The town was founded on 10 January 1140. In that year, Gervinus, the Bishop of Concordia, gave a number of harbour masters some land on the bank of the Lemene River so that they could build warehouses, homes and a harbour. Official approval was given for the presence of Portogruaro in the Patria del Friuli. Thanks to the harbour on the Lemene River, in just a short time the town became a vital hub for trade between Venice and its near neighbour Austria. Regular trading in its waters helped Portogruaro to grow rich and gain significant political autonomy. In 1420, the town became part of the Republic of Venice. For three centuries Portogruaro enjoyed substantial economic benefits due to its exceptional geographical location, which very quickly made the people of the town very prosperous. This is still plain to see in the civil architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries, which makes it look like a little Venice. Following the signing of the Treaty of Campo Formio, Napoleon handed over the land of the former Republic of Venice – including Portogruaro – to Austria. The town remained under Austrian rule until 1866, when it became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. Today, Portogruaro is a town that is waiting to be explored and admired with the eyes and the soul. The two main streets in its old town centre are lined with stunning Gothic, Venetian and Renaissance buildings, little side streets with an age-old atmosphere, windows looking out onto the river, arches, frescoes and inscriptions dating back hundreds of years. The most significant monument in the town is the 14th century town hall. It is a magnificently constructed Gothic building with Ghibelline battlements. Alongside it is the emblem of Portogruaro: an enchanting well by Pilacorte with two cranes sculpted by Turchetto on top. The town still has its original, quintessential medieval layout. In the town centre, new stores stand alongside old workshops from the last century, adding to the breathtaking beauty of the buildings all around. No visit to the old town centre is complete without a stop at the oratory of the Madonna della Pescheria, the historical Sant’Andrea watermills on the Lemene River, the traditional establishments serving the finest Venetian cuisine and the majestic Cathedral.