VISITING THE CITYWhat 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 Città. 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.
