An 18th-century Manor In The Heart Of The Friulian Plains

Just minutes from the Venetian fortress-city of Palmanova, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and along the ancient route connecting Udine to Aquileia and the Adriatic Sea, stands a rare historical complex of approximately 2,400 sqm. The property comprises six buildings arranged around a charming, tree-lined courtyard—an authentic expression of Venetian architectural culture in the Friuli region, meticulously preserved over the centuries without significant alterations. A key asset of this property is a fully approved project, complete with all necessary permits, for the restoration, enhancement, and repurposing of the entire estate. The annexes can be converted into additional residential or hospitality spaces, opening exciting development opportunities while fully respecting the complex’s historical, architectural, and landscape identity.

The estate extends over approximately two hectares, maintaining intact the original relationship between the residence, the landscape, and agricultural life. It stands as a unified historical entity where architecture, nature, and memory have evolved harmoniously over time. The historic English landscape garden, graced by two monumental cedars and centuries-old trees, preserves the dialogue between building and nature that characterizes the finest estates of the Friulian plains, ensuring absolute privacy and magnificent scenic charm.

Inhabited and cherished by the same family for generations, the estate bears witness to an extraordinary historical and cultural continuity. Among the family’s ancestors is Andrea Scala (1820–1892), one of the most significant architects of the Italian 19th century. His cultural legacy remains deeply intertwined with the property’s identity, particularly evident in the barchessa (historic barn/outhouse) with its elegant, Neoclassical-inspired colonnades.

The complex includes the main manor house, the barchessa, the lemon house (limonaia), service buildings, and ancient agricultural structures overlooking the central courtyard. The main manor, the oldest and most prestigious core of the estate, has always been dedicated to family reception and private residence.

An impressive white marble grand staircase, enhanced by a wrought-iron and wooden balustrade, leads to the reception rooms. The interiors retain spacious salons characterized by exposed wooden beams, stone fireplaces, and historic fixtures. Of exceptional value is the extraordinary sequence of 19th-century decorative flooring: refined polychrome geometric patterns, unique to each room and featuring sophisticated perspective effects, which represent one of the property’s most distinctive features and a significant testament to the decorative culture of the era.

The grand main salon, with its dark wooden beamed ceiling, monumental marble fireplace, and views over the park, stands out for its elegance and luminosity. The study-library, one of the residence's most evocative rooms, retains the charm of ancient noble estates thanks to its herringbone parquet, period furnishings, and exquisite decorations. Additional salons and spaces dedicated to entertaining complete the residence, offering ideal areas for both private life and formal hosting.

The barchessa, once used as a grape-pressing house and a bigattiera for silkworm breeding, witnesses the historic productive vocation of the complex—a true organizational hub for a small agricultural economy. The lemon house, the former estate manager’s residence, and additional service buildings complete the architectural ensemble. The former stables, with the hayloft above, still preserve the understated and functional character typical of rural Friulian architecture.

A rare property where history, architecture, and landscape blend into a whole of extraordinary authenticity, in the heart of Friuli Venezia Giulia—just six minutes from Palmanova and approximately twenty-five minutes from Aquileia and the historic center of Udine.