Follina: Monastic Heritage, Textile History and Cycling Routes

Follina brings together the history of the Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria di Follina, textile traditions, religious customs, and cycling routes through hills and along waterways. The municipality is one of the 15 municipalities in the Prosecco Hills, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. This gives you several clear themes to consider when choosing a stay: architectural and local history, recurring religious events, and different types of cycling. This can help you decide whether to spend more time on historical subjects or outdoor activities in Follina.

Monastery, Sanctuary and Festive Traditions

The Abbey of Santa Maria di Follina was founded as a Cistercian monastery. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Follina is a work of Romanesque-Gothic architecture. The history of the town can thus be explored from two perspectives: the abbey’s origins take center stage, while the sanctuary makes its own impression through its architectural style. An annual pilgrimage from Alpago, held on Whit Sunday, is associated with the sanctuary. Another religious tradition is the procession at the Chiesetta di S. Clemente, held every year for the Feast of Saint Clement. The two events differ in their point of reference and the day on which they are held. If you would like to plan a stay around either tradition, include the relevant dates in your travel plans.

Wool, Silk and Architectural History

Textile history also offers a clear timeline. The processing of wool and silk flourished in Follina until the 18th century. Palazzo Barberis Rusca connects this theme with a specific architectural history: Francesco Fadda had it built in the second half of the 17th century as the finishing point of his cloth factory. The Serica della Marca silk mill carries on the millennia-old tradition of silk production by the monks. The palazzo was built in the second half of the 17th century, while the heyday of textile processing lasted until the 18th century. These different time spans place the building within a longer history of textiles.

A map from 1600 shows a building with two water-powered wheels in the area now occupied by the old metal workshop.

Cycling Routes and Events

Follina has mountain bike trails of varying difficulty, as well as quieter cycling routes through hills and along waterways. Two different features can guide your choice: the mountain bike trails vary in difficulty, while the quieter cycling routes pass through hills and along waterways. This lets you compare the difficulty of an MTB trail with the more leisurely character of the other routes.

Another sporting event is the Marcia dei brac, a non-competitive mountain run held in April that has taken place for almost 30 years. The April run thus has a different seasonal connection from the pilgrimage on Whit Sunday and the procession for the Feast of Saint Clement. Check the specific event dates if one of these events is the reason for your trip.

If you would like to compare other destinations, you can also visit the pages for Treviso, Vittorio Veneto, Giavera Del Montello and Roncade.

To the overview of the wider destination: Treviso.