AB Coltellerie

Help Desk: History of Maniago: The Cutlery Town

Maniago's terrytory is situated at the crossroad of two major traffic roads (one alng Cellina leading to Belluno's and Cadore's areas and the other to Val Colvera leading to the Passo del Rest and therefore to Carnia's area) and it has therefore been of major interest for human settlements since its early days.

The region was first inhabited by Veneto-Illiri and most likely by Carni (inhabitants of Carnia): it was then conquered by the Romans under the rule of Console Marco Emilio Scauro and later by the Longobards; it is first mentioned in an official document at the end of the first millenium.

According to an agreement signed in Ravenna in 981 Mount Maniago and San Mauro Valley were passed from Emperor Ottone II to Rodoaldo Patriarca di Aquileia.

During clashes and battles with the nearby villages Maniago's population used to take shelter in the Castle of the Connates. Such a stronghold, built upon the ruinse of a Roman tower in 1150, resisted to 3-century attacks, even to the army led by Ezzelino da Romano. But when it was attacked by the army of La Serenissima (name of Venice Republic) in 1420 it could only be defended for 42 days after which Maniago's ruling familes could not help surrending to the Doge's rule. The presence of Venetian domination is witnessed still today on a wall painting of San Marco's Lion frescoed by Amalteo on the front of Palazzo Attimus; the region was then ruled by French and Austrian government until the whole Friuli became part of the Kingdom of Italy after the third independence war.

Maniago was the birthplace of Domenico and Lorenzo Selva, who designed and developed the first binoculars, and also of architect Gianantonio Selva, who designed theatre La Fenice in Venice.

Angelo Dalmistro was one of the teachers of poet Ugo Foscolo and Father Natale Del Misto edited the first Italian-Persian dictionary.

Arts and Culture

• The Cathedral. It is a gothic style church built up in 1488 on the foundations of a VIIIth century church. The cathedral is dedicated to San Mauro. The armonious front is enriched with a marvellous rosette created by a Venetian sculpture master. Amongst the valuable works of art that can be admired inside there are: the main altar with a tabernacle made by A. Bettonelli (1693); the engraved wooden altar on the left featuring a painting by Tiziano Vecelio (1625); the gold-wooden altar placed on the right and featuring a painting by P. Amalteo (1558); a holy water stoup from 1503 of Meduno's craftmanship; a gold-painted wooden statue dating back to the beginning of XV centrury; works of art by G. de Cramariis, Icaac Fischer and local as well as lombard memorial slabs.
  
  
• Piazza Italia. It is the central main square flanked by Palace Attimis, seat of the City Council, the three-arched Loggia Comunale (1661) frescoed by O. Gortanetti, the neo-classical style Church of Immacolata Concezione rebuilt in 1778with precious work of art. In the middle of the square the octagonal-based big foutnain.
  
  
• The Castle and the Church of San Giacomo. A visit should be paid to the ruins of the Castle (protection walls and some parts of the ancient buildings) which was definitely abandoned in 1630. In San Giacomo's Chapel, next to the Castle, a painting (1600) by S. Mazzoni is still preserved.