Buttrio

Territory

Buttrio is located on a plain at the base of a hill 146 meters above sea level. In ancient times, the Friulian plain was inundated by the sea, and the coasts almost reached the current Julian Prealps. At the bottom of this lagoon, over the millennia, a slow process of sedimentation took place, giving rise to imposing formations that, with the retreat of the sea, emerged from the waters. These Eocene deposits today appear as alternating layers of marl and sandstone with a very characteristic appearance. The soil composition makes them suitable for viticulture. Over the centuries, the profile of the slopes has been shaped by the work of generations of winemakers.

Buttrio's geographical location allows for substantial viticulture leading to its renowned wines, with the Julian Alps behind it, protecting the vines from cold northerly winds, and the Adriatic Sea in front, ensuring beneficial and constant ventilation.

Religious Architecture

• Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta: it is the parish of Buttrio, in the province and archdiocese of Udine; it is part of the deanery of Eastern Friuli.
• Church of Santo Stefano Protomartyr: it was built on the ruins of a Roman settlement, a fact reflected in its name. Located near the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the church was built around the mid-14th century and consecrated in May 1366.

Civil architecture

• Villa Morpurgo: it is a recently restored fortified villa. The original building dates back to the late 10th century and served as a defensive and lookout manor. It was enfeoffed to the Counts of Gorizia, who then entrusted it to the Lords of Buttrio. The entire complex is protected by the Superintendency of Cultural Heritage.

• Villa Bartolini-Caimo-Dragoni-Florio-Danieli

A splendid cypress-lined avenue leads to this residence, founded in the 17th century by the Bartolini family. The building dates back to the 17th century and consists of a large manor house, the central body of which is flanked by two square-plan towers. A double-flight staircase caps the splendid central section of the façade, with important classical reminiscences. The interiors were decorated by Francesco Chiarottini and Giambattista Canal with sumptuous allegorical scenes.

For many years, it served as the venue for the Buttrio Regional Wine Fair, before the upper Villa Florio became available.

The complex was later purchased by the Danieli family. It is this latter family that painstakingly restored the frescoes and restored the building to its former functional state, which has now been completely renovated.

• Villa di Toppo-Florio: it was founded in the first half of the 18th century by the Toppo family. It was expanded during the following century when the Florio family took over. The importance of the villa is also due to the vast park that belongs to it, which descends from the hill to the plain along the road that leads to Manzano. The villa and the park form an indivisible unit that has been preserved over time in an exemplary manner.

Ethnic groups and foreign minorities

As of December 31, 2024 there were 420 foreigners residing in the municipality, or 10.3% of the population. The largest foreign community is that from Romania with 36.3% of all foreigners present in the country, followed by Ukraine and Albania.

Agriculture

The municipal territory is included in three DOCs: the hilly portion belongs to the "Colli Orientali del Friuli" DOC, while the flatter portion belongs to the "Grave del Friuli" DOC and is also included in the "Prosecco" DOC. Furthermore, Buttrio is a member of the national "Città del Vino" association. The wines produced in Buttrio, which are generally of excellent quality, include whites (Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon) and reds (Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso). Currently, over 20 specialized wineries operate in the area; they are managed according to modern criteria.

Industry

Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A., known simply as Danieli, is a multinational with its headquarters and main plant in Buttrio. It is a world leader in the production of steelmaking equipment, particularly in the long products sector, where it holds a global market share of over 90%.

The company was founded in 1914 by Mario and Timo Danieli. Over the years, Danieli has adopted a strategy of transitioning from the construction of steelmaking machinery to the delivery of turnkey plants.