Pordenone

Pordenone [pordeˈnoːne]  listen  (Venetian and Friulian: Pordenon) is the main comune of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.

The name comes from Latin Portus Naonis, meaning 'port on the Noncello (Latin Naon) River'.

History

Pordenone was created in the High Middle Ages as a river port on the Noncello, with the name Portus Naonis. In the area, however, there were already villas and agricultural settlements in the Roman age.

In 1278, after having been administrated by several feudatories, the city was handed over to the Habsburg family, forming an Austrian enclave within the territory of the Patriarchal State of Friuli. In the 14th century, Pordenone grew substantially due to the flourishing river trades, gaining the status of city in December 1314.

In 1514, it was acquired by the Republic of Venice, even if until 1537 the town was ruled by the feudal family d'Alviano. Under Venice a new port was built and the manufacturers improved.

After the Napoleonic period, Pordenone was included in the Austrian possessions in Italy (Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia). The railway connection, including Pordenone railway station, and the construction of the Pontebbana road brought on the decline of the port, but spurred substantial industrial development (especially for the working of cotton). Pordenone was annexed to Italy in 1866.