Venetian Slovenia Slovene minority in Italy

venetian slovenia (slovene: beneška slovenija, italian: slavia veneta) traditional name slovene-speaking areas in valleys of upper natisone , torre rivers in eastern friuli (currently in province of udine). history of these areas has been linked history of friuli. unlike other ethnic slovene territories (including areas of gorizia , trieste), region part of venetian republic around 350 years (hence name of region). during period, enjoyed large degree of autonomy.

the slovenes in area annexed italy rest of venetia region in 1866, is, half century before slovenes of gorizia , trieste, remained under austrian rule until after world war i.

for long, identity of local slovenes linguistic and, extent, ethnic one, not national one. slovenes of these areas lacked form of collective minority or linguistic rights until year 2000, when law defense of slovene-speaking minority passed italian parliament.