The castle is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Legend has it that the hill on which the castle stands was built by order of Attila the Hun in the 5th century CE so he could watch the flames engulf the city of Aquileia, which he had plundered. The origins of the castle itself date back to the 10th century, while its current structure was built in the 16th century.

From the park at the foot of the castle, one can enjoy views of the Carnic Alps and the vast Friuli Plain. Today, the castle houses several of Udine’s top museums: the Coin Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Art Gallery (Pinacoteca), the Risorgimento Museum, and even a Photography Museum with over 150,000 exhibits.