Aviano

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Aviano-Stemma.gif
official_name = Comune di Aviano
region = Friuli-Venezia Giulia
province = Pordenone (PN)
elevation_m = 159
area_total_km2 = 113
population_as_of = december 31, 2004
population_total = 8747
population_density_km2 = 73
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|46|04|N|12|35|E
frazioni = Villotta, Costa, Giais, Marsure, Piancavallo, Castello di Aviano, San Martino di Campagna
telephone = 0434
postalcode = 33081
gentilic = Avianesi
saint = St. Zenone
day =
mayor = Stefano Del Cont Bernard (from May 27, 2007)
website = [http://www.comune.aviano.pn.it comune.aviano.pn.it]

Aviano (Friulian "Avian") is a town and "comune" of province of Pordenone at the foot of the Dolomites mountain range in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy.

History

Although Aviano has been inhabited only since the 10th century CE, evidence of a human presence dates to before the Romans entered the area in 186 BC. Most historians believe that Aviano developed with a commercial center located where present day Aviano is situated and a cultural and defensive center in the castle area. Aviano was a possession of the Patriarchate of Aquileia until 1420, when it came under the influence of the Venetian Republic. Aviano became a part of the Italian State in 1866.

Main sights

*The remains of the Castle (first half of the 10th century), on a hill nearby the city, including two towers, the mastio and the walls. The latter include the Renaissance-style church of Santa Maria e Giuliana (1589), which houses a precious stone "Pietà" sculpture by masters from Salzburg.
*The Cathedral of San Zenone ("Duomo"), built between 1775 and 1832. It has paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, one of which attributed to Paolo Veronese' school.
*The church of St. Gregory, in the "frazione" of Castello, with a precious fresco cycle of the "Passion of Christ" (late 16th century).

In the neighbourhood is the ski resort of Piancavallo (1,267 m), at the foot of Monte Cavallo (2,250 m).

Aviano Air Base

Pre-dating the U.S. Air Force, Aviano Air Base was established by Italy in 1911. The base is considered the birthplace of Italian aviation. There has been an American presence at Aviano Air Base since the end of World War II. In 1954 the Italian and American governments signed a joint use agreement and by 1955, HQ United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) had moved its Italian operations from Udine to Aviano. The base went through a period of hosting rotational fighter squadrons. With the declining use of the Italian live fire range, the rotational squadrons became a thing of the past. Aviano became a war reserve material storage base and played a big part in Desert Storm. In 1992, HQ 16th Air Force and the 401st Fighter Wing moved from Torrejon Air Base, Spain to Aviano. The Wing became home to two F-16 fighter squadrons, the 510th FS and the 555th FS. Both squadrons relocated from Ramstein AB in 1994 and redesignated. The wing was redesignated from the 401st Fighter Wing to the 31st Fighter Wing in 1994 as Aviano took on permanently based aircraft for the first time in over 50 years. The base currently performs a NATO mission with close coordination with Italian personnel.

External links

* [http://www.comune.aviano.pn.it/ Official Site of the comune]
* [http://www.aviano.af.mil Aviano 31st Fighter Wing]
* [http://www.avianosaints.com Aviano American High School Alumni]