Lignano

Situated halfway between Venice and Trieste, Lignano lies on the Adriatic Sea between the mouth of the Tagliamento River and the Lagoon of Marano.

The ideal holiday destination, Lignano offers the discerning tourist a variety of services, amenities and leisure and sport activities. Despite its recent development as a tourist resort, Lignano has maintained a close contact with nature with its thriving pinewood, long sandy beach and lagoon promenade, all waiting to be discovered by bike or on foot. There are 6 theme parks in Lignano, providing fun and entertainment for all ages. Tennis, horse-riding, windsurfing and golf are just a few of the sports that can be practised. And if shopping is on your list of favourite things to do, you won’t be disappointed by the elegant shops and exclusive boutiques that line the streets of Sabbiadoro and Pineta. Lignano offers all types of accomodation: hotels, self-catering apartments, villas, tourist villages and 2 campsites catering for all needs. Pass the evening in one of Lignanos many pubs, wine bars and discotheques, spend a day at the spa, take in a concert at “Alpe Adria Arena”. There are eight modern, well-equipped Marinas with more than 5.000 moorings, whatsmore Lignano has been awarded the European union blue flag for the last 20 years, a symbol of its clean beaches and sea. Lignano is 3 wonderful cities in one- Sabbiadoro, Pineta and Riviera - a very special place for a holiday.

Lignano’s history

The name of Lignano derives from “Lupignanum”, which means “place inhabited by wolves”. It also appears to have been known as the “forest of wood”.In fact, Lignano was a small centre with a port where fishermen from Marano settled so they could take advantage of the pinewoods.

In Roman times Lignano was probably crossed by the “Via Annia” which linked Concordia to Aquilea.

In the first drawings which go back to ‘500 and ‘600 Lignano is represented by a series of sand dunes crossed by an intricate network of canals and a long strip of sandy beach, a thick cluster of black pines, larches and holly, a few houses along the lagoon, a fisherman’s hut and a church.


Lignano’s history

The name of Lignano derives from “Lupignanum”, which means “place inhabited by wolves”. It also appears to have been known as the “forest of wood”.In fact, Lignano was a small centre with a port where fishermen from Marano settled so they could take advantage of the pinewoods.

In Roman times Lignano was probably crossed by the “Via Annia” which linked Concordia to Aquilea.

In the first drawings which go back to ‘500 and ‘600 Lignano is represented by a series of sand dunes crossed by an intricate network of canals and a long strip of sandy beach, a thick cluster of black pines, larches and holly, a few houses along the lagoon, a fisherman’s hut and a church.


Lignano Riviera

Lignano Riviera, immersed in the lush greenery of the pinewood, lies between the mouth of the Tagliamento River and the beach. Here you can find the Golf club, the Zoo and the Spa.


Lignano Pineta

The origins of Lignano Pineta go back to the 1950’s when, thanks to a group of Friulan enterpreneurs headed by Count Carlo Alberto Kechler, an innovative urban plan was drawn up by architect Marcello d’ Olivo in the form of a spiral, a tourist resort completely immersed in the greenery of a lush pinewood. This project has been taken up by several specialist magazines for its originality and practicality and for the way it has blended in so well with the landscape and the pinewood.

Ernest Hemmingway stayed in these parts in the 1950’s and called this area “the Florida of Italy” so contributing to the resort’s fame. In the 1960’s Alberto Sordi, a famous italian actor whose villa can still be seen in Pineta, was a prominent figure on the Lignano scene. Windsurfs and swimming schools line the beach where ist’s also possible to hire a pedal boat or canoe providing sporting activities and fun for both adults and children.


Lignano Sabbiadoro

Lignano Sabbiadoro translates into Lignano golden sands - the name is self-explanatory. The long beach with its fine golden sand dips gently down to a safe, calm sea - ideal for young children. The perfect beach to relax and soak up the sun, have a regenerating massage or an energetic game of beach volley or maybe just a place to take time out and forget the rest of the world exists.

Lignano Sabbiadoro is the oldest part of the city; its main street is crammed with busy shops, bars, restaurants, elegant boutiques, amusement arcades and small, typical squares where you can have a cool drink and watch the world go by.