This beautiful region, which is located on the borders to Slovenia, has been influenced by many different cultures and religions. Friuli is characterised by wonderful mountainous areas, vigorous hills, plain country, pine tree forests and rivers. You will find many monuments and vestiges of the different religions that have been represented in the course of time, i.a. mosques, Greek churches and Serbo-orthodox churches. The area is also famous for its many long, wide and child-friendly sandy beaches along the northern Adriatic Sea.
The landscape of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
The region primarily consists of beautiful mountains, green hills and plain land. To the North, the pinnacles of the mountains may reach 2000 metres above sea level. A fascinating natural reserve which is certainly worth visiting is Foce dell’Isonzo with varied flora and fauna. In the surroundings of the city of Ampezzo, you will furthermore have the opportunity of exciting natural experiences. To the South on the shores of the Adriatic, you will find a lot of lovely beaches. On certain spots, this area consists of recovered sea which has been changed into fertile farm land.
Large cities in Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Trieste, Aquileia and Udine
Trieste is the largest city of Friuli and is located in the south, and you will find lots of cultural treasures here. For centuries, the city was part of Austria-Hungary, and therefore offers impressive palaces, Roman monuments, picturesque castles, a beautiful cathedral and museums with antique and modern art.
During the Roman Empire, Aquileia had a trading and strategic importance with a population of more than 200,000. Today, there are about 3500 inhabitants in the charming city which is rich in Roman monuments. Some of the main attractions are the Basilika as well as the ruins of Forum and the Roman Mausoleum.
The historical city, Udine, which is located in the middle of the region, is a city with many tourist attractions. Among others, visit the historical castle, Castello di Udine, as well as the churches, Chiesa della Purità and Chiesa di San Francesco.
Tourist attractions in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
There are a lot of attractions in the area where you can feel the presence of history. In the border city, Gorizia, you will find yet another magnificent castle, Castello di Gorizia, as well as a beautiful cathedral.
Near Lignano, you will find a water world as well as a large zoo with more than 2000 animals. Furthermore, the city offers its own amusement park and many good shopping possibilities.
Pordenone is certainly worth a visit, too, for those who are interested in history and architecture. The city is very rich in noble villas, Castello di Torre as well as its churches.
Sports activities in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
In the summer, there are a lot of possibilities for active tourists. Among other things, the area offers trekking and biking tours, climbing, paragliding, windsurfing, yachting and golfing. In the winter, you can experience perfectly snow-covered pistes at all levels of difficulty.
Gastronomic characteristics of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
During recent years, Friuli has made its mark with its wines as well as with the gastronomy. The menus are loaded with fish and shellfish but also with meat, especially venison, including fallow deer, goose, rabbit, pigeon and duck served with berries and often polenta.
A big delicacy is the air-dried hams in Friuli, such as Prosciutto di Cormons and Prosciutto di Sauris. The goat cheeses in the region are particularly popular, and it is a tradition to pickle several of them.
White wine is the speciality of Friuli and is among the best in the world, but they also produce fantastic red wine in the region.
The climate of Friuli-Venezia Giulia
The climate of the region is mild and sunny with daytime temperatures close to 30 degrees in the summer. In the northern mountainous and vigorous areas, there are some periods of rain during the year.
Some of the photos are kindly lent out from the Italian Tourist Office. Photographer: Fototeca ENIT.