fortified it with a castle. Later, the territory was occupied by the Counts of Gorizia, the Dukes of Carinthia, the Archdukes of Austria, and finally by the Republic of Venice in 1420. It was also the stage for the wars between Venice and Austria.
With the advent of the Kingdom of Italy, the previous communities ruled by "merighi" were united into a III class Municipality, included in the Passariano Department. With the establishment of the Lombardo Veneto Kingdom, Chiusaforte became part of the Moggio District, and in 1819 was granted the Municipal Council. In 1866 the municipality was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1867 changed its name to Chiusaforte. In 1928, the municipalities of Chiusaforte and Raccolana were merged into a single municipality.
Honors
Chiusaforte was awarded the Bronze Medal for Civil Merit with the following motivation: "For the fortitude and solidarity shown in the post-earthquake phase of Friuli in 1976, towards the entire community affected by the earthquake."
Society
Demographic evolution
Chiusaforte currently has 603 inhabitants and has experienced a decrease in population in recent years. However, this has not prevented the community from remaining united and welcoming.
Languages and dialects
In Chiusaforte, in addition to Italian, the Friulian language is also used. The Municipality is included in the list of Italian municipalities of Friulian language for the purposes of Law 482/99, Regional Law 15/96, and Regional Law 29/2007.
In conclusion, Chiusaforte is a place that must be discovered for its natural beauty and its history. The community is welcoming and active, ready to welcome tourists and visitors.
