Friola
Friola: a small hamlet in Pozzoleone
Friola is a small hamlet located in the province of Vicenza within the municipality of Pozzoleone. With a population of around 1000 inhabitants, Friola is a welcoming and prosperous community. The parish of Sant'Ambrogio is affiliated with the Diocese of Vicenza.
The Brenta
The presence of the Brenta River has always marked the territory of Friola. In the times of the Romans, Friola was known because it flowed the Medoacus River. After a disastrous flood in 589, several river channels were abandoned. In 1748, the Madonna del Pedancino from Cismon del Grappa arrived in Friola following another terrible flood of the Brenta River.
History
Friola was involved in human and historical events that took place between the 11th and 13th centuries, as evidenced by the numerous properties that saw the various members of the Ezzelini family as protagonists. In 1259, Friola was surrounded by walls and a moat by the people of Padova. However, Ezzelino III took it by force of arms and destroyed all the buildings, sparing no one. After its destruction, the castle seems to have never been rebuilt.
In the dedication pact of Vicenza to the Serenissima of 1404, Venice granted Giampietro de Proti the privilege of building his castle in Friola. However, the project was never realized and the ruins were subsequently completely dispersed. The parish church dedicated to S. Ambrogio is the most historically interesting building in the hamlet.
Places of interest
The parish church dedicated to S. Ambrogio has three valuable altars inside. The marble altar on the left is dedicated to the Madonna, while the other two are made of wood, artistically decorated and extremely rare in the area. The most valuable is the one on the right, which features the Nativity panel by Leandro Bassano. The main altar, also richly decorated, features a beautiful panel by an unknown author.
The bell tower of the church is considered one of the most beautiful in the diocese of Vicenza, in neo-Gothic style. It was designed by the architect Vincenzo Rinaldo from Venice.
Conclusions
Friola is a peaceful and welcoming hamlet that blends modernity with the charm of an important historical past. Its monuments, the church and the bell tower, are places not to be missed when visiting this small Venetian community.
