It is impossible to forget Aquileia, which became a Roman colony in 181 B.C. and was later considered only next to Rome by virtue of its riches and trade with the Orient. And Cividale, the seat of the Langobards from the seventh to the eight century. The history of this region is studded by great conquests and battles (from the Serenissima Republic of Venezia to the Turk invasions, from Bonaparte to the two World Wars), and Udine and its surroundings has seen large waves of emigrants, but since the late sixties it has enjoyed an extraordinary economic boom, which not even the terrifying earthquake of 1976 succeeded in arresting. In terms of income, life standard and cultural activities the Province of Udine is considered among the first in Italy.

Friulano, the local language, belongs to the neo-Latin or Raeto-Romanic languages and has over the centuries been enriched by Germanic, Slav and Venetian elements. A regional law of 1996 made Friulano the subject of safeguard and promotion by the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia Region, establishing regulations introducing a standardised spelling and its diffusion. One of the most important initiatives in this context consists of the publication of the Bible in Friulano, promoted by the Diocese.

Geographically speaking the province of Udine can be sub-divided in six areas: Alpine (including the Valcanale, the Canal del Ferro, the main Carnic chain and the canals of Carnia, the Sauris basin and the Savorgnani "kilns"), Pre-Alpine (the Musi chain, the Torre valleys, Natisone valleys, the Carnic foothills, the Pramaggiore and Monte Cavallo mountain areas), hill areas, plateaux, lowlands and lagoon areas. It is very rich in water, with 510 brooks and rivers and 66 lakes.

In terms of population the territory of Udine is sub-divided in 137 municipalities, where the inhabitants are distributed in small communities. The industry of the Friuli region is particularly oriented towards exportation.