Discover Friuli Venezia Giulia

A land of diversity and strong traditions

Culturally rich and complex, Friuli Venezia Giulia dazzles visitors with its historical, culinary and natural delights. The landscapes you’ll encounter are so diverse and appealing that you will feel one journey is nowhere near enough to grasp its identity. From emerald lakes to breath-taking Dolomites scenery, vast marshland rich in biodiversity and a rugged coastline, its elegant Austro-Hungarian past sits alongside vine-clad hills and picturesque castles dominate the surroundings like ancient custodians of long-kept secrets.

A crossroad of nations and cultures, Friuli Venezia Giulia is welcoming, friendly and will broaden your knowledge of Italian traditions. Now is the time to discover this picturesque corner of north-eastern Italy.

Friuli Venezia Giulia is truly a hidden gem in Italy.

Food and wine

A land of food-loving souls, it comes as no surprise that Friuli Venezia Giulia, too, boasts such delicious local dishes that you’ll feel your choices are endless. Here, Mediterranean flavours meet mountain dishes and are further influenced by neighbouring Austrian and Slovenian traditions. The world-famous prosciutto is a delicacy from the town of San Daniele del Friuli. Go beyond the classic Frico a traditional dish made with Montasio cheese, often combined with potatoes or onions and cooked to a crispy perfection. Try the Muset sausage, the giant meatball pitina, ciuncir (cow’s milk ricotta), a Jota stew or Paparot soup. All seasoned with the local Tergeste olive oil. End on a sweet note with Prestnitz, Gubana or strucchi treats. Gubana is a sweet pastry filled with nuts, raisins, and grappa, typically served during festive occasions in the eastern part of the region.

If you want to discover everything about this appetizing corner of Italy, visit the Ein Prosit festival (https://www.einprosit.org/home-it/), taking place twice a year in the region.

Flavours of the sea

You may not immediately think of Italy as a seafaring nation – although Italian explorers ventured beyond known lands and established new territories in the past – , but you can certainly admire its penchant for delicious seafood – and delicious everything else, we may add! This blessed land seems to produce one unique gourmet delight after the other, each region bringing its contribution to a kaleidoscope of tastes, scents and culinary experiences.

Boreto alla gradese, Granseole Trieste-style, Sardoni impanai, Bisato in Speo, Marano risotto and fish soup or baccala’ in bianco are just a few regional specialities that make the most of the Adriatic coast, bringing zest and unique aromas to a superb sensorial experience

An incredible wine destination

Friuli Venezia Giulia is indeed an incredible wine destination, known for its high-quality white wines and diverse terroirs. The region’s location between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea creates the perfect climate for producing elegant and aromatic wines.

The region’s focus on indigenous grape varieties, like Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Grigio, Picolit and Istrian Malvasia, while reds are best represented by Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Schioppettino, Merlot, Pignolo and Terano. With charming wineries, breathtaking landscapes, and a rich culinary tradition, it’s a must-visit for any wine lovers. Nimis and Savorgnano del Torre, Colli del Ramandolo and Premariacco are a few places where the vineyards stretch beyond our gaze.

Some of its most famous wine areas include:

Collio – Renowned for its exceptional white wines like Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio.
Colli Orientali del Friuli – Producing rich reds like Refosco and Pignolo, as well as outstanding whites.
Grave del Friuli – Known for more accessible, yet high-quality wines with a variety of grapes.

Come and see how the richness and diversity of the regional terroir embody the authenticity of a fabulous region.

Raise a glass to Friuli Venezia Giulia, a wine lover's paradise!

Of caves and pilgrims – unexpected gems

Trieste, Udine, Aquileia and Spilimbergo are unique destinations that charm visitors with their beauty and history; Friuli is however rich in hidden gems that make every journey even more exciting. The landscape is highly diverse: come to the Cave of San Giovanni d’Antro in Pulfero, by Udine, and visit an exceptional place of worship; admire the Natisone gorge, where the force of the water created its way across the valley floor, or see the exceptional Pradis Caves, with a series of paths and routes across a spectacular gorge.

The Favarinis waterfall, north of Udine, is really picturesque and requires visitors to venture on an engaging path across a gorge. The Grado lagoon hosts the Barbana Sanctuary on the namesake island, a site of pilgrimage since the Middles Ages, where a Marian shrine of ancient origin enriches what is an oasis of peace and tranquillity.

The Grotta Gigante is definitely a must-see! Its immense size makes it one of the largest tourist caves in the world, with stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and geological formations. The guided tour takes you deep into the cave, offering a fascinating experience of the underground world. It’s also a great place to learn about the region’s geological history. The Cave consists of an enormous cavity almost 100 m high, 168 m long and 76 m wide whose central cave places it in the 1995 Guinness Book of Records as the largest tourist cave in the world. It is so large that its volume is around 365,000 cubic meters while, in terms of size, it could easily contain the Basilica of San Marco in Venice!

A land of castles

Italy seems to be blessed with spellbinding, extraordinary, emblematic castles that dominate the landscape, standing alone to represent ancient powers. Friuli-Venezia-Giulia is no exception and you will find several pretty examples, such as the Ceconi Castle in Pielungo, north-west of Udine, an imposing neo-Gothic manor set within the mountains and a lovely forest, a symbol of enterprise across the centuries.

Spilimbergo hosts an incredibly attractive castle, decorated with sensational Gothic and Renaissance frescoes, triple-lancet windows, while a 15th c. building near the castle hosts decorations by Giovanni da Udine. The evocative Castle of Artegna is perched on a hill and exemplifies the ideal defensive post; dating back to the 13th c., its shape changed over the centuries, until an earthquake destroyed most of it in 1976. A subsequent work of restoration brought it back to its former glory, watching over the surrounding landscape in an ethereal manner.

Admire the beauty of the sea from the Rilke trail, a 2-km coastal path that starts from dreamy Duino Castle, loved by Rainer Maria Rilke and Paul Valery, and reaches the Bay of Sistiana; sitting right on the seafront, the castle is privately owned, but visits will show a collection of artworks and terraces that open onto the sea. Noble, romantic 19th c. Miramare Castle, built between 1856 and 1860, can be seen from a distance: strikingly white, it dominates the gulf of Trieste with its ethereal beauty; the intricate interiors, and the expansive park surrounding it make it a must-visit.

Where biodiversity is supreme

The heart of nature beats strong in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. The several marshland areas or the various river mouths are a haven of wildlife. Come to the Isonzo Mouth Nature Reserve, a unique natural environment that is ideal for bird watching that can be explored on foot, on a bike or even on a horseback! Hire one of their photography hides to capture unique moments.

Extending from Fossalona di Grado to the island of Anfora, the Grado Lagoon is the realm of flora and fauna, such as gulls, wild ducks, grey herons and sea swallow. It is also rich in archaeological finds that reveal how the Romans once built a road here, now covered by water.

Fagagna, by Udine, hosts the lovely Quadris nature reserve. Created at the end of the 1980s, it is also known as the oasis of the white stork, a species that was reintroduced in the country over time and attracts visitors from far and wide.

Travel Tips where to stay

Grand Hotel Duchi d'Aosta in Trieste

More travel tips about Friuli Venezia Giulia https://www.claudiadarin.it/10-things-not-to-miss-in-friuli-venezia-giulia.html

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