Its History

The origins of San Daniele del Friuli are not precisely defined. Recent archaeological discoveries document human presence at least as far back as the 8th century BC, but it is reasonable to assume that by 400 BC the Celts had already settled in the San Daniele area, attracted by its suitability for pig farming and processing. The first documented references date back to 1048.

The 15th century was a complex and troubled period for the Patriarchal State of Friuli, marked by the end of its independence and the serious political events that followed. Turkish incursions in the second half of the century long hindered any hopes of economic and social recovery. In this challenging context, San Daniele experienced a condition entirely distinct from the rest of Friuli. Together with San Vito al Tagliamento, it was “returned” to the Patriarch of Aquileia, forming, along with nearby towns, the so-called Residual Core of the ancient Patriarchal State. This unique political-institutional position allowed San Daniele to develop, between 1445 and 1762, a historical and cultural experience distinct from the rest of Friuli, which was increasingly under the rule of the Serenissima Republic of Venice.

Under the guidance of the Patriarchal Princes—sometimes strict, but attentive and enlightened—San Daniele consolidated a strong and recognizable identity, earning it the nicknames “the little Siena of Friuli” and the “pearl of the Patriarchate.”
This period saw the rise of prominent cultural figures such as Guarnerio d’Artegna, a refined humanist and founder of the Biblioteca Guarneriana, and Martino da Udine, known as Pellegrino da San Daniele, who found welcome here and completed his artistic training.
The Arengo Council, or Major Council, was the main deliberative body of the community, made up of all heads of households. It had the authority to legislate for the entire community: the “Deliberations” held the force of law. For extraordinary expenses, authorization from the Patriarch-Prince was required to impose the “Colte,” sums of money contributed by families according to income assessed by the Morari, custodians of the customs of each district, and formally sanctioned by the Arengo.
The districts of Villanova and Albazzana enjoyed relative autonomy: they administered their own duties on bread and wine, contributed to the maintenance of roads and bridges, cared for churches and public works, but also participated in general community expenses, including internal and external defense costs.

The community’s freedom rested on solid economic foundations. As early as 1290, San Daniele obtained from Patriarch Raimondo della Torre the right to impose and collect duties on bread, wine, oil, and grains. In 1367, Patriarch Marquardo of Randeck granted the exclusive right to sell bread and wine within a radius of three and a half miles from the town center, a privilege the city defended vigorously even against neighboring communities.
The weekly market, instituted by the Patriarchate and documented since the 11th century, was of great importance. In 1048, Patriarch Gotebaldo granted the canons of Aquileia the right to collect duties on the market, making it the oldest known “Patriarchal” market. On April 25, 1451, by Patriarchal decree, substituted by Monsignor Guarnerio d’Artegna, the market was moved from Sunday to Saturday, and shop openings on Sundays were prohibited. In 1752, Patriarch Daniele Delfino, to help San Daniele with the high costs of transitioning under Venetian rule, allowed the market to be doubled every Wednesday.
Even the modest duty (1 soldo for each “staro” of grain) brought a considerable contribution to the municipal coffers, as hundreds of “stari” were traded each Sunday and later on Saturday. Economic benefits were further increased by the influx of vendors and buyers, benefiting local merchants and the numerous “Tabernae,” inns and taverns with lodging. Between 1799 and 1848, Austria abolished the Saturday market but confirmed the Wednesday market and ordered the construction of the New Market, today Piazzale IV Novembre, named after General Ronchi’s intervention following World War I.

In 1445, a concordat between the Patriarch and Venice transferred civil rights to the Serenissima Republic while maintaining ecclesiastical powers with the Patriarch. The suppression of the Patriarchate in 1751 marked a profound change: San Daniele gradually lost centuries-old privileges and faced the strict Venetian fiscal system. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the town underwent important transformations: reorganization of cemeteries, construction of new infrastructure, introduction of the metric system, schools, aqueducts, and public lighting. Works such as the large mechanical aqueduct—one of the first in Italy—and the bridge of Pinzano testify to a desire for modernization and openness to the future.
With the Unification of Italy, San Daniele entered a new phase. Schools, postal services, telephone and tram lines were established. Villanova stood out for civic and social initiatives such as the creation of a mixed elementary school and, after World War I, the erection of the first war memorial in Friuli, privately funded as a sign of memory and gratitude. During the 20th century, dramatic events—like the destruction of the Pinzano bridge during the retreat from Caporetto and the Tagliamento flood of 1966—deeply affected the territory. Reconstruction, including the inauguration of the new bridge in 1970, provided vital infrastructure for the town’s development and resisted the 1976 earthquake.
After World War II, the town underwent reconstruction and economic development, consolidating its artisanal and food traditions that had built the national and international reputation of Prosciutto di San Daniele. The 1976 Friuli earthquake severely affected the area, but the town quickly recovered thanks to reconstruction efforts that preserved historical, artistic, and cultural heritage, strengthening community identity and the commitment to tradition.

The local terrain, with long sun exposure benefiting crops and vegetation, supported the growth of oak woods, which historically provided sustenance for pigs and wild boar near water sources. Since the Celtic invasions around 400 BC, the practice of preserving raw meat under salt spread. During the Lombard era, pig tending was a specialized task among household slaves. Already at that time, San Daniele produced and cured hams.
Much information comes from the Quaderni dei Giurati, preserved at the Biblioteca Guarneriana, valuable collections of historical notes. These documents show that hams with hooves were initially called “lo zoccolo” until the term “persuttus” was adopted. San Daniele skillfully promoted its prosciutto production politically and diplomatically, using it as a gift to foster esteem and alliances.
The 16th century can be considered the century of the “persutus” ham, essential to the community. It appeared at the banquets of wealthy families and in inns with lodging and stables. Over time, the word evolved from persutus to persutto to presciutto, finally becoming Prosciutto di San Daniele. In 1961, a group of citizens, producers, entrepreneurs, and other notable figures founded the Consorzio del Prosciutto di San Daniele.
The Consortium was founded with the specific objective of protecting Prosciutto di San Daniele and its brand, as a product recognized as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) by the European Union since 1996 and, previously, as a product with a Designation of Origin by the Italian State since 1970 with Law No. 507. 507. The Consortium carries out important monitoring activities to protect the designation and ensure that the name, brand, and distinctive PDO symbols are not abused or misused. The Consortium promotes and enhances Prosciutto di San Daniele through informational, promotional, and advertising activities.

As early as the 14th century, the historic centre of San Daniele was entirely enclosed by imposing battlemented walls with semi-covered walkways and ten towers, documented in the Quaderni-spesa dei Giurati-Sindaci.
The route among the ancient fortifications begins at the Torre delle Ore, in front of the Duomo façade, which provided access to Piazza del Mercato from the southwest. The tower was adorned with a large painted clock by the parish priest of Codroipo and two bronze Moors who struck the hours on the bell at the top of the tower.
Moving clockwise towards the west, one would encounter the Torre Cichina, at the corner of the former Sisters’ Asylum on Via del Monte, behind the Monte di Pietà building. From there, the walls ran north to the Torre delle Cicogne, located at the end of today’s Via Sabotino (then called Calle delle Cicogne). Beyond the Fratte depression, the walls reached the gardens of the last house on Vicolo Rosso (Del Favero house) and turned right toward the Torre del Portonàt, or Tramontana, a gate tower with a drawbridge—the only one still visible and well preserved.
Continuing, the walls turned at a right angle to the south, reinforced by the Torrione del Tormento, which on the ground floor housed the municipal torture wheel. From there, they extended to the Torre dei Signori di Varmo, in the Brollo dei Nobili of San Daniele, and then southeast to the current corner of the De Concina garden, which was at the time divided into private lots and later donated to the municipality.
At the east corner of the castle garden stood the Torrione dei Crovati, or dei Corvi, known in the 15th century as Turris sulphuris, as it served in isolation as a “factory” for gunpowder for bombards, spingards, falconets, and arquebuses used by the community.
The walls then continued south-southwest to the Belvedere, known as the Torre degli Orti, and northeast past the De Concina park along today’s Via Pietro Micca. After a short eastward stretch, they reached the tower near the Church of S. Maria della Fratta, turned toward Casa Caporiacco—where the eponymous tower stood at the end of Via Cairoli—and finally closed the circuit at the Torre Portaia, also called Eundi ad Spilibergium or delle Ore, which also featured a drawbridge.
In 1519, Patriarch Ludovico Teck, in retaliation against the Di Varmo family, ordered the demolition of the castle walls, the removal of the drawbridge, and the filling of the moat, leaving the castle and courtyard defenseless. The stones recovered from the walls were reused to rebuild the pillars and part of the Loggia wall up to the first floor.