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 What
is so attractive about the town is the fact that it has maintained the
original layout of the historical part, with her two principal streets
running parallel, on opposite banks of the river
Lemene. Like a miniature Venice
the houses and palaces have double entrances from both the street and
the river. The town was originally girded by a wall with five gateways, of
which three (
San Gottardo,
San Agnese and
San Giovanni ) still exist.
You can enter the town by the gateway Porto S. Giovanni, leaving your
car in the nearby car park. The lively street of
Corso Martiri opens with a gentle curve, widening to a view of the
heart of the town.
First you will find a tall column topped by the lion of St. Mark, then
the town square Piazza della Repubblica (tours during
the day or
evening, at
sunset or from the church tower), dominated by the most unusual and
architecturally unique gothic Municipio or Council Chambers. This building
is one of the town's symbols, together with the watermills and the
Pozzetto con le Gru or the well with cranes, situated on the left in
the piazza and sculpted by Giovanni Antonio Pilacorte (1494).
 The
cathedral, Duomo di Sant'Andrea, is worth an attentive visit because
of its artworks. Passing along the narrow alley we find the old fish
market with the
Oratory dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Pescheria con Oratorio dedicato
alla Madonna). The nearby bridge offers views of the
campanile pendente, or leaning church tower, the apse and baptistery
of the cathedral, and the old
watermills, site of
the contemporary art gallery Galleria Comunale d'Arte Contemporanea " Ai
Molini". Continuing along the main street of Corso Martiri it is
possible to admire
palaces in the Venetian gothic style of the 14th Century.
 Corso Martiri finishes at the gateway of
San Gottardo, whereupon we turn left and pass over the bridge to the
right bank of the river Lemene. (Views from the
bridge, ponte di via Abbazia, include a bust of the writer
Ippolito Nievo and the statues of children, or
putti, in the small garden dedicated to him.) A short walk brings us to
brings us to the solemn 15th Century structure of the
Villa Comunale or municipal villa, containing the
local library and the museum of paleontology
Museo Paleontologico " M. Gortani" and leading onto the large town park
which can be accessed via the car park in via Stadio. Continuing on past the
Villa Comunale we find the museum
Museo Nazionale Concordiese
which merits an unhurried visit.
 Following on from the neoclassico arcade of the college Collegio Marconi,
and the Romanesque
church of San Luigi, the view widens along with the
via Cavour, lined on either side by arcades and attractive Gothic-Renaissance
palaces. We leave the heart of the old town through the
gate of Sant'Agnese,
site of the town museum, Museo della Cittą. Crossing via Bon we arrive at
the 13th Century
church of Sant'Agnese with its nearby oratorio, Oratorio
della Visitazione, and its lovely cycle of religious frescoes.
Before returning to your car, don't forget to visit the
church of San
Giovanni with its well preserved altar posts by Leandro Bassano.
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