Pesariis
The village of clocks
- Prato Carnico (UD)
- 750 m
- Inhabitants: 180
About this place
Pesariis is a wonderful village, considered one of the most beautiful in Friuli Venezia Giulia. In the delightful, well-kept village you can see typical stone houses, including Casa Bruseschi, the “Carnic house,” which is home to an ethnographic museum. This village has a unique feature: as many as 15 monumental clocks chime among the streets. Pesariis, in fact, is also called the town of clocks as it has a centuries-old tradition of watchmaking and is the place where the renowned Solari factory, which produces world-famous watches, was founded.
Why visit
01.
Find the clocks
In Pesariis, you can play a unique treasure hunt, which is the search for the 15 clocks, all different, that are hidden among the streets, until you find the spectacular Carillon Clock and stop to listen to its melody.
02.
The history of the solar
Pesariis boasts a watchmaking tradition of no less than three centuries and is the site of the founding of Solari, the famous factory that invented the paddlewatch in 1948.
03.
Pesarina Valley
The Pesarina Valley is called the “Valley of Time” because of its long tradition associated with clock making. In fact, the valley appears as a place where time has stood still, thanks to the pristine natural wonders it offers.
Hunting for clocks in the village
- No. of watches: 15
- No. of sundials: 2
Fifteen very special clocks, including 2 sundials, can be seen in the ancient village. Clocks are scattered among the streets and can be found by exploring freely or following a sort of loop map of the village. The clocks are equipped with ingenious mechanisms, the operation of which is illustrated in an adjacent table.
Following the loop route are found:
- the Giant Palette Clock
- the Water Tank Clock
- the Sundial of 1770
- the Checkerboard Clock
- the Old Clock House
- Leonardo’s Clock
- the Tilting Vessel Clock
- the Analemmatic Horizontal Sundial
- the Clock of the Planets and Nocturnal
- the Carillon Clock
- the Water Clock
- the Turbine Water Clock
- the Rack Clock
- the Giant Perpetual Calendar Clock.
In addition, three other clocks can be visited in the Pesarina Valley: the Clock with Ecliptic, the Floral Clock, and the Clock with Automa.
The church and the carillon clock
- Carillon times: 11:55 a.m. and 4:55 p.m.
The Monumental Watchmaking itinerary displays the perfect mechanisms of 15 watches, one different from the other, representing different eras and various types of watchmaking art. One leg of the route leads to the square, the heart of Pesariis. Here are the Church of Ss. Philip and Jerome, built in 1861 on the foundations of the 1348 original, and its bell tower. On the facade of the church is the triforium containing the mosaic with the two saints and Christ in the center.
THE TIMES OF THE CARILLON CLOCK SHOW
In the center of the church square is the spectacular Carillon Clock. Thanks to an automatism, mechanical hammers strike the hours on its eleven bells, which, twice a day, play the melody Us saludi o Marie. The show is not to be missed, but those wishing to attend must be in front of the clock
at 11:55 a.m. or 4:55 p.m., the only times the tune plays
.
The watchmaking museum
- Opening hours and days vary by period
- Full price ticket: 3 €
- Reduced ticket: €1.5
An unmissable experience after following the Watch Route is a visit to the “Museum of Clockmaking in Pesaro,” where it is possible to trace the history of watchmaking and observe more than 100 watches. The exhibition brings together reproductions of pieces from the 1400s and original pieces from later periods up to the present day.
HOURS AND OPENING HOURS
The museum opens on different days and times depending on the time of year. Indicatively, in July and August and over the Christmas period, it can be visited Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays continuously from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. At other times, openings are confined to weekends. Before going there, it is a good idea to view the updated schedules on the Prato Carnico municipality website.
COST OF THE TICKET (2023)
The unit cost of the ticket is €3 for the regular fare and €1.5 for the reduced fare.
What else to visit nearby
CASCATA FUAS
In a secluded spot in the middle of the forest, after a 20-minute walk from the Solari plant, is the Fuas waterfall, which cascades to form a clear pool. The walk to it is easy and the place cool and secluded.
Learn more about the Fuas waterfall >
GLI STÁVOLI DI ORIAS
Above Pesariis you can visit the 12 stávoli of Orias, stone buildings dedicated to mountain pasture, dating from the 18th-19th centuries. Some of these buildings are dilapidated; others have been restored while maintaining their original appearance. In addition, the valley below, seen from 1,000 meters above sea level, is spectacular.
Where to park
Two large parking lots are located at the gates of the historic center. It is recommended to park in the one, which is larger and free, near the sports field.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This is the typical “Carnic house.” It houses an ethnographic museum where visitors can observe typical Friulian elements, such as the fogolâr, and tour the various rooms, the kitchen, rooms, and study, in which period objects are stored.
In September in Pesariis, the “Arlois e fasois” festival takes place, celebrating two typical Pesariis products: beans, of which a particular variety is grown, and, of course, clocks. Pesarina tradition is also strongly linked to nature and the fertility of the earth, which are celebrated on St. John’s Night, between June 23 and 24. There are no festivals on this occasion, but, even today, some people collect the dew-soaked flowers in small bunches, a symbol of health and prosperity.
The tour of the village, including the Monumental Watchmaking Route and the visit to the Museum takes about 1 1/2 hours.
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