Farra d'Isonzo
Encyclopedia
Farra d'Isonzo (ˌfaɾɾa d‿izɔnt͡so) is an Italian
comune
in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
, in the province of Gorizia
.
The name "Farra" is of Lombard origin, and derives from "Fara" which in the Lombard dialect means a stronghold held by individual families or clans. The Romans
later had a "statio
" – or courier relay point – here, near which they built a bulky bridge on the Isonzo river
in a place called Mainizza to improve communications with the eastern territories. It was on this strategic bridge that the Goths
, the Ostrogoths, the Lombards
, the Avari
, the Huns
, the Hungarians and the Turks
would later pass to invade the empire.
s that cover its vast territory. The old agricultural features of the landscape can still be seen in the urban layout of the locality, that includes numerous villages and the two smaller towns of Mainizza and Villanova.
The palace of Calice (1728) stands out next to the modern buildings that were rebuilt after the war. It is the administrative seat of the comune
and housed important landowners' villas. An intense and lively cultural life has developed here, and there are numerous institutions like the centre dedicated the poet Riccardo Pitteri, who wrote about this country and chose it as a summer resort. There is also a retirement home, and in Borgo Grotta there is a museum documenting the agricultural society of the region of Friuli
. A highly efficient astronomical observatory
– the Astronomical Observatory of Farra d'Isonzo – and a town library are among the other facilities found there.
For several years there has been a renowned musical academy here, promoting an annual chamber music competition for young musicians of the Alpe-Adria
, and various concerts are held in the splendid chamber of the parochial oratory. Among other music is the "Gruppo Vocale", a men's choir of recent origin, but already boasting an impressive series of successes with its repertory of classical, popular and religious music.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli–Venezia Giulia is one of the twenty regions of Italy, and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The capital is Trieste. It has an area of 7,858 km² and about 1.2 million inhabitants. A natural opening to the sea for many Central European countries, the region is...
, in the province of Gorizia
Province of Gorizia
The Province of Gorizia is a province in the autonomous Friuli–Venezia Giulia region of Italy.-Overview:Its capital is the city of Gorizia. It belonged to the Province of Udine between 1924 and 1927 and the communes of Sonzia, Plezzo, Bergogna, Caporetto, Tolmino, Circhina, Santa Lucia d'Isonzo,...
.
History
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
later had a "statio
Cursus publicus
The cursus publicus was the state-run courier and transportation service of the Roman Empire, later inherited by the Byzantine Empire. It was created by Emperor Augustus to transport messages, officials, and tax revenues from one province to another...
" – or courier relay point – here, near which they built a bulky bridge on the Isonzo river
Soca
The Soča or Isonzo is a 140 km long river that flows through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in Slovenia, at an elevation of around 1,100 metres...
in a place called Mainizza to improve communications with the eastern territories. It was on this strategic bridge that the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
, the Ostrogoths, the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
, the Avari
Avari
Avari is appointed to the Avari people who live in Azerbaijan. "Avari" dance is very popular in Azerbaijan. It consists of three parts. At first it is slow, and little by little becomes faster, and at the end part it changes to the quick rhythm of the Lezginka music.-Notes:...
, the Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
, the Hungarians and the Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
would later pass to invade the empire.
Farra d'Isonzo today
Today Farra is still a thriving center for the numerous vineyardVineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s that cover its vast territory. The old agricultural features of the landscape can still be seen in the urban layout of the locality, that includes numerous villages and the two smaller towns of Mainizza and Villanova.
The palace of Calice (1728) stands out next to the modern buildings that were rebuilt after the war. It is the administrative seat of the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
and housed important landowners' villas. An intense and lively cultural life has developed here, and there are numerous institutions like the centre dedicated the poet Riccardo Pitteri, who wrote about this country and chose it as a summer resort. There is also a retirement home, and in Borgo Grotta there is a museum documenting the agricultural society of the region of Friuli
Friuli
Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...
. A highly efficient astronomical observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
– the Astronomical Observatory of Farra d'Isonzo – and a town library are among the other facilities found there.
For several years there has been a renowned musical academy here, promoting an annual chamber music competition for young musicians of the Alpe-Adria
Alpe-Adria
Alpe-Adria is a bioregion in Central Europe, embracing all of Slovenia, the Austrian states of Carinthia and Styria, and the Italian regions of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia and Veneto. , it is the subject of a proposal to create the world's first organic bioregion....
, and various concerts are held in the splendid chamber of the parochial oratory. Among other music is the "Gruppo Vocale", a men's choir of recent origin, but already boasting an impressive series of successes with its repertory of classical, popular and religious music.