One month to go: Meet Castions di Strada and Buttrio, the host cities of WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group C
The two host cities have similar sizes (approximately 3,800 inhabitants) and are a 30-minute driving distance from Udine, the area's principal city. The XVI-century star fort in Palmanova is the main tourist attraction.
The one month countdown to the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group C in Castions di Strada and Buttrio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a north eastern region in Italy bordering Austria and Slovenia has begun.
With Group A in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland and Group B in Valencia, Spain taking place earlier in the month, Castions di Strada and Buttrio in Italy will welcome world No. 2 Japan, No. 5 Canada, No. 8 Italy, No. 22 Venezuela, No. 26 Philippines and No. 28 New Zealand in Group C. The Opening Round, with three top-10 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic teams - Japan (gold medallists), Canada (bronze) and Italy - will take place from 22-25 July, with the Play-Offs on 26 July.
The Stadio Comunale in Castions di Strada will host three playing days, while the Gino Michelutti Stadium in Buttrio will host the other two. The two venues have the same capacity of 2,772 seats.
The government of Friuli-Venezia Giulia funded the Local Organizing Committee as the event's primary sponsor.
The Comunale in Castions di Strada is the home of Castionese, a team competing in the Serie A2 league, the second tier of women's softball in Italy. The Italian National Team won on that turf at the 2021 European Championship.
Castions di Strada has been inhabited since the Bronze Age (3400-1100 BC). It later became a Roman Empire outpost and a stop on pilgrim's paths. After being part of the French Empire in the 18th century and the Austro-Hungaric Empire for most of the 19th century, it became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
Buttrio became known around 1000 AD as Buttrium, a Latin term from a local word meaning ravine. Historians believe it was inhabited well before that time. It also became a part of Italy in 1866.
Today, Buttrio is known as La Città del Vino (the wine city). The Grave, Colli Orientali del Friuli and Prosecco production originates in Buttrio. A castle, pictured above, overlooks the vineyards.
Buttrio is located 26 kilometres northeast of Castions di Strada. The two towns are home to approximately 3,800 people and are at a 30-minute driving distance from Udine, the larger city in the area.
The main tourist attraction is Palmanova, 2 kilometres north of Castions di Strada. It's an example of a star fort of the late Renaissance, built by the Venetian Republic in 1593. Palmanova is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
