Val Resia is a splendid basin located in the North-Eastern area of Friuli Venezia Giulia, on the border with Slovenia. The folkloristic group was officially established in 1838 when an organized group of musicians and dancers went to Udine on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria and his consort. They aimed to showcase the unique dances and music that bear witness to a cultural reality still existing today.

The costumes used by the group faithfully reproduce the festive attire worn in Val Resia from the late 1700s to the early 1800s and the costumes used in the valley during the carnival period. The music and dances are very ancient and likely arrived in the valley with the first settlements of the Resian community in the 6th century AD. The orchestra consists of the violin called “cïtira” and the cello known as “bünkula,” which are appropriately modified to simulate the sound of the bagpipe, called “dudy,” used in the valley before the advent of these string instruments. The foot stomping that accompanies the music is the fundamental “third instrument” used to ensure the rhythm.

In recent decades, the Folkloristic Group “Val Resia” has made the cultural richness of the valley known not only in Italy but also in Europe and around the world. Their performances have been significant in Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania, Russia, Hungary, Spain, and Portugal, as well as participation in important festivals in Japan and Peru. Numerous productions have been made, particularly CDs and books on the group’s history, costumes, and songs.

Website: https://rezija.com/en/gruppo-folkloristico-val-resia/chi-siamo/