Buttrio: Wine, Villas and Archaeobotany

Buttrio brings together wine, villas, collections and an archaeobotanical park. The municipal area includes the DOC regions “Colli Orientali del Friuli”, “Grave del Friuli” and “Prosecco”. For travellers looking for accommodation in Buttrio, this combination offers a clear thematic focus: wine can be explored here both through the regional designations and through the cultural history of Villa di Toppo-Florio. There is also a viewpoint on the hills and the history of Villa Morpurgo.

Wine and Event Programme

The three DOC designations represent different wine-related areas within the municipal territory. The Fiera regionale dei vini di Buttrio offers another way to explore the region: the programme for the 2026 edition included wine tastings, cultural gatherings, guided tours and family events. For this edition, both wine and cultural activities were at the centre of the programme. You can therefore distinguish between two themes when choosing what interests you: the wine-related regional designations and the time-limited event programme.

Villa di Toppo-Florio and Wine Culture

Villa di Toppo-Florio dates back to the 18th century and overlooks a park of particular archaeological and botanical interest. After the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region transferred the villa and park to the municipality of Buttrio in 1998, the municipality began restoring and renovating the complex. The Museum of the Civilization of Wine of Friuli Venezia Giulia is located in the west wing. It displays objects, documents and visual records related to the world of vines and wine. The museum’s first section traces the history of wine culture from the earliest evidence to the present day, with a particular focus on the 20th century. The history of the villa complex and the development of wine culture thus sit side by side in one place: the villa and its restoration provide a historical setting, while the collection is expressly dedicated to the world of wine.

Archaeobotanical Park and Finds

The archaeobotanical park is considered the only surviving archaeobotanical park in northern Italy. As part of the “TreeArt Festival” project, it also hosts modern art installations; individual works may change over time. Artefacts can be seen in the park and at the edge of Villa di Toppo-Florio. Separate from these is the park’s arrangement of Roman artefacts recovered from Aquileia. The lapidarium contains numerous individual finds that are too small to be displayed in the park. One find in the lapidarium is dated to around 190–200 AD. Alongside the park’s arrangement, therefore, Buttrio’s archaeological connections also include individual finds dated to a specific period.

Villa Morpurgo and the Former Castle

Villa Morpurgo, also known as “Castel Morpurgo”, stands on the site of Buttrio’s former castle. After its capture in 1306, the castle was destroyed following intervention by the people of Udine, Gemona and Cividale. Two distinct historical events are connected with this site: the destruction of the medieval castle and the villa that now stands in its place.

Panoramic Views from the Hills

A viewpoint on the hills of Buttrio, known as “the pines”, offers a broad panorama. Unlike Villa di Toppo-Florio, with its museum and park, this viewpoint draws your attention to the hilly landscape. When choosing what to focus on, you can distinguish between wine and cultural history, archaeological details and a broad panorama.

Discover more destinations: Bagnaria Arsa, Premariacco, Rivignano, Sottoselva, Torreano, Pasian di Prato, Porpetto and Sedegliano.

For the broader travel overview: Udine.