Nature at its purest

Highlights

Via AlpinaHave a go at hiking a short way along the Via delle Alpi… a fantastic trail which, fromTrieste, meanders its way right across the Alps,immersed in a unique setting of myriadlandscapes of chalets and pastures, refuges andcharming hamlets. You will be enthralled by thekilometres of nature unfolding before your eyesacross the striking Trieste Carso, and the majesticJulian and Carnic Alps, up to the glowing rose-coloured peaks of the Friulian dolomites.

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riuli Venezia Giulia: a different way of experiencing the mountains. A more natural and direct approach

that’s rewarding in every way: from natureto sports, to close contact with the localpeople, who are deeply tied to theirtraditions and extraordinarily hospitable.Our discovery starts with the land itself,varied and surprising because of thehistorical events that have marked it, andthe point of encounter for Latin, Germanicand Slavic populations. Everything is closetogether and, above all, easy to reach.The motorway and railway take you into thevery heart of the Alps. And our journey intowonderland begins. You’ll discover forests -some of the largest in Europe - as well as numerous parks and nature reservespopulated by chamois, rock goats and birdsof prey.The last griffon vultures still live hereundisturbed, majestically soaring the skies.Mountain pastures, protected areas, smallmountain lakes, rock walls and wild forestsare just a few of the wonders of the Friulianmountains. Those who love sports and

outdoor activities will enjoy unforgettableexperiences, without any limits in terms of age or athletic aptitude: rock climbing;mountaineering; hang gliding, gliding andparagliding; golfing and fishing; canoeingand windsurfing on streams and crystal-clear lakes. The area offers a concentrationof activities against a backdrop thatmountain bikers, trekkers and horsebackriders consider heaven on earth.Up in the mountains, picturesque barnsand enchanting shepherds’ huts areconnected by hiking trails that vary indifficulty. Surrounded by the lush flora of the Alps, they forge a link withneighbouring Carinthia.You’ll feel completely at home among the genuine and unique people who live in towns that have been built aroundchurches marked by simple charm and are surrounded by verdant meadows.The only thing interrupting this peacefultableau is the extravaganza of the area’sarray of traditional festivals and folkloreevents that will fascinate you with theirboisterous cheer.

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Authentic magic. Where large forests breathe, pearly lakesrepose, and impressive rock walls jut out. The perfectenvironment for all outdoor sports. An environment warmed by its people and by its villages nestling in enchantingatmospheres. And animated by thousands of colourful festivals.

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Mountains… the way naturecreated them

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he enchanted world of the FriulianAlps is full of magic. Wherever youlook, there are unexpected panoramas,

trails to follow, and discoveries - great andsmall - that will surprise you.From the 2251-metre vantage point of MountCavallo you can see the Dolomites, but off inthe distance you can also glimpse the cobaltsea. The forests, filled with fossils and treesthat are thousands of years old, are veritablehistorical monuments. The finest wood usedby the Venetian Republic to build its fleetscame from the woods of Carnia. And Venzone, in the Alpine foothills, is not only a charming town but also a townboasting an ideal microclimate for balsamiclavender.The myriad of hamlets dotting the gentle hillsor perched on green slopes is the pride of themountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia.On Mount Lussari, the village that is home tothe sanctuary - which can be reached via thePilgrim’s Trail - is an oasis of peacefulnesswith a spectacular view of the Julian Alps.Sauris with its typical dwellings in wood andstone, Sutrio with its picturesque courtyardsand woodworking shops, Raveo with thegrassy plain of Valdie and the stavoli(shepherds’ huts) of the Pani basin: in theseenchanting secluded hamlets, you can stay in charming traditional homes that areexamples of spontaneous local architecture.You’ll enjoy a warm welcome wherever yougo, but the area’s proverbial hospitality is

simply superb at refuges, often located highup in the mountains. They are the perfectmilieu for reading or listening to a concert in the “Note in Rifugio” series.After you have enjoyed the pleasures ofculture and food, banter and rest, otheradventures await you: on well-preservedhiking trails or the high roads of theherdsmen, to taste delicious cheeses that arestill produced using the very same methodsthat have been handed down for centuries.

TAll theenchantment of a magical world

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Highlights

The ParksThe Parco Naturale delle DolomitiFriulane, with broad valleys surrounded by the ridges and towers of the Dolomites,is ideal for nature excursions and trekking.The Parco delle Prealpi Giulie, to the west, will thrill you with its roes, deer,woodchucks and foxes. The Visitors’Centres of Forni di Sopra, Cimolais andResia offer fascinating excursions incomplete safety, accompanied by expertguides in order to discover this untamedworld. The Parco Intercomunale delleColline Carniche, characterised by sunnyrolling hills and open vistas, is ideal forhorseback trekking.

Wood and stone, in the houses of the authentic villages. Hands following the gesturesof traditional cheese-making in the malghe. Eyes buried in a book or absorbed in asurreal sunset in refuges. Footsteps in timeless footprints, along ancient trails, perfectfor trekking today.

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An oasis dedicated to themind and body in the Artaspas, with treatments basedon water rich in sulphur and pampering in the beautycentres. And genuine dishesto pamper the palate are the main attractions at theancient festivals, alongsidefarming rituals and crafts.

he mountains of Friuli Venezia Giuliaalso mean health and wellness.Surrounded by a relaxing Alpine

landscape, guests at Arta Terme enjoy thetherapeutic effects of the mineral water ofFonte Pudia, springs that have been knownand used since ancient times. The spa atArta boasts large and relaxing areas for the most modern treatments. The arraytreatments with water rich in sulphur and in calcium and magnesium sulphates, as well as services offered by the kinesitherapydepartment, go hand in hand with facial/bodyand wellness packages. At the AquaDeabeauty and wellness centre, Ayurvedictechniques and Oriental philosophies arecombined with innovative spa products,allowing guests to achieve complete harmonyof mind and body during their pampered andrelaxing stay.At Arta Terme, with its splendid mountainvistas, you’ll feel as if you’re poised betweenpast and present along the ancient Via Julia

Augusta, following in the footsteps left by the Romans, barbarians and adventurers of all eras. This itinerary merges millenarytraditions with pristine mountain landscapesthat are just waiting to be discovered.In the Friulian Alps, agritourisms and innsoffer delights and surprises that will appealto even the most demanding palates.Different traditions and populations havehelped created a cuisine that alternateshearty rural flavours with exquisite dishesworthy of the greatest gourmets.The local delicacies alone map out afascinating itinerary: prosciutto from Sauris,Carnia pork shank and cjarsons: these mouth-watering ravioli, filled with wild herbs, driedfruit and chocolate, were the delicious lunchof the Cramars, the peddlers who would crossthe Alps on foot to sell their spices.Folklore is yet another chapter introducing a unique facet of Friuli Venezia Giulia:festivals. The traditional celebrations thatmark the passing of the seasons arecelebrated everywhere: in the meadowsduring the hay season and when it’s time to migrate to mountain pastures, in quainthamlets with historical and medievalcommemorations, and in the courtyards of mountain villages during the numerousevents dedicated to typical local products.In turn, these celebrations are tied to finewines and spirits. For those who love a goodglass of wine - or tajut, as they say in theFriulian language - Friuli Venezia Giulia offers Ramandolo, Merlot and Cabernet.And for those who love more potent flavours,there are excellent distillates, made byfamily-run companies that jealously guardtheir recipes and processes.

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Highlights

Personality in the kitchenAfter a day spent outdoors along trailsand mule tracks, why not give in totemptation with a steaming plate ofpolenta, accompanied by classic frico,the traditional dish served at localfestivals? It is a potato-cheese torte with a crisp golden crust and luscioussoft centre.

Well-being andunique flavours

Highlights

Dog trekking and Nordic walkingThe spectacular scenario of the Tarvisioforests is the backdrop for exhilaratingguided trekking excursions in thecompany of playful sledge dogs. The vastmountain territory of the Julian Alps isalso the perfect place for Nordic walking,an innovative hiking activity using polesand organised along breathtaking trailsthat are suitable for all ages and alllevels of training.

A melting pot of Italian, Slovene and Austrian culture. A real natural paradise with endless opportunities for excursions, horse riding, via ferratas and climbing.Plus a fun adventure park and a beautifully kept golf course.

The Tarvisioarea: boundlessemotions

he best way to discover the mostdistinctive and unspoilt areas aroundTarvisio is to follow in the footsteps of

Julius Kugy, the mountaineer, poet, spelunkerand botanist who discovered the beauty of the Julian Alps, Valsaisera and Valbruna in the early 1900s and sang the praises of these peaceful mountains and valleys.This natural paradise offers countlessopportunities for excursions on foot orhorseback, as well as “vie ferrate” and freeclimbing. Friulian climbers honed their skillsin these extraordinary practice grounds. For example, Nives Meroi, one of the world’stop female climbers, trains here.Top-quality offerings are also available for golflovers, who can enjoy a few rounds on broadgreens and amidst treacherous bunkers in themagnificent Julian Alps… and then head offto savour the pleasures of traditionalmountain cuisine.

The Tarzaning adventure park at Sella Neveahas plenty of exciting activities in store foryoungsters, in complete safety along routessuspended from trees. A land that bringstogether three languages and three peoples -Italian, Austrian and Slovenian - naturallyreflects a complex culture. Stay at some ofthe area’s small family-run hotels. Their uniqueand simple approach - turning guests intofriends - will draw you into the lifestyle,customs and language of small communitiesuntouched by modernity. The numerous museums devoted to arts andcrafts have collected and preserved the area’smaterial culture like a treasure of memory andpoetry: the Museo dell’Arrotino, in Val Resia,devoted to knife-grinders, evokes figures andwords that have now disappeared, and thePermanent Exhibition of the Mining Traditionin Cave del Predil recounts the stories of themen who toiled in the depths of the earth.

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Carnia: authenticin every way

An ancient rhythm, in the wood of skilled artisans, in the clocks of eighteenth-century tradition, in parish churches of timeless worship. From the highest village in Friuli, Sauris, the home of a delicious cured ham, right down through valleys andenchanting villages. In albergo diffuso hotels and refuges. Sbilfs and... Cossacks.

arnia is a territory where nature,tradition, sports and hospitality havecome together to offer you a perfectly

balanced holiday. The landscape isunforgettable: small parishes, votive churchesset at the foot of rugged mountains, Alpinehamlets with their charming buildings madeof stone and wood, and crafts shops wheretrades that have disappeared elsewhere have been handed down for generations.Discovering Carnia’s ancient face is afascinating experience.It is a return to an ancient world that hassurvived in little village shops. In Sutrio,skilled woodworkers created veritable worksof art whose delicacy and harmony willenchant you. Since the 18th century,craftsmen from Val Pesarina have producedclocks with ingenious mechanisms that harkback to a Genoese pirate - Solari - who tookrefuge in these valleys, consideredinaccessible at the time.This extraordinary cultural heritage isdemonstrated by a network of museums thatdot the territory and differ in both subject

and size, from the Museum of PopularTraditions and Arts in Tolmezzo to the“Mozartina” in Paularo, which displaysantique and modern musical instrumentsthat are perfectly functional.Sauris-Zahre, the highest municipality inFriuli, is the homeland of a delicious type of smoked ham, and it still cherishes theGermanic traditions that have given the townits old-fashioned fairytale atmosphere. Carnia - like one big village - is the perfectplace for marvellous excursions.On foot or astride a mountain bike, you cantake panoramic routes or follow ancient roadsto discover archaeological sites. Or you canwalk through the trenches and visit themilitary posts of the Italian-Austrian frontfrom the First World War. Wherever you go,you will meet the people of these valleys, and you’ll come to know and love their proudcharacter and extraordinary hospitality.You can choose from a network of smallfamily-run hotels, which will make you feel at home; or Lauco, Ovaro, Sutrio, Sauris eComeglians you can try the uniqueexperience of alberghi diffusi, multi-buildinghotels that combine typical hotel serviceswith the charm of staying in picturesquehomes. Walking aficionados who want to hikealong one of the 15 trails of the Via delleMalghe can stay at some of the small housesused by herdsmen or take advantage of thenetwork of simple but cosy refuges.In the evening, the people of Carnia will keepyou company with their storytelling. There is the true story of the Cossacks of the Don, an entire population that, towards the end of the Second World War, arrived here fromthe steppe with horses, carts and camels.And there is the fantastic tale of the Sbilfs,the mischievous elves that live in the woodsand only show their faces to those whosehearts are pure.

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Highlights

Forra del VinadiaThe canyon of the torrentVinadia is a miraculous gift of nature. Formed bythousands of years of erosion,it offers experts an itinerary of waterfalls, small lakes andimpressive walls that, at somepoints, are so close togetherthat they block out the sky.

Gentle white storks and majestic griffons. Butterflies brightlycolouring meadows and walls. Bonfires for predicting thefuture and mediaeval reenactments. And why not visit thecaves filled with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites.Including the largest tourist cave in the world.

he Alpine foothills, which boast a delightful variety of landscapes, are the perfect destination for those

who want to enjoy a natural pace, in touchwith a farming culture that is still very much a part of everyday life.On the walls of Bordano, the town of butterfliesset in a kaleidoscope of green, street artistshave recreated the lively colours of thethousands of butterflies that populate thesweeping meadows. Every year, Tarcentorelives the tradition of the Venerable OldMan, a storytelling sage who predicts theprosperity of the harvest by observing thepignarui, the bonfires of the Epiphany. In the ancient mediaeval hamlet of Gemona,the atmosphere of yesterday comes back to life with a procession of men and womenin lavish costumes.The nature trails are also full of surprises,revealing hidden chapters of the local history.The Quadris natural oases in Fagagna andthe nature reserve of Cornino offer a uniqueopportunity to observe white storks and griffonvultures nesting in their natural habitat. The area’s extraordinarily rich

flora yields exquisite herbal remedies and lends an unusual

touch to the simple traditional cuisine.

The caves in the area once offered shelter to the wayfarers who journeyed through these lands during the Roman era and the Middle Ages.Visit the Giant Cave in the mountains of theCarso area near Trieste, one of the largestcaverns in the world that is open to tourists;the Villanova Caves, filled with stalactites andstalagmites along its countless tunnels andpassages; and the Cave of San Giovannid’Antro, with its wealth of evidence leftbehind by the people who lived there duringthe Neolithic period.The Carso is also the perfect place for freeclimbing. Some of Italy’s best climbers havetrained on its dramatic cliffs over the sea.Rock gyms and expert instructors will helpyou learn an art that strengthens musclesand frees the mind.Last but not least is gubanafrom the Natisone valleys :be sure to try this rounddelicacy filled with driedfruit and nuts. Thiscake - the ancientsymbol ofabundance - istraditionally enjoyedwith family andfriends.

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The Alpinefoothills and theCarso: historyand nature

Highlights

The Butterfly HouseNear Bordano, the interior of the “Casa delle Farfalle” (theButterfly House) reproducesbreathtaking exotic gardens,where, day after day, more than400 of the world’s most beautifulbutterflies court each other, feedon blossoms and reproduce.

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he area of Piancavallo has developed a strong vocation for sports: modern ski resorts, riding schools and climbing

walls await you, to offer you all the sports you love. These ancient mountains are youngin spirit and boast state-of-the-art facilities for all kinds of activities. Castaldia, at analtitude of 1108 metres above sea level, is a mecca for those who want to soar throughthe clouds on a paraglider.For those who love water and exciting sportslike canoeing and kayaking, sailing andwindsurfing, there is nothing better than LakeBarcis or the three lakes in Val Tramontina, by the Meduna torrent. Caves, ravines andlimestone gorges formed by the slow andconstant erosion of the torrent characterisethe Green Caves of Pradis. Forra del Cellina,another spectacular gorge created by erosion,offers one of the most extraordinarylandscapes of the entire Alpine arch.For mountain bikers, there are over 30 trailsthat cater to experts as well as those whosimply want to enjoy some relaxing fun. At the end of each itinerary, you can exploretowns and villages, some of which have just a handful of houses: places far from the restof the world, with a cosy inn that seems to be there just for you.A holiday in the Friulian Alps is somethingrare: a holiday of discovery and memory. It is the discovery of traditions that are stillalive, and the memory of a civilisationpreserved in numerous museums of art and rural culture.

In the hamlets of Frisanco and Poffabro, you’ll come across typical buildings made of wood and stone, with lattice balconiesoverlooking cobbled streets. Erto and Casso,examples of the area’s spontaneousarchitecture, vividly recall the Vajont disasterof 1963, when the part of the mountaincollapsed into the hydroelectric dam and thewater from the reservoir washed two townsaway forever. The unfolding of this tragedy is illustrated in the permanent exhibition atthe Visitors’ Centre of the Parco delle DolomitiFriulane.The park, which is the largest in the region,lies between the Tagliamento and Piave rivers.It also organises environmental education and nature learning activities. At Andreis, the rescue centre for birds of prey is open tovisitors; the centre studies and treats woundedpredators and then sets them free again.

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A thousand sports in nature: skiing and horse riding, climbingand canoeing, mountain biking and windsurfing, hang-glidingand kayaking. Home to the Parco delle Dolomiti friulane, the Green Caves and a gorge resembling a grand canyon. And enchanting villages in wood and stone architecture.

Piancavalloand ValliPordenonesi:holidays onthe go

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