The center of San Daniele del Friuli stands on the height of Colle Massimo, which, close to Mount Ragogna, marks the western edge of the moraine amphitheater left by Quaternary glaciers. The city is nestled in a gentle landscape extending through pleasant hills, rivers, and lakes. A particularly mild, and temperate climate in every season and a territory especially suited to the maturation of ham have made San Daniele del Friuli a popular destination for many tourists. In the main square stands the city’s cathedral dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, designed by Domenico Rossi. The unfinished bell tower was begun in 1531, based on a design by Giovanni da Udine. To the right there is the old town hall, with a portico on low arches and a trifora facing the square, housing the municipal archive and the important Civic Library Guarneriana. The Church of Madonna della Fratta, Gothic, was begun in 1350 and completed with a stone facade in 1469, also deserves a visit.
