Feltre

Comune di Feltre
Country	Italy
Region	Veneto
Province	Belluno (BL)
Mayor	Gianvittore Vaccari
Elevation	325 m (1,066 ft)
Area	100 km² (39 sq mi)
Population (as of January 31, 2004)
- Total	20,053
- Density	201/km² (521/sq mi)
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	46°01′N, 11°54′E
Gentilic	Feltrini
Dialing code	0439
Postal code	32032
Frazioni	see list
Patron	St. Victor
- Day	May 14
Website: www.comune.feltre.bl.it

Feltre is a town and comune of the province of Belluno in Veneto, Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about 4 km from its junction with the Piave, and 20 km southwest from Belluno. The Dolomites loom to the north of the town.

History

It was known in Roman times as Feltria and described as an oppidum by Pliny (Nat. Hist. iii, 130), who also assigned its foundation to the Alpine tribe of the Rhaetians. The city obtained the status of municipium in 49 BC.

After the fall of the Western Empire, under which it had developed into a flourishing city, it became a Lombard dominion. Later in the Middle Ages, it was ruled by Ezzelino da Romano, the Camino family, by the Scaligeri of Verona from 1315 to 1337. Feltre was subsequently under Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, the da Carrara and the Visconti until 1404, when, together with Belluno, it was conquered by the Republic of Venice. In 1499 it received a new line of walls.

In 1509 the center of the town was mostly destroyed during battles between the Venetians and the League of Cambrai, and later rebuilt with a characteristic 16th century style. In 1797, after the fall of Venice, it was ruled for some times by the French. After the Congress of Vienna (1814), Feltre was assigned to the Austrian Empire, to which remained until 1866.

It was besieged by Austria during World War I.

Notable people of Feltre include printer Panfilo Castaldi, humanist educator Vittorino da Feltre and painter Morto da Feltre.

Main sights

• The Cathedral, entitled to St. Peter and St. Prosdocimus and rebuilt in Renaissance times. It has maintained from the preceding buildings the apse and the 14th century campanile. The interior has works by Pietro Marescalchi and some 17th century wooden statues. The church is sided by the 15th century Baptistry, housing a precious Medieval baptismal font from 1399. Under the cathedral is an archaeological area of 1000 m² belonging to the ancient Roman city.
• The Imperial Gate (1489, restored in 1545), from which the Via Mezzaterra starts. This is faced by the noteworthy Casa Crico, Casa Cantoni and Palazzo Muffoni.
• Palazzo Salce.
• The Palazzo della Ragione (16th century), the current Town Hall, with a Palladian style portico. It opens to the Piazza Maggiore, one of the most beautiful in the Veneto, with a fountain by Tullio Lombardo and a column surmounted by a statue of the St. Mark's Lion. On the same piazza are Palazzo Guarnieri and a Baroque staircase leading to the church of St. Roch (1576-1632), flanked by the Alboin's Castle with the Torre dell'Orologio', once part of the Roman defensive apparatus. The Castle attribution to the Lombard king of Alboin has no historical evidence
• The Pinacoteca, in Palazzo Villabruna, has works by Morto da Feltre, Cima da Conegliano, Gentile Bellini, Pietro Marescalchi and others.
• The church and the monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli, begun in 1492. Entirely renovated in the 19th century, has maintained part of the ancient cloister. It houses a painting by Jacopo Bassano

Outside the city are:

• The sanctuary of SS. Vittore e Corona (12th-15th century), dedicated to Saints Victor and Corona, outside the city, and is one of the most important Romanesque edifices in the Veneto. It shows a mix of Eastern and Renaissance styles, and is home to some 14th century Giottoesque frescoes. Sculptures include the martyrium that houses the relics of the two Eastern saints and a small statue of St. Victor.
• The late Renaissance Villa Pasona, on the site of the Castle of Pedavena destroyed by Emperor Charles IV in 1350.

Frazioni

Anzù, Arson, Canal, Cart, Cellarda, Croci, Farra, Foen, Grum, Lamen, Lasen, Mugnai, Nemeggio, Pont, Pren, Sanzan, Tomo, Umin, Vellai, Vignui, Villabruna, Villapaiera, Zermen.

Twin cities

• Newbury, United Kingdom;
• Braunfels, Germany;
• Eeklo, Belgium;
• Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France;
• Kiskunfélegyháza, Hungary.

External links

• Official website of the Palio of Feltre

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