The city of Conegliano

Conegliano is located in a privileged position close to the Treviso Pre-Alps, an hour away from Venice and the upper Adriatic coastline, with Cortina, the pearl of the Dolomites area, behind it. The town has ancient origins, testified by the archaeological finds preserved in the Castle and linked to prehistory; however, its name appears for the first time in a document by Henry II in 1016, which places the town’s origins in the early Middle Ages.

The historical centre, the ancient Contrada Granda, now Via XX Settembre and Piazza Cima, is home to numerous Renaissance palaces with sculpted stone decorations and frescoes. Noteworthy among these is Palazzo Sarcinelli, which each year hosts exhibitions and displays of local artists and internationally renowned collections.

On the hill, close to Piazza Cima, rises the Castle, which can be reached through evocative footpaths along the ancient Carraresi walls. The Castle, the symbol of Conegliano, enjoys a panoramic position, from which one can admire the view of the vast scenery that surrounds the city, including no less than three Veneto World Heritage Sites: the Dolomites, the Venice Lagoon and the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.

Conegliano is now the second largest town in the province, after the capital Treviso. Favoured by its barycentric position between Venice, Udine and Cortina, the city has developed over time the industrial sector, becoming a reference centre of the Inox Valley District (in particular with the production of household appliances (Zanussi, then Electrolux, others), the tertiary sector and the agricultural sector.

Conegliano is home to the Cerletti Institute of Secondary Education, the oldest oenological school in Italy and Europe (founded in 1876); the Incrocio Manzoni wine, originating from a cross between Riesling Renano and Pinot Bianco, was also born here thanks to the studies of Prof. Manzoni. The first Italian wine route, the ‘Strada del Prosecco e Vini dei Colli Conegliano Valdobbiadene’ (1966), also started from the City of Cima. Together with Valdobbiadene, Conegliano is known throughout the world thanks to the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, which originates from the Glera vine but which, thanks to its morphological conformity and climate, takes on a unique connotation here.

Its strategic position, thanks to the proximity of the main connection routes, two efficient airports (Treviso and Venice), a railway station with local transfers and national high-speed lines, and the availability of hotel facilities have made it easy for tourism linked to wine and food, wellness and nature, art and cultural heritage to flow in. Our tourist operators are ready to welcome visitors from all over the world, to offer them the best there is in our city.

Numerous events and manifestations take place in the town: in April/May, the Primavera del Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco (Springtime of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco); in June, the Dama Vivente (Living Checkers), played out in the heart of the old town centre, in which the fascination of ancient contests between knights, ready to compete for damsels and manors, is revived. In August, Calici di Stelle (Goblets of Stars), to taste the region’s food and wine products under a sky of stars; this is followed by the Autunno Coneglianese (Coneglianese Autumn), which includes events such as Pittori in Contrada (Painters in the District), the Expo, Veneto Wine Stars, and the ‘Gran Baccano’ international street art festival. During the month of December, the city centre is animated by the characteristic Christmas Village.

The Municipality of Conegliano is a member of numerous national and international associations, among which are

• National Association of Wine Cities, since 1996;
• Association of Walled Cities of Veneto, since 1996;
• Associazione Strada del Prosecco e Vini dei Colli Conegliano Valdobbiadene Association, since 2002;
• Association for the Heritage of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene; since 2020.

The Municipality of Conegliano is part of the Municipalities of the Area Planning Agreement (I.P.A.) of the Upper Lands of the Marca Trevigiana, through the sharing of choices and objectives aimed at the enhancement and promotion of the historical, artistic, architectural, landscape and cultural heritage of the overall Unesco site, with positive repercussions also on the economic, productive and tourist fabric of the entire territory involved and of each single Municipality.