Sutrio is undoubtedly one of the most suggestive villages in Italy. To visit it you need to go to Friuli Venezia Giulia. Beyond the environmental impact that this place has on tourists, what makes it famous is the great skill of its craftsmen. A tradition that has its roots in a now distant past. Woodworking and carving are a virtue of this town. It is possible to find typical shops selling all sorts of wooden creations in the typical streets of the historic center. All this flows into the event of the year: Magic of Wood. A local talent so well-known and appreciated that it pushed the Vatican City to request a special processing. However, we will talk about this later.
What to see in Sutrio
Beyond the workshops of the artisans, which deserve more than a simple tour, as much as a real exploration, here's what to see in Sutrio. We could start from Nativity scene of Teno. A fascinating work, entirely hand-carved in wood. The life-size figures manage to integrate perfectly into the landscape. The name derives from the nickname of the craftsman responsible for this magnificence. His name was Gaudenzio Straulino, for all Teno. Disappeared in 1988, he worked on these sculptures for over 30 years.
Raising your head during your walks you can admire the typical local architecture, with buildings characterized by courtyards and arches or windows full of geraniums. How to ignore the houses of the "cramars", that is the sellers of cloth and spices who crossed the borders of Carnia to trade their products abroad. Even today it is possible to recognize their homes, from the moment that they bear the cross of Mercury, symbol of trade, engraved on the keystone of the entrance portal.
Sutrio and the crib in the Vatican
Every year, at the end of the summer, the event known as the Magic of Wood begins in Sutrio. It goes without saying that all the skills of local artisans are enhanced in every possible way. Such a skill as to push the Vatican City to request the construction of the nativity scene in St. Peter's Square for Christmas 2022.
Each year, in fact, a life-size nativity scene is set up here, commissioned each year to a different client. 2022 will be the year of Sutrio and for this reason the craftsmen have already started the work. We therefore thought of a special edition of Magia del Legno to celebrate this historic event.
What to eat
Beyond the artisan beauties, Sutrio, like all Italian villages, also offers its tourists a large number of typical delicacies. Impossible not to try your hand at a tour of the typical Carnic cuisine taverns of the place.
Here tradition dominates in the most absolute way. The dishes not to be missed, genuine and natural, are based on meat, mushrooms, polenta and cold cuts. All accompanied by a good local wine. Here are some typical dishes:
- cjarsons: a kind of agnolotti with a filling made up of various ingredients
- Frico: cooked cheese, once sweet and today mainly salty, proposed in many varieties
- Toc 'in braide: appetizer made with polenta and a sauce made with cheese fondue and sludge (melted butter with toasted corn flour)
