Tarvisio

Despite its size, the center of Tarvisio is also home to some points of interest: for example, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, built in the 15th century, with its characteristic pitched roof and tripartite archway on the facade. Or, the medieval tower that stands next to the church, with its octagonal base, sloping roof and exposed stones, the only remnant of the 15th-century fortifications built to defend the town from Turkish raids.

The territory of Tarvisio is characterized by great natural beauty: for example, the Fusine Lakes. This is a complex of two small lakes (the Lower Lake and the Upper Lake), which are considered among the most beautiful examples of Alpine lakes. Around the bodies of water, coniferous forests are reflected and, beyond, the often snow-capped mountain peaks-the panorama is dreamlike.

Another famous lake located in the municipality of Tarvisio is Lago del Predil, which can be reached through the dry bed of a stream. Here it is the gorgeous colors that give a special atmosphere to the lake, which, unlike the previous ones, is swimmable. Its waters, however, are cold: only for the daredevils! Near the lake you can also visit the Cave del Predil Mines, where, until about thirty years ago, zinc and lead were mined.

In warm weather, the Tarvisio area is ideal for exciting hikes. A perfect example is the Fusine Lakes loop (actually, a double loop), which skirts almost the entire perimeter of the two lakes within the thousand-year-old forest, with the backdrop of imposing mountains.

Another pleasant hike is the one from Valbruna to Mount Lussari, through an impressive beech forest; although it is longer than the usual Pilgrim's Path, it is less steep and, therefore, more suitable for less trained people.

Just outside the center is the Slizza Gorge Trail, a path built in 1874 by Count Karl von Arco-Zinneberg that leads through the forest to the banks of the Slizza (or Gailitz) and follows its way into the fascinating gorge.

Moving away from the town of Tarvisio, on the other hand, it is possible to hike thering of Monte Forno (or Friendship Mountain), right on the border between Austria, Italy and Slovenia, which winds through dense forest, among beech and fir trees, with sporadic openings that provide wonderful glimpses of the mountains.

We also recommend the hike along the Bartolo Valley, along the forest road that starts in Camporosso. With no major elevation gain, this trail is easy and suitable for everyone, and touches on some interesting points, such as the memorial in memory of the combatants of 1813.

For experienced walkers there are numerous mountaineering trails that lead to the discovery of the most beautiful mountains surrounding Tarvisio, belonging to the Julian Alps: the Cima del Cacciatore, the Cime Castrein peaks, included between the Montasio and Jôf Fuârt groups, the wild and challenging Cima del Lago, above the Predil Lake, Mount Re, starting from the Predil Quarries, Mount Mangart, located on the border with Slovenia, and the Picco di Mezzodì, starting from the Fusine Lakes.

Those who do not want to climb so high but still enjoy the views of the walls of Mangart, Monte Termine, Cima Strugova and Ponza di Mezzo can do a loop starting from the lower lake of Fusine, which goes through the forest and passes by Rifugio Zacchi and some alpine pastures.

Bike lovers are spoiled for choice in the Tarvisio area, whether for short rides or longer tours. Families with older children can ride from Tarvisio to Ugovizza, immersing themselves in the mountain landscape of Val Canale, with a detour to the fun Pump Track, then tackle the Bike & Baby Trekking trail in the municipality of Malborghetto, or cross the border to Slovenia and reach the beautiful Kranjska Gora, one of the country's most popular mountain resorts.

Also of medium difficulty and not very long are the trails leading to the Fusine Lakes or the village of Pontebba (with possible return by train).

For those who want to experience across the border, there is the not-to-be-missed "Three Nations Ring," a 50-kilometer route that touches Austria, Slovenia and Italy, offering spectacular scenery and the chance to touch as many as three different countries in just a few hours. Alternatively, for road biking enthusiasts, there is the cross-border"Two Passes and Two Countries" loop, which tackles the climbs of the Vršič and Predel passes and passes through Tarvisio and Kranjska Gora, offering spectacular views of the mountains and gorges of the Soča River.

For those who prefer to explore Friuli Venezia Giulia, they can depart from Tarvisio and head south to Gorizia. The landscape is constantly changing, from the mountains to the vineyards of the Colli Orientali and Collio, and is a joy to behold.

For those who prefer an even longer challenge, the famous Alpe Adria Cyclovia, a 410-kilometer route from Salzburg to Grado crossing the Alps and Friuli, is undoubtedly an itinerary full of surprises and excitement. You can do just one stage, from Tarvisio to Venzone, or all three Friuli stages, all the way to Grado.

Did you know that in 2023 Mount Lussari was the finishing point of a challenging Giro d'Italia time trial, the last stage before the final catwalk? And that this means that, from June to September, you can imitate the champions and tackle that 7-kilometer, 900-meter climb? The views and the beautiful sanctuary pay for all the effort, trust me! Note well, however, that the descent is only possible by gondola.

The Julian Alps and the municipality of Tarvisio are also traversed by a number of stage walks, such as:

• the Juliana Trail, a long loop that, in sixteen stages, goes around the Julian Alps; Tarvisio is affected by the last two stages, number fifteen and number sixteen, which respectively lead from Log Pod Mangarton to Tarvisio, and from Tarvisio to Kranjska Gora, the starting and finishing points;
• the Made Trek, an itinerary that retraces the Dorsale Carnica between Italy and Austria; the route begins at Cima Sappada, but the eighth and final stage starts at Rifugio Nordio to arrive at Monte Santo di Lussari, in the municipality of Tarvisio;
• the Cammino Celeste, which from the towns of Grado and Aquileia also leads to Monte Santo di Lussari; in particular, it is the 11th and final stage that, starting from Valbruna, concludes the route at the sanctuary.

Even away from the slopes and crowds there is plenty to do! Any tips? You can climb Mount Lussari with boots, snowshoes or skis, while the Forcella della Lavina is a popular destination especially for ski mountaineers, even in late spring.

You can take a fat bike ride through the snow, by horse or dog sled, or by snowmobile.

The Tarvisio Gold Snow Park is a snowboarder's paradise, while, also in Tarvisio, the Fun Park dell'Angelo (also open in summer) welcomes families and entertains young and old with toboggans, inflatables and the adrenaline-pumping bobsled on rails.

If you are in Tarvisio, there are some must-see places within a few kilometers. One example is Malborghetto Valbruna, where the remains of the imposing-looking Fort Hensel stand. It was a Napoleonic military building and converted into a fortress during World War I. It could accommodate more than five hundred military personnel and, because of this, was subjected to heavy bombardment.

The village of Pontebba, formerly inhabited in Roman times, has to do with World War I; until then, in fact, it was on the border between Austria and Italy. From that period, there remains the memorial stone placed on the bridge over the Bombaso River, which served as the boundary line, on which imperial markers with the distances to some Italian and Austrian towns are indicated. Also of interest is the local church, the Pieve di Santa Maria Maggiore, which houses the wonderful wooden flap altar from 1517 called the "Flügelaltar," with carved, painted and gilded parts.

To conclude with the sites of the Great War, about fifty kilometers from Tarvisio is also Caporetto, which today is across the border with Slovenia (and is called Kobarid). This location is known for the famous battle of 1917, which for Italy was the greatest defeat ever. The Italian army, in fact, was caught off guard by the Austro-Hungarian army and forced to retreat. In memory of that inauspicious episode remains theItalian Ossuary, on Gradič Hill, a monumental pyramidal structure with an octagonal base, inaugurated in 1938 by Benito Mussolini to honor the fallen of the bloody battle; here, in fact, in the silence of the mountain rest the remains of the more than seven thousand Italian soldiers who fell fighting. In the village, on the other hand, the Museum of Caporetto (Kobarid) recounts the events that occurred through an exhibition of personal items, photographs, videos, documents, and letters of the soldiers.