Land of contrasts between sea and mountains. A millenary history marked by the encounter between very different cultures, Austrian, Slovenian and Italian.
Between the sea and the mountains
Friuli Venezia Fiulia: crossroads of cultures
Friuli Venezia Giulia:
crossroad of cultures
TRADITIONAL FOOD SPECIALTIES: Frico (cheese, potatoes and onion based dish), San Daniele raw ham, Sauris ham, muset and brovada (turnips and pork sausage), cjarsons (stuffed pasta), sardoni (sardines from Adriatic sea), Montasio PDO cheese, Gubana (cake filled with walnuts, raisins, pine nuts and grappa liqueur), game dishes.
WINES: Friulano (former Tocai friulano), Malvasia Istriana, Ramandolo (yellow Verduzzo), Ribolla Gialla, Picolìt, Refosco dal Peduncolo rosso, Glera, Schioppettino
MUST DO’S: Miramare Castle, a swim in the Pozze Smeraldine’s natural pools listed by the British newspaper The Guardian among the ten wild swimming locations in Italy. Aquileia and its roman ruins, a bicycle ride to Grado along the lagoon, Piazza della Transalpina in Gorizia split between the municipalities of Gorizia in Italy and Nova Gorica, in Slovenia.
RECOMMENDED READS:
- Fiore di Roccia (Flower of the Rocks), by Ilaria Tuti
Reasons to visit Friuli Venezia Giulia
Stuck between the Friulian Dolomites and the Upper Adriatic sea, crossroad of cultural influences, this region with a complex historical backgroung offers endless opportunities to have fun and discover fascinating spots.
There are many cities to visit: charming Aquileia, with its Roman ruins, fascinating Trieste, elegant Udine, contended Gorizia.
With hundreds of evidences from the First World War, anyone can undertake a journey in one of the twentieth century’s most crucial events.
Golf practitioners will have 7 golf courses with different technical characteristics and a great variety of landscapes at their disposal.
For those in search of relaxation and wellness, Terme Marine di Grado’s thermal baths were already renowned at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In Arta Terme, in Carnia, Pudia spring’s waters benefits combine themeselves with the healthy climate of the mountains. In Monfalcone, the thermal water known since Roman times flows naturally at a temperature of 38-39°.
Away from the crouds. A lesser-visited italian region
However, Friuli also has mountains, Dolomites’ peaks, limestone rocks of the Julian Alps and Pre-Alps, massifs, meadows of the Carnic Alps and the woods of Torre and Natisone valleys.
And this surprising region also has the sea, with sandy coasts to the west, rocky coasts full of caves to the east but, above all, lots of culture, to be found in the areas bordering Austria and Slovenia, where you can perceive the Mitteleuropean flavor in the language as well as in the traditional food dishes.
BEST TIME TO GO: The best season to visit Friuli Venezia Giulia varies according to one’s interests. Spring and autumn are ideal for visiting cities avoiding excessive heat or chilliness. If stopping in Trieste, you should definitely keep away when the very strong Bora wind blows. The best time to enjoy the sea and the beaches is definitely the summer, especially the month of September, usually still warm and uncrowded. For food and wine tourists, autumn is the best time to enjoy the nutritious traditional dishes and the beautiful colors of the countryside.
HOW TO GET THERE: By car through the A4 motorway towards Venice-Mestre. By train, high speed trains reach Mestre where you can change for regional trains. By plane, the nearest airport is Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari, about 30 km from the city centre.
HOW TO GET AROUND: The best way is to drive. Smaller towns can be difficult to reach with public transport (train and bus).
Friuli Venezia Giulia also has a network of cycling paths consisting of 9 regional cycling paths (more than 400 routes) which connect this region with Austria and Slovenia, making it a perfect destination for cycling tourists.
WHERE TO STAY: If you have a few days, it might be better to find an accommodation near Udine and then move to Trieste for one night. However, a lot depends on the type of trip you want to do, if more focused on history, open air activities or food and wine experiences.
HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY: 4/6 days is the ideal length of stay to appreciate this extended and diverse area, which offers so many different activities.
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