Three churches to discover through free guided tours, offering a tailor-made itinerary in the footsteps of Antonio de' Sacchis
Hidden in the villages of Pordenone is a genius: Giovanni Antonio de' Sacchis, known as “Il Pordenone”, one of the most original and restless masters of the Italian Renaissance. His works, scattered throughout the churches of Vallenoncello, Rorai Grande, and Villanova, remain little known—but now, for the first time, all these doors are opening together.
One Sunday a month, for six months, the "Open Days Il Pordenone" initiative invites visitors to discover three of Pordenone's historic villages. The churches of Sant'Ulderico, Saints Rupert and Leonard, and San Lorenzo Martire will all be open at the same time, each with a licensed tour guide ready to lead free guided tours. Visitors can create their own personalized itinerary, exploring the sites at their own pace according to their interests and the time they have available.
"Open Days Il Pordenone" is built around an original concept: there is no fixed itinerary. Instead, visitors are free to choose which church to start from, how many to visit during the afternoon, and in what order, moving between the sites however they wish. Those captivated by a particular place can spend more time in a single church, while others may explore all three. Alternatively, visitors can return month after month, creating a new tailor-made itinerary each time through the artistic world of Il Pordenone.
The churches will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. During these hours, licensed tour guides will lead approximately 40-minute guided tours, departing from the entrance at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
Il Pordenone was born in this land, and some of his most remarkable works can still be found here, within the walls of three churches that preserve different chapters of his artistic journey—from the luminous, harmonious style of the Venetian tradition to the bold innovations of his mature years. Visiting these churches is like turning the pages of an artist's private diary, witnessing his transformation as he experimented, challenged conventions, and redefined his art, all within intimate, authentic spaces that remain vibrant places of worship and community life.
The frescoes in the apse are among the finest examples of Il Pordenone's Venetian period: luminous, balanced, and still faithful to the great artistic tradition of Venice. The visit is further enriched by the imposing stone altar by Giovanni Antonio Pilacorte, a sculptor and contemporary of the Master, which lends the church a sense of sober, solemn grandeur.
The high altarpiece is the centerpiece of this stop. Here, Il Pordenone begins to break away from classical conventions: his figures become more sculptural, and their expressiveness grows increasingly powerful. Complementing this masterpiece is a fresco attributed to Giovanni Maria Zaffoni, known as Il Calderari, one of the most faithful interpreters of Il Pordenone's artistic legacy.
A hidden treasure enclosed within a twentieth-century shell. In the choir vault of the original fifteenth-century church survive the frescoes of the Stories of the Virgin, revealing a stylistically more mature Il Pordenone, capable of infusing dramatic power even into the most traditional compositions.
The initiative runs from April to September, on the last Sunday of each month, transforming Pordenone's historic villages into a diffuse open-air museum.
The scheduled dates are:
Piazza San Marco 8, 33170 Pordenone PN
Church opening hours: 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Guided tour departures (at each church): 2:30 p.m. • 3:30 p.m. • 4:30 p.m.
Duration of each guided tour: approximately 40 minutes.
Admission: Free of charge. No reservation required.
Last updated: 29/06/2026 10:47
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