Itinerary: Concordia, Portogruaro, Abbazia Benedettina di Summaga, Sesto al Reghena, S.Donà di Piave, Chiesanuova.
From Jesolo take the road leading to Caorle direction La Salute di Livenza; after about 10 kilometres at the roundabouts bear right towards Portogruaro. Follow the provincial towards Latisana, and at Sindacale turn left towards Concordia Sagittaria
Concordia: a Roman vicus of the Augustan Age founded in 42 B.C. along the Via Annia. The Cathedral of Concordia, in late Gothic style, dates back to 1466 and under the Cathedral is the Basilica Apostolorum with its antique mosaic floor. Inside can be found two interesting holy water stoups and the baptistry with Romanesque frescoes. Outside are the 11th Century bell tower (Torre Campanaria) and the remains of Roman villas, a bridge and a theatre. Also recommended is a visit to the Museo Civico with its splendid collection of statues, small bronzes, funeral aedicule and other fragments.
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Three kilometres out of Concordia is Portogruaro. Here, in the Church of San Giovanni, one can admire the frescoed ceiling by A.Urbani with an interesting Virgin with Child and an altar-piece by Leandro da Ponte. In the Piazza della Repubblica is the Town Hall (Municipio) with its singular gothic brickwork facade (1372-1380). Note the six marble blocks known as "i Testoni" dating from the 16th Century and the crane well with curbs by Giovanni A. Pilacorte. Behind the Town Hall is the Fish Market (Pescheria) with the Loggia and Oratorio. Nearby are the mills on the Lemene River commissioned by Bishop Antonio Felotto in 1477. Interesting the Duomo di Sant'Andrea with its leaning Romanesque bell tower. Other sights include the Palazzo de Gotzen, Palazzo Marzotto, Palazzo del Moro, Villa Comunale, Porta San Gottardo, Church of San Luigi and Palazzo Venanzio. Not to be missed is the National Museum of Archeology (Museo Archeologico Nazionale).
Just outside Portogruaro is the Benedictine Abbey of Summaga (1211).
Proceeding West towards Pordenone you reach Cinto di Caomaggiore offering two alternatives: turn right to visit Sesto al Reghena, or left towards Pramaggiore to visit the Regional Wine Cellars (Enoteca Regionale).
Those visiting Sesto al Reghena will find authentic masterpieces of art and history such as the Abbey of Santa Maria in Silvis, the ancient name of Sesto Al Reghena, founded around the 8th Century by the Lombards and which soon became a power centre. In fact, between 1000 and 1300 it was at the height of its wide-ranging political, economic and religious power and entire areas of the Friuli, Istria and Veneto regions were part of its territory.
The current Romanesque Basilica dates from the 12th and 13th Century, but has been reconstructed a number of times.
The entrance to the church is an atrium with a unique portico entirely frescoed in the 14th Century. The crypt containes the sarcophagus of Saint Anastasia, a masterpiece of Byzantine-Lombard art of the 8th Century and a bas-relief of the Annunciation.
Return to Lido di Jesolo by going South towards Cessalto and Ceggia with a stop-over in San Donà di Piave to visit the recently-restored Museo della Bonifica with its numerous exhibits on the ancient town of Heraclia. Here you will find rooms dedicated to archeological materials, the territory's hidraulic system in the 16th and 17th Century, land drainage, weaving with 17th Century wooden looms, local handicrafts, World War I and tools and furnishing common to daily life in the town.
Take time to stroll though the large park that extends along the river from the Ponte della Vittoria to the Taglio di Intestadura.
Continue along the Piave Vecchia towards Chiesanuova to Caposile with its movable bridge that brings to mind those painted by Van Gogh.
To return to Jesolo, either take the through road that follows the river Sile, or the scenic Via Salsi that flanks the same river but overlooking the Drago Jesolo and Grassabò valleys.