One month to go: Meet Castions di Strada and Buttrio, the host cities of WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group C
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<p>The one month countdown to the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-c/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group C</span></strong></a> in Castions di Strada and Buttrio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a north eastern region in Italy bordering Austria and Slovenia has begun. </p>
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<p>With <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-a/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Group A</span></strong></a> in Fingal-Dublin, Ireland and <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-b/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Group B</span></strong></a> 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 <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2023-xvii-womens-softball-world-cup-group-c/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Group C</span></strong></a>. 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.</p>
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<p>The <em>Stadio Comunale </em>in Castions di Strada will host three playing days, while the<em> Gino Michelutti</em> Stadium in Buttrio will host the other two. The two venues have the same capacity of 2,772 seats. </p>
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<p>The government of Friuli-Venezia Giulia funded the Local Organizing Committee as the event's primary sponsor.</p>
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<p>The <em>Comunale</em> in Castions di Strada is the home of Castionese, a team competing in the <em>Serie A2 </em>league, the second tier of women's softball in Italy. The Italian National Team won on that turf at the 2021 European Championship.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Buttrio became known around 1000 AD as <em>Buttrium</em>, 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.</p>
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<p>Today, Buttrio is known as <em>La Città del Vino</em> (the wine city). The <em>Grave</em>, <em>Colli Orientali del Friuli</em> and <em>Prosecco</em> production originates in Buttrio. A castle, pictured above, overlooks the vineyards.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>The main tourist attraction is <strong><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Palmanova (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.visitpalmanova.it/en/home-english" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Palmanova</span></a></strong>, 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.</p>
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