Lignano Sabbiadoro (; ) is a town and (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine, in the

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Friuli-Venezia Giulia () is one of the 20 regions of Italy and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The regional capital is Trieste on the Gulf of Trieste, a bay of the Adriatic Sea. Friuli-Venezia Giulia has an area of and a ...

region of north-eastern Italy. It is one of the main summer resorts in northern Italy and on the

Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...

coast.

History

Lignano Sabbiadoro developed in the early 20th century starting from some private hospitality resorts, which at the beginning could be reached only by sea. The first permanent inhabitants settled in the area in 1931, after the draining of the nearby marshes. The first road connecting Lignano with the nearby comune of

Latisana Latisana (, locally ) is a town and (municipality) in the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity of Udine in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, north-eastern Italy, on the Tagliamento river. History The city was probably a Roman ...

was built in 1926. Formerly known as simply Lignano, the name (from "golden sand") was added in 1935 for promotional reasons. It is divided into three zones, each with its own particular traits: the historic centre, rife with shops and restaurants (Lignano Sabbiadoro itself); the greener area of Lignano Pineta, with lovely gardens and lanes for strolling; and Lignano Riviera, the waterfront, rich in salty sea air and coastal pines. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the final operations of the German navy – involving the evacuation of troops and personnel from

Istria Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; ; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian: ; ; ) is the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea. Located at th ...

and

Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...

ahead the advancing

Yugoslavs Yugoslavs or Yugoslavians ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Jugoslaveni/Jugosloveni, Југославени/Југословени; ; ) is an identity that was originally conceived to refer to a united South Slavic people. It has been used in two connotations: ...

– took place here in May 1945. An estimated enemy force of 4000 landed from 26 ships of all types at the mouth of the

Tagliamento The Tagliamento (; ; ) is a braided river in north-east Italy, flowing from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea at a point between Trieste and Venice. The Tagliamento river is considered as the last morphologically intact river in the Alps. (I ...

River.

Germans Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...

equipment included E-boats, LSTs, a small hospital ship, all types of transport, and a variety of weapons. The 21st Battalion of the New Zealand 2nd Division was outnumbered by 20 to one, but at the end, on 4 May 1945, the Germans surrendered. Lignano became an autonomous commune in 1959. Lignano lives on summertime tourism, and is home to Austrian, German, and Slovenian citizens. The latest administrative town elections were held in June 2022 and saw the Center-Right Coalition victorious over the Center-Left civic list. In the late 2010s to early 2020s the town gained popularity on the Internet because of the satirical YouTube channel Cartoni Morti starring the recurring character of "il Sindaco di Lignano" ("the Mayor of Lignano").

Terrazza a Mare

The ("terrace on the sea" in English) of Lignano Sabbiadoro was designed by the architect Aldo Bernardis in 1969 and opened in 1972. It replaced the previous building designed by the architect Valle. It is considered to be one of the most important monuments of the city, housing shops, bar, and a solarium.

Marina and dock

The mooring complex (

marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : "related to the sea") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo ...

) of Lignano is the largest in Italy and among the largest in Europe, having more than 5,000 berths. The various structures of Aprilia Marittima, the harbour Marina Punta Faro, and the docks Porto Vecchio, Marina Uno, and Marina Punta Verde, are strategically positioned around the peninsula of Lignano, from the Marano lagoon to the river

People

Giorgio Scerbanenco Giorgio Scerbanenco (; ; ; 18 July 1911 – 27 October 1969) was a Ukrainians, Ukrainian-born Italians, Italian crime fiction writer. Life and works Giorgio Scerbanenco was born in Kyiv, in what was then the Russian Empire. At an early age, h ...

(1911–1969), crime writer *

Massimiliano Esposito Massimiliano Esposito (born 27 May 1972), is an Italian beach soccer player and coach, and also a former professional footballer, who played as a playmaking midfielder or as a creative forward. Career Born in Naples, Esposito started his pro ...

(1972), football player and beach soccer player

International relations

Lignano Sabbiadoro is twinned with: *

Eisenstadt Eisenstadt (; ; ; or ; ) is the capital city of the Provinces of Austria, Austrian state of Burgenland. With a population of 15,074 (as of 2023), it is the smallest state capital and the 38th-largest city in Austria overall. It lies at the foot o ...

, Austria *

Ketchum Ketchum may refer to: Places United States * Ketchum, Idaho, a city * Ketchum, Oklahoma, a town * Lake Ketchum, Washington, a census-designated place Antarctica * Ketchum Glacier * Ketchum Ridge Other uses * Ketchum (surname), a surn ...

, US

References

External links

Official website

Messaggero Veneto – Giorgio Scerbanenco
{{authority control Populated places established in 1931 Cities and towns in Friuli-Venezia Giulia Seaside resorts in Italy