Friuli Venezia Giulia

The Julian Alps and Pre-Alps

Much more rugged than the Carnic Alps and rich in biodiversity, they can boast the title of UNESCO World Heritage Reserve since 2019. The heart of the Julian Alps is Tarvisio, the easternmost municipality in the region, from which the "Ring of Three Nations" bike route runs through Austria and Slovenia before returning to Italy. The symbol of the Julian Pre-Alps, however, is the summit of Mount Matajur, on the border with Slovenia, which is home to a charming little church and offers spectacular 360-degree views. This area of the Alps offers an immersion in unspoiled nature, including lush forests, karst phenomena (particularly on the slopes of Mount Canin), the pastures of the Montasio plateau, and the Fusine Lakes. In Val Resia, where ancient traditions and an early Slavic language spoken only here still survive, the peaceful "Ta Lipa Pot" trail and the Fontanon di Barman waterfall await you.

Here, too, each town and village tells its own story and tradition, such as Monte Lussari, located on the mountain of the same name, with its famous shrine, Gemona del Friuli and Venzone, towns with a medieval feel and a symbol of Friuli Venezia Giulia's rebirth after the 1976 earthquake.

If you are passionate about winter sports, you are spoiled for choice in Friuli Venezia Giulia! Seven ski areas, more than 100 kilometers of slopes, silent forests that look like something out of a storybook, and snow parks for fun and safe winter adventures await you. The Sella Nevea ski area also offers a cross-border ski pass thanks to its connection with the Bovec (Plezzo) ski resort in Slovenia.

In addition to the most popular sports - alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ski touring - you can also enjoy other snow activities here: snowboarding, sledding, ice skating, ice climbing, fat bike rides, dog sledding, a snowmobile ride, or on a horse-drawn sleigh.

The mountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia are a paradise for hikers, climbers and mountaineers, as well as for racing bike enthusiasts. Some of the Giro d'Italia's most famous and difficult climbs are found here, such as Mount Zoncolan, Montasio Plateau and Mount Lussari (first introduced in 2023). These are scenic, challenging routes with big inclines and sometimes tight turns, but they are not reserved only for professional cyclists! Anyone with a good level of training and a proper road bike can tackle them to feel like a bit of a champion.

Check out the climbs of the Giro d'Italia and other road bike routes in Friuli Venezia Giulia below:

Palmanova, the highly distinctive nine-pointed star-shaped fortress town, is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Friuli Venezia Giulia: three monumental gates provide access, and its radiating streets converge on the central square, where the cathedral and town hall are located. Palmanova was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. Finally, heading south, you reach Aquileia, an important commercial and cultural center of the Roman Empire. Here you can visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, which contains a spectacular mosaic floor from the 4th century AD, the ancient river port, the Roman forum, a burial ground, and private dwellings, also with mosaic floors. The archaeological area and basilica have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

Also discover castles in the moraine hills, 17th- and 18th-century villas (including the famous Villa Manin, now a venue for exhibitions and events), villages with public and private buildings, streets, and enclosure walls composed of rounded stones, admire 16th-century paintings and frescoes, and palaces adorned with mosaics in Spilimbergo and Sequals. In Casarsa della Delizia, on the other hand, visit places associated with the life of Pier Paolo Pasolini.

In the region you can find many places that bear witness to the tragic events of the First World War. The Isonzo valley with the Karst plateau, but also the Friulian mountains were the scene of many bloody battles that cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. If you want to find out more about this historical period and how the soldiers at the front lived, choose one of the Great War itineraries (also cross-border) that pass through the battle sites, with trenches, control posts (such as those on the Jôf di Sompdogna, on Mount Robon and in the Saisera Valley) and military forts. Also not to be missed is a visit to the many museums, cemeteries, shrines and monuments dedicated to the two world wars. The Redipuglia Shrine is the largest in Italy and holds the remains of more than 100,000 soldiers. In contrast, on the hill of Medea, in the province of Gorizia, is the Ara Pacis Mundis, a giant monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers of all wars.  

Friuli's lagoon area, consisting of islets, canals and fishing grounds, is divided into two adjacent lagoons, Grado and Marano. The heart of the Grado lagoon is the picturesque seaside village of the same name, which sits on a small island. It is prized for its beaches, Nazario Sauro waterfront, Porto Vecchio, and historic center with Venetian-style buildings and alleys, craft stores, and early Christian basilicas. In addition to the so-called "isola del sole", the lagoon has some 30 islands, including the islands of Anfora and Porto Buso, the island of Barbana and Mota Safon. The Marano Lagoon, named after the fishing village of Marano Lagunare, also features a number of islands of different sizes, such as the Island of Shells.

Explore the wild landscapes of the nature reserves that line the lagoons and enjoy admiring the different species of plants and animals, especially birds, including pink flamingos and herons. On many small islands and on the shores of both lagoons, you can also admire the "casoni", the ancient fishermen's dwellings built with wood and marsh cane, also found in the Venetian lagoons.

Do you enjoy exploring in a sustainable and fun way by bicycle? Then Friuli Venezia Giulia has just the thing for you! In fact, the region has 1,400 km of bicycle routes and a network of bike paths that connect major urban centers, nature areas, and historical and cultural sites. The most popular routes are the FVG1 Alpe Adria Ciclovia, which connects Salzburg with Grado, the FVG2 Adriatic Sea Ciclovia, which connects Trieste with Venice and belongs to EuroVelo nr. 8, and the FVG3 Ciclovia Pedemontana, which follows an imaginary line that delimits the Friulian Alpine arc. But there are many others as well!

Also, in Friuli Venezia Giulia it is possible to travel by bicycle on public transport such as train, suburban bus and boat (on the latter only in summer). Perfect, isn't it?