Villesse
Villesse: Discovering its History and Culture
If you want to explore a corner of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Villesse is a must-visit destination. With its 1665 residents, this municipality, also known as "Vilès" in Friulian, is located in the plain between the rivers Isonzo and Torre.
Physical geography
We are in the extreme north of the region, bordering Veneto. To the north, near Romans d'Isonzo, to the southeast the river Isonzo, to the west the municipality of Ruda. A strategic location on a vast plain rich in history.
History
We are in front of small artifacts that suggest Roman settlements along the road to Ljubljana. The first documents speak of a map from the 19th century, but like many places in the northeast, the Great War has left its indelible mark. In fact, in 1915 the people of Villesse lost six of their fellow citizens.
"Only the intervention of a bersagliere prevented worse losses."
But in its history, Villesse also has a miraculous episode linked to Emperor Charles I. It is the legend of the tree in the municipal coat of arms: it is said that the emperor was saved from the flood of the Torre stream by clinging to a branch, and to thank him he built a chapel; the tree would have been visible outside the cemetery.
Symbols
The municipal coat of arms is a representation of the "baolâr" tree, the Celtis australis, one of the ancient symbols of Villesse.
The municipal flag is a blue drape.
Monuments and places of interest
If you want to visit the city, you must not miss the church of San Rocco and the Coronini Palace, from the 18th century, home to the municipal library.
Society
Demographic evolution
Villesse is a municipality that has seen a constant demographic increase until 1971, when the population remained fairly stable.
Languages and dialects
In addition to Italian, Friulian is also spoken. The variant belonging to the Gorizia Friulian is the local dialect.
Culture
Events
The day of the patron saint, San Rocco, is celebrated on August 16th with events and food and wine stands in the parish area. It is a celebration that is deeply felt by the locals and visitors who want to get to know the territory of Villesse better.
If you want to discover a remarkable part of the northeast, we recommend stopping in Villesse. It is a place to discover, which will surprise you with its history and traditions.
