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This region is situated in the north-east of Italy and borders Slovenia and Austria. Friuli Venezia Giulia overlooks the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by high mountains, enclosing many different landscapes.
The impressive Carso plateau is formed by windswept rocks, and soil erosion created a series of caves, hollows and “resurgences”.
The sceneries of the mountains are spectacular as well, in the Eastern Dolomines, the Carnia and the Julian Alps, among lakes, valleys and protected areas.
From its boundary with Veneto up to Monfalcone, the coast is trimmed with lagoons and has long sandy beaches, with several tourist resorts like famous Lignano Sabbiadoro; from Monfalcone to Trieste the coast is rocky.
The great variety of landscapes matches a rich and variegated cultural heritage that was determined by a complex history and by the confluence of different civilizations in this territory. For this reason, Friuli Venezia Giulia looks like a small universe with many different traditions: it is the “land of contrasts”.
The provinces of the region are: Trieste (regional capital), Gorizia, Pordenone, Udine.
One of the best jewels of the region is the ancient town of Aquileia, one of the most important towns of the Roman Empire. It was recognized as a World Heritage site by Unesco, and it is rich in vestiges: from the forum to the ruins of the river port and the basilica, one of the most important examples of early Christian art.
The Dolomites, another Unesco site, are a highly valuable natural monument and offer extremely charming sceneries and colors, both in winter and in summer: crystal-clear water stretches, snow-covered peaks and lush valleys.
From the Carso Plateau to the sea, Trieste conceals lots of beauties; old cafés, neoclassical buildings along the Grand Canal and other monuments reveal the fascination of this central European town and its glorious past.
Another unmissable destination is cosmopolitan Gorizia, with its medieval castle that evokes centuries of history. Udine is very charming too, with its ancient castle and the precious works of Giambattista Tiepolo. Finally, Pordenone is also well worth a visit, with its ancient buildings and the Corso with its typical long arcades.
Many more towns and several small villages enrich the region with their art and traditions. There is Grado, peculiar for its Venetian old town center, the small town of San Daniele, which contains the most beautiful frescoes of the region in the church of Sant’Antonio and Cividale del Friuli the historical town and seat of the first Lombard dukedom in Italy.
The uncontaminated environment of Friuli Venezia Giulia offers thousands of opportunities for an unforgettable holiday, among physical activity, wellbeing and fun.
From the Dolomites to the Prealps and the Carnic Alps, the mountains of this region are a perfect place for those who love winter sports, like skiing, snowboarding, climbing, ice-skating and trekking. Well-known ski resorts like Tarvisio, Piancavallo, Sauris and Sella Nevea offer kilometers of slopes and modern facilities, among impressive rocky massifs and enchanting sceneries.
From the lagoon of Grado to Lignano Sabbiadoro, the sandy beaches and the limpid sea make it possible to spend relaxing holidays among exciting beach volleyball matches, water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, long bicycle rides and water games in amusing water parks. Then, you can enjoy entertaining and trendy nights in clubs, pubs and restaurants.
There is plenty of choice for golf greens all over the region, in a framework of amazing landscapes.
The several protected areas of the region reveal imposing and picturesque sceneries where to hike and follow natural routes, either trekking or mountain biking: there's the Cavanata Valley Reservation, also good for birdwatching; the Miraramare sea reserve, perfect for seawatching; the Natural Park of the Dolomites, the realm of mountaineering and climbing, and the Carnic hills, ideal for horse-riding. There are still many other routes to take for discovering uncontaminated nature: the steep promontory of the Carso, among calcareous rocks and caves; the banks of the Tagliamento and other rivers or in Carnia, where nature is combined with history, amid the ruins of forts, galleries and other vestiges of First World War.
For a regenerating holiday dedicated to health, well-being and beauty, you can reach the renowned spas of the region, like the memorable Terme di Grado or the Lignano Riviera, where you can enjoy sea water treatments. From the mountains to the sea, you can find itineraries to explore quality wine and good food over the whole region, roaming between vineyards and farms where you can taste typical specialties and products, including the famous San Daniele ham or Montasio cheese.
There are many events in all seasons: cultural events, like the Pordenonlegge; typical religious festivals like El Pardòn di Barbana and countless exhibitions and food fairs, like Sapori di Carnia in Raveo, Friuli Doc in Udine or Aria di Festa in San Daniele.
The way of cooking in Friuli Venezia Giulia was influenced by the Slavic, central European and Venetian culture. This cuisine relies on simple recipes and genuine ingredients: meat, dairy, sausages and legumes, which are used to create tasty specialties.
Some typical dishes of the area are polenta, “porcina”, a dish made with boiled pork meat and sausages served with sauerkrauts and mustard and the several soups rich in vegetables and legumes.
The most important typical product of the region is San Daniele ham, well-known and exported worldwide, followed by Montasio cheese and Sauris smoked ham.
Among the salami and pork meat produced in Friuli, we can find several salamis, soppressa, sausages and musèt con la brovada, (cotechino pork sausage served with turnips soured with marc).
The most famous regional dessert is called gubana, a shell of pastry stuffed with dried fruit.
Strudels and fruit cakes are delicious as well. The tasty traditional dishes of the area are accompanied by a rich production of high-quality red and white wines, like Refosco, Terrano, Malvasia, Tocai and Rebula. Friuli Venezia Giulia is also renowned for the production of distillates, including traditional and flavored grappas.
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