The best things to do in Friuli Venezia Giulia - Living in Italy (2023)

A wide range of things to do in Friuli Part I

Enjoying a life of perfect relaxation between golden beaches and the calm sea of ​​Grado and Lignano. Diving among the white rocks of the Trieste Riviera. With a thousand opportunities for outdoor sports, relaxing spa breaks and fun for the whole family. Are you ready to learn the best things to do in Friuli?

Discover the joy of stretching out on some of the most beautiful beaches in the northeast, where Italy ends and the Adriatic Sea plunges into the heart of the new Europe. A long stretch of golden sand with gently sloping beaches and calm seas await you inLignano Sabbiadoromito evaluate🇧🇷 Perfect beaches to relax, an invigorating massage, hot games of beach volleyball and a new way to enjoy a relaxing lifestyle that will help you rediscover the meaning of fun.

Aholidays by the sea in Friuli Venezia Giuliaoffers a wealth of experiences, including everything you need for your ideal vacation. From the timeless tranquility of Grado, Lignano Pineta and Lignano Riviera, ideal resorts where the whole family can relax while the children have fun, to the fantastic opportunities for sports and activities that accompany the intense summer life of Lignano Sabbiadoro.

And a short distance away, a series of new worlds and sensations to discover: the timeless appeal of the lakes ofmaranomito evaluate, a paradise for bird watchers; the secrets of the Trieste Riviera with its enchanting coves hidden between rocky promontories. Or you can cycle in Lignano, a city thought around the needs of people and, above all, children; or stroll through the narrow streets and squares of Grado with its Venetian charm.

The Friuli Venezia Giulia coast is rich in history: only here can you really feel where East and West meet.

Unmissable things to do in Friuli

the bars

Narrow sandbanks that emerge from the waters of the Grado and Marano lagoons, Barene can be easily reached by typical local flat-bottomed boats. The silence, the fantastic light, the population of native seabirds in their ideal habitat, the rich vegetation of the lagoon and the local fishing practices that have remained unchanged over time are the pearls of a special world away from the mainstream.

unadulterated nature

Huge forests and endless natural parks to watch chamois and wild deer. The gentle hills are ideal for trekking and mountain biking. The silence that accompanies a bird watching tour in the lagoon. A territory that in parts is still completely wild; to enjoy with all the senses. Mother nature abounds and is easily accessible in Friuli Venezia Giulia. And contact with the surrounding nature of this part of the world is always cause for joy and wonder. In Carnia, the Tarvisiano region and the Friuli Dolomites, the love of the locals for their land has translated into the preservation of vast forests and natural parks.

Here it is common to find chamois, deer and wild goats in the wild; and if you're lucky, you might even catch a bear roaming its natural habitat. Can you imagine the silence of the Marano and Grado lagoons with their typical thatched-roof fishermen's huts (called casoni), the majestic flight of the heron and the thousands of other bird species found in the oases of wild life? And if you like to walk or cycle, why not visit the hills of the Collio area with its extensive vineyards, enchanted mountains and valleys and the many wild animals that can be seen on the walks, in a continuous succession of views. exciting?

Another obligatory excursion is the visit to theMiramare Marine Nature Reserve, the oldest in Italy. Everything is possible in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Untouched nature with areas of true desert crisscrossed by clear rivers and mountain torrents, calm seas, delicious local cuisine and wines and hospitable local people to ensure your holiday experience is truly varied and utterly memorable. Friuli Venezia Giulia is not just another Italian region, it is a true treasure to experience with all the senses.

Essential things to do in Friuli – Part 2

Trilha from Via delle Malghe

A network of roads linking Carnia and Carinthia, connecting valley settlements with mountain dairies (called malghe) and border passes where Italian and Austrian traders, shepherds, herdsmen and smugglers used to roam in ancient times. Today the trails are open to everyone, hikers of all levels, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The paths provide the ideal access point to a world of unique natural and historical attractions, where visitors can also enjoy the great taste of delicious, freshly made Alpine cheeses.

A town called Carnia

It is called anonymous or 'minor' architecture, but it represents the fascinating imprint of a distant and almost forgotten culture. Houses that enchant by their simplicity, conditioned by the basic needs of life and work, the last vestiges of a peasant culture that has long since disappeared in Italy and that is exciting to rediscover. Walking through the villages of Carnia, you will learn to recognize the typical arcades, arches, rustic stone facades and wooden balconies. All features testify to the oldest and best preserved architecture in the Alps.

Unmissable in Friuli – Part 3

Los Sbilfs

Which, in the Friuli language, means goblins or goblins, the people of the forest. They are said to be mischievous and reserved. But those with a pure heart, who are still enchanted by the blue waters of a lake or the deep green of a forest, may be lucky enough to see them. Experience walking in the peaceful atmosphere of the vast forests of Friuli Venezia Giulia. You can have the privilege of meeting them!

Snow: Living the Dream

Hundreds of kilometers of ski slopes in Tarvisio, Ravascletto, Forni di Sopra, Piancavallo and Sella Nevea. There are no lines for the elevators. Downhill, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, skating and ice climbing, for maximum excitement in contact with nature. Skiing without long queues at the lifts, enjoying peaceful descents on safe slopes, in the tranquility of an unspoilt mountainous landscape: the ski slopes of Friuli Venezia Giulia are the perfect destination.

Tarvisio, Ravascletto and Forni di Sopra are small towns that almost resemble nativity scenes, where at night the inhabitants gather around the traditional Fogolâ¢r, a fireplace with an encouraging flame and a warm and hospitable atmosphere. Piancavallo and Sella Nevea are irresistible with their sleek modern ski resort style to allow visitors to experience the full circle of the sport.

If you are looking for real mountains where you can practice a wide variety of winter sports and enjoy a combination of festivities and ancient traditions, why not try the other snow: the mountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia? Mountains where skiers can practice their sport in total harmony with the natural environment: from cross-country skiing to snowboarding, from skating to ice climbing.

Where you can make any dream come true and enjoy fantastic adventures in the snow: sledding or even dog sitting, snowshoeing or spending the night in an igloo. An alpine paradise dotted with small ski resorts and crisscrossed by countless kilometers of tracks through forested slopes.

At Piancavallo, on the clearest days of winter, skiers are rewarded with a distant view of the sea as they descend the pristine slopes. In Sella Nevea the slopes are open until spring; Ravascletto-Zoncolan offers one of the best equipped and most modern ski resorts; Forni di Sopra is a brilliant diamond set in the peaks of the Fruili Dolomites; Immersed in a unique setting of unspoilt natural beauty, the Tarvisian is a paradise for alpine and cross-country skiers.

A “missing” hotel

Friuli Venezia Giulia provided the first examples in Italy. This form of accommodation combines the typical formulas of hotel, pension and holiday apartment in the same place. Visitors stay in historic houses scattered around small towns such as Comeglians, Lauco, Monte Prat di Forgaria, Sutrio or Sauris.

Houses perfectly renovated, fully equipped and tastefully furnished according to traditional mountain styles, equipped with all the comforts of a hotel (such as a single reception), but full of atmosphere and immersed in village life, with its rhythms and traditions.

Essential things to do in Friuli – Part 4

Vale da Resia

An isolated valley inhabited by a population of old Slavic lineage, preserving the language, customs, musical instruments and musical forms of a tradition that dates back to the 7th century. These are the inhabitants of Val di Resia, keepers of ancient knowledge and tradition that combine history and legend. One of the many characteristics that make Friuli Venezia Giulia and its people absolutely unique in Italy.

Wellness for body and soul

A regenerative spa vacation. of the traditions ofto evaluate, frequented in the past by Austro-Hungarians, to the modernity of Lignano and Arta Terme, which has a fully equipped wellness farm. In addition to a series of hotels with beauty salons spread throughout the region. It is absolutely natural that this open and hospitable land knows how to take care of our bodies and our well-being. On the coast or in the mountains, spas can be the center of your vacation, with wellness and beauty treatments, herbal teas and natural cosmetics based on traditional plant-based practices.

Terme di Grado was already famous at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: salt water pools, thermal waters and sand baths are part of a wide and attractive offer of health treatments. The Lignano thermal spa is of more recent construction and has more modern facilities.

At Arta Terme in Carnia, the benefits of thermal water are combined with a remarkably healthy climate. Here, a state-of-the-art wellness farm offers everything you need to regenerate body and soul. So treat yourself to a holiday in Friuli Venezia Giulia: the region offers a wide range of relaxing hotels with superbly equipped beauty farmhouses.

Unmissable in Friuli – Part 5

herbal medicine

Carnia, one of the best-preserved areas in the entire Alpine chain, is a vast natural botanical garden located in northwestern Friuli, with abundant plants and herbs that are used extensively and skilfully according to ancient recipes for medicinal herbs and in health and delicious traditional cuisine.

Art cities: far from the ordinary

Triesteand its Habsburg charm,Udineand its Venetian architecture,pordenonawith its 16th century buildings,goriziaand its Central European elegance. A kaleidoscope of history and culture in a land that for centuries was inhabited by many peoples. What is it about the magical nature of the cities of Friuli Venezia Giulia with their very reserved and elegant atmosphere that makes them so different from other Italian cities?

Undoubtedly, the secret is in its history: they passed through settlements by Celts, Romans, Lombards and the domain of the Republic of Venice and the Habsburg dynasty. While strolling through the streets of Trieste, immerse yourself in the Borgo Teresiano with its severe forms that are so reminiscent of Vienna, stop to breathe the Central European atmosphere of its cafes, stroll through the streets that were once bastions of James Joyce and Italo Svevo.

Trieste is a city of European art and culture. Alternatively, why not explore the exquisitely Venetian charm of Udine, with its enchanting piazzas, the Loggia del Lionello and the Torre dell Orologio? Succumb to the magic of the frescoes by Gianbattista Tiepolo in the Arcivescovile Palace and admire the rooftops of Udine from the point of view of the Castle of Udine, allowing your gaze to encompass all of Friuli up to its mountain ranges.

Take a trip to Pordenone with its 16th century palaces, its Romanesque churches, Gothic and Baroque buildings, the historic center with its long series of porticoes and frescoed facades. Gorizia, a refined Central European city on the border with Slovenia, is a meeting point between different cultures, as can be seen from its streets, architecture and monuments. Here you will fully immerse yourself in a unique environment made up of different arts and unknown atmospheres and flavors.

The Opicina Tram

A page in the history books should be reserved for the Opicina tramway, which since 1902 has connected Trieste to Villa Opicina, the elegant city and its wild and rugged hinterland. The distance is barely three kilometers, but the walk is like an exciting voyage of discovery, especially when the slope reaches 26% and the tram becomes a cable car. Riding the Opicina tram offers an authentic Austro-Hungarian-era scene of Trieste.

Unmissable in Friuli – Part 6

Exploring castles and country houses.

Fortresses, castles and villages testify to an eventful past. Traveling around Friuli Venezia Giulia in search of villas and palaces will give you a new perspective on the region. Venzone, Osoppo, Cordovado, Spilimbergo, Colloredo, Villalta, Strassoldo, Zoppola and Portia are just some of the imposing fortifications scattered throughout the region, from the mountains to the coast.

Imposing is the only adjective that best describes the fortress city of Palmanova, with its steep walls and nine-pointed star-shaped plan. Similarly, the word spectacular comes to mind when contemplating the castles of Carso, perched on steep slopes or steep escarpments, such as Duino Castle. A visit to the Miramare Castle, a pure pearl of rare beauty overlooking the Gulf of Trieste is another must. Perfectly preserved with its original furniture and decoration, it was commissioned by Charlotte of Belgium and her husband Maximilian of Habsburg, Emperor of Mexico.

Living history, hidden treasures and unique Roman and Lombard villages remain echoes of the Habsburg dynasty, trenches from the Great War and vestiges of the Cold War: diving into the past becomes natural.

Friuli Venezia Giulia is an important part of Italian and European history. Living in these historical sites is a unique and exciting experience. Roman and Lombard ruins, echoes of the Habsburg dynasty, trenches from the Great War and vestiges of the Cold War dot this region, which is like an open history book.

As a result, delving into the past is quite natural. Strolling among the ruins of Aquileia or walking on its polychrome mosaics will transport you to Roman times. And reenactments in period uniforms will take you into the midst of WWI battle in locations that helped shape Europe's recent history: following tunnels and trenches and eating soldiers' rations, prepared as if they were almost there. a century.

The intensity of the emotions will contrast with the beauty and tranquility of the nature that now surrounds you. Friuli Venezia Giulia also offers the perfect setting to rediscover our most recent history: it was through this border country that the Iron Curtain ran. It is on these hills that some pages of modern history were written; the official and what is not found in any book. In Carso, at the foot of the mountains, and in Carnia, you can still find the paths traveled by smugglers and spies, paths used in the not too distant past by many fugitives in search of freedom. Even today, to attentive eyes, Gorizia reveals its history as a city divided by the last wall in Europe, demolished only in 2004.

Aquileia for the Romans, Cividale for the Lombards. A historical heritage of incalculable value. Venzone, surrounded by its medieval walls, Gemona and its 15th century cathedral, Spilimbergo, home to the most important mosaic school in the world. And the story does not end here.

Friuli Venezia Giulia is also a land of small historic towns, rich in monuments and works of art. Cividale has a unique historical heritage, with streets bearing witness to its Lombard past, a 15th century cathedral and the Longobard Tempietto, an absolute masterpiece of Lombard art and architecture.

Aquileia, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is one of the main archaeological sites in Italy. Founded as a Roman colony, it became the fourth largest city in the empire and houses admirable artistic treasures, some from the later days of the patriarchs, such as the mosaic floor of the Basilica, the largest in Europe. Gemona, on the other hand, has a magnificent 15th century cathedral, completely rebuilt after the terrible earthquake of 1976.

Venzone, also protected by Unesco, is a rare example of a fortified city surrounded by medieval walls. Clauiano, a town near Trivignano Udinese, has been included in the list of historic towns in Italy. Also not to be missed is the garden of the Serenissima, Sacile, with its canals and canals, and the charming medieval village of San Vito al Tagliamento. Then there is Spilimbergo, famous for the frescoed façade of its castle and for its mosaic school, the most important in the world.

Continue to Part II of this Friuli landmarks article.

Friuli Venezia Giulia travel agency