1. Alluring and charismatic: welcome to Trieste

Tucked into such a north-easterly corner of Italy as to feel it belongs to a world apart, Trieste – once Tergeste and now known as Vienna by the sea - is elegant, aristocratic and highly original. Boasting an impressive seafront, lined with striking neoclassical buildings, its main square is the meeting place of this cultural hub. Piazza Unità d’Italia jets onto the sea in such a sleek fashion that emotions run high when gazing at the blue expanse in front of you.

For six hundred years under the Austro-Hungarian domination, Trieste was annexed to Italy in 1954. The Habsburg made the city a free port in 1719 and spared no expense in developing this pivotal harbour centre, welcoming trade and business from the Mediterranean. These days, you’ll be spoilt for exciting places to visit, from an ancient Roman theatre – hosting up to 6.000 spectators in its heyday – to one of the tallest lighthouses in the world, the 68-metre high Faro della Vittoria. Sit in one of Trieste’s elegant coffee bars and reminisce about the past: it is said that Joyce penned his famous Ulysses in one of these places! 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 can be seen from a distance: strikingly white, it dominates the gulf of Trieste with its ethereal beauty. Do not miss its programme of interesting exhibitions, laboratories and activities for children and adults. Get lost in its lovely gardens, decorated with fountains, statues, rare botanical species and imposing trees, all living in perfect harmony. Above all, however, Trieste is a city that will strike a chord within your heart, inviting you to explore and dig longer into the city’s mesmerizing aura. 

3. Poetry in a glass – Collio wines

Among its vast cultural and historical heritage, eclectic, proud, captivating Friuli-Venezia-Giulia boasts the Collio area: strewn with gentle vineyards and blessed with a special climate and soil, known as ponca or flysch, this district sits on the border with Slovenia and fosters the production of outstanding  (primarily) white wines, among the best in the country. Awarded the DOC label as early as 1968, Collio Bianco was the first of a series of superb varieties, such as Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Ribolla Gialla or Friulano, with connoisseurs captivated by their fresh, mineral rich, aromatic and balanced taste. The renowned dessert wine Picolit is also a local product of excellence: produced in very small quantities, making it rare and exclusive, this wine is elegant and harmonious, exuding all the features that reveal its unique nature.

Wines from the Collio area are best defined as “poetry in a glass”, for they convey the harmony of the bucolic landscape they are produced in: evocative, hill-top San Floriano al Collio is a charming village that sits on the Strada del Vino e delle Ciliegie (the wine and cherry route), with vine clad roads connecting lovely churches, fortresses and serene hamlets. Habsburg-style Cormons is the main municipality and is dominated by the Quarin Mount, where the first local settlements were established, back in Roman times. The wetland Preval area features small lakes and meadows where you will find deer roaming free and ducks: ideal for relaxing strolls and hikes, its calmness is echoed by the lovely Plessiva wood, replete with oak trees and popular with walkers. Linking Capriva del Friuli with Sermons, the Sentiero delle Vigne Alte offers hiking, mountain biking and horse-riding opportunities among gentle vineyards that open onto superb views, reflecting the perfect balance between man and nature in a region that stuns and amazes with its natural, historical and cultural gems.

5. The Friuli Dolomites

Everybody loves the Dolomites! The “rock cathedrals” that stir the soul and captivate the imagination with their splendid colours and fabulous geometries extend to this region, as well. The wild, rugged Dolomiti d’oltre Piave, as they are known, comprise the Cridola, Spalti-Monfalconi, Duranno and Pramaggiore groups within a somewhat mysterious territory, replete with natural beauty, geological and fauna trails that make up the Friuli Dolomites Natural Park, part of the UNESCO Heritage. The biggest valleys in the area are Valle del Tagliamento, Val Colvera and Val Tramontina, with excellent outdoor opportunities in the summer and winter alike: hiking and biking along exciting trails in the summer, with cross country skiing, ice climbing and ski mountaineering in the winter.  Come and visit the Urlo di pietra, a self-standing, 280-metre high spire with a bell on top – hence called Campanile di Val Montanaia – whose sound is truly special. Hike to the 2706-metre high Cima dei Preti or visit the Pradis caves, which date back to Neanderthal times. Fun times ahead!

7. Lakes of wonder

Pioneering adventurers and tranquil, daydreaming souls will agree on the poetic beauty of natural lakes encased within a mountain backdrop. Among its many lovely places, Friuli boasts several, lovely lakes that lure you with their natural appeal. The Fusine lakes, close to the border with Slovenia, are indeed magical. Made up by an upper lake and a lower one, they lie at the foot of the Mangart massif in the Julian Alps in a wild, imposing setting, part of the natural border with Slovenia. South of Tarvisio, Predil Lake is spectacular, being surrounded by a lush wood populated with various animals, and imposing mountains featuring waterfalls and ponds: ideal for sport lovers, you can hike around the lake, swim, take up windsurf or even go canoeing on this splendid stretch of water.  Cavazzo Lake, also known as Lago dei Tre Comuni, is Friuli’s largest natural lake, touching upon three different municipalities. Its crystalline waters mean water sports are superb, such as kayaking or swimming, but also hiking or simply lounging by the water, making this the ideal place for families as well. And the list continues with other stunning natural lakes such as Avostanis, Volaia, Bordagna or Ragogna, for a region that keeps on revealing its sparkling side.

9. A Lombard atmosphere – Cividale del Friuli

When you thought your discovery trip to this exciting region could not get any more interesting, there pops up yet another UNESCO heritage site that simply stuns visitors. Cividale del Friuli was founded by Julius Caesar in 568 AD and later became the first seat of the Lombard Duchy in Italy. The recently restored 8th c. Tempietto Longobardo offers the only example of Lombard architecture in Europe and features stunning frescoes with Greek-Byzantine connotations, alongside stucco works depicting female figures. The Museo Cristiano del Duomo hosts the 8th c. Ratchis altar and the Baptistry of Callisto, as well as paintings by Veronese in a mesmerising setting, while the National Archaeological Museum entails precious objects from the Roman as well as Romanesque and Gothic periods. Find some time to visit the 22-metre-high Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) on the Natisone river: dating back to the 15th c, it was reconstructed after WWI bombings and is truly spectacular