The Natisone (Nadison in Friulian, Nediža in the local Slovenian dialect, Nadiža in Slovenian), which flows through Cividale, is an important river of Friuli, the main tributary of the Torre river and sub-tributary of the Isonzo, which gives its name to the territory of the Valli del Natisone, formed by the river basin, from the border with Slovenia up to the hamlet of Ponte San Quirino, and by the valleys of its three main tributaries (Alberone, Cosizza, and Erbezzo).

The toponym was already mentioned in classical times ("Natisa" in Naturalis Historia book III, chapter 126 by Pliny the Elder) and, later, in the Lombard era in Historia Langobardorum book V, chapter 23 by Paul the Deacon, in the part where the battle between the Lombard duke Vettari and the Slavic militias that took place in the year 670 is described ("non longe a Foroiuli....ad ponte Natisonis fluminis"). 

The origin is supposed to date back to the Latin "natare" meaning to swim or flow.

To discover the beautiful itineraries on the Natisone, click HERE for the SOUTH ITINERARY and HERE for the NORTH ITINERARY (taken from Turismofvg.it, to which reference is made for updates)