With its pretty palazzi and mountain vistas, the northeastern Italian city of Pordenone offers a superb blend of beautiful architecture and nature. Home to just over 51,000 people, Pordenone is located a mere 90km (55 miles) from Venice. This makes for a delightful day trip. But, Pordenone can also be a great place to base yourself, as I’ve done twice.
My first trip to Pordenone was purely for pleasure. Shawn was taking a graduate class, and I savored a weeklong break from work. When Shawn wasn’t studying, we explored Pordenone and also headed to Venice, Treviso, Sacile, Udine, and Padua for outings.
Our days were carefree and filled with gargantuan amounts of gelato, strolls along cobbled lanes, and chance meetings with friendly strangers. One day, during a train ride, we had a chance meeting with a Buddhist monk with the widest of smiles. He was originally from Tibet but had lived in Italy for many years. With our broken Italian and his snippets of English, the conversation brightened our day. We were so enjoying being in his company that we didn’t want the train to arrive at our destination! In the years since, we’ve always referred to him as “the happy monk.”
When we returned to Pordenone 10 years later, our purpose for basing ourselves there was quite different — we used it as our home base for getting our Covid vaccines.
Though I wish there’d been no pandemic and we could’ve done more exploring, we were still able to squeeze in some outdoor excursions. One afternoon, we walked to the ruins of an ancient Roman villa. Nearby, we also savored the roses in the gardens of the Castello di Torre. Part of this fortification turned noble residence dates back to the 13th century.
On other days, we marveled at the attractive architecture along Pordenone’s main street, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. This is where many of these beautiful windows (finestre) can be found. They range from Venetian Gothic-style to more simplistic windows with perches for pigeons.
Have you been to Pordenone? What other places in Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region would you recommend visiting?
Where in the World?
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
Travels With Tricia 
Wondered where you were hanging out, Tricia. Looks like a beautiful place.
Hi Jo, it’s great to hear from you. :)
All of 2020 until April 2021, we were sitting tight in Croatia. We found out we wouldn’t be eligible to get vaccinated there, so we went to Italy and stayed there for 2.5 months. Afterward, we headed to Germany, where we’ve been ever since.
It sounds like you’re in the sunny Algarve?
Belated wishes for a very happy and healthy 2022!
Where in Germany, or are you wandering? It’s always good to see where you’ve been 🤗💕
We’ve been in Bavaria, which is where my parents retired some years ago. We’re looking to head to France once things calm down a bit. :)
🤗💕
Thank you Tricia. Very good Article. I was inspired.
Glad to hear that, Oscar — thank you! Are you thinking of visiting Pordenone?
This looks like an ideal place to hang out for a time. As always, your pictures and descriptions are wonderful. Take care and stay safe.
It certainly is a great place to spend time! There’s lots of greenspace there, vineyards nearby, and good transport connections too.
Hope 2022 is off to a happy start for you, Darlene. Are you on the Costa Blanca?
Yes. Except for one quick trip back to Canada in September 2021, we have stayed put on the Costa Blanca. Not a bad place to be.
We like chance meetings with locals too. Lovely story, Tricia.
Hi Carol, how nice to hear from you. Meeting people in an unfamiliar city can certainly makes that place come to life! It’s a joy hearing about their favorite gelato maker, or even their life philosophy. :)
I know it’s almost February, but Happy 2022!
Oooh this looks amazing – I can’t wait to visit!
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Hi Diane,
Perhaps Pordenone is a place you can swing by after you lead your Italy photo retreat. :) Look forward to catching up soon!
Tricia, dear friend. What a rich and wonderful holiday I had with you today. My dark, dreary rainy day became brighter reading of your adventures. How fortunate you both were to spend time with the Buddhist monk – a stranger that became a friend. I just smiled all the way through your blog. A belated Happy New Year – a safe and kinder 2022. Big Hugs, Virginia
Hi Virginia,
A dreary day turned brighter — what a compliment; thank you. Here’s to many more smiles in 2022!
I must admit I wasn’t aware of Pordenone before I read this post. It’s nice that you based yourself there for a few months to get vaccinated, and managed to do some outings as well as explore the city itself. I love the story of the Buddhist monk. His story reminds me of the people I met in Nepal and Bhutan who seemed to be genuinely friendly.
Bama, it’s great when a trip born of necessity can uncover a gem of a place. :)
Bhutan and Nepal are dream destinations for me! I do hope we’ll have the chance to visit both countries someday. I’ve read that Bhutan is a bit more strict when it comes to issuing visas, because they want to encourage more responsible tourism. How did you find your tour company?
That is true. All foreigners (except Indian nationals) must get a visa in advance to go to Bhutan and must arrange their trips with a local tour operator (which will also help with the visa). Everything must be paid before you go as this usually includes the visa fee as well. I found a tour company through another blogger who went to Bhutan several years before I did and seemed satisfied with their service. And she was right and I highly recommend this tour company to anyone who wants to visit Bhutan. I can email you their contact details if you want.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to make note of their contact details in case we go, Bama. Is it okay if you send the name via my contact page? https://triciaannemitchell.com/contact/
Many, many thanks!
Hi Tricia. I just sent you an email through the contact form. Please let me know if you haven’t received it.
I received it. Thank you so much, Bama! :)
You’re very welcome, Tricia. :)
Great article, Trish.
Thank you, Mary Ann! Perhaps it’s a trip to Italy is in order? :)
Fantastic photos! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Many thanks, Rohan!
How interesting! Thanks for posting.
Hi Dikla, I’m glad you enjoyed this peek at Pordenone. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. :)