Welcome to Friuli Venezia Giulia
With its triple-barrelled moniker, Friuli Venezia Giulia's multifaceted nature should come as no surprise. Cultural complexity is cherished in this small, little-visited region, tucked away on Italy's far northeastern borders with Austria and Slovenia. Friuli Venezia Giulia's landscapes offer profound contrasts too, with the foreboding, perpetually snowy Giulie and Carnic Alps in the north, idyllic grapevine-filled plains in the centre, the south's beaches, Venetian-like lagoons and the curious, craggy karst that encircles Trieste.
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Friuli Venezia Giulia activities
Lake Bled and Ljubljana Tour from Trieste
Ljubljana, the capital and largest city in Slovenia, is the cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative centre of the country. It is renowned for its rich history, which is reflected in the unique architectural heritage. Its old town centre is embraced by Ljubljana Castle and the river Ljubljanica where the feeling of the city is the strongest. On your trip, you will encounter ancient and modern architecture. You will visit the old town center where you will admire the works of the Slovene architect Jože Plečnik, who took an important part in designing the Ljubljana’s most famous bridges, town squares and parks. In a little more than three decades, Jože Plečnik transformed Ljubljana from a provincial city to the capital of the Slovene nation and reshaped the urban part of the city. His influence can be felt everywhere, but mostly along the river Ljubljanica.On your trip, you will visit some of the most interesting buildings and monuments, such as the Ljubljana Town Hall, the Triple Bridge, the Shoemakers’ Bridge, Ljubljana Cathedral, the Robba Fountain, Prešeren Square, Congress Square and other attractions. The symbol of the city is the Ljubljana Dragon. It is depicted on the top of the tower of Ljubljana Castle and on the Ljubljanica - crossing Dragon Bridge. It symbolizes power, courage and greatness.Bled is an Alpine town which represents one of the oldest and most beautiful tourist destinations in Slovenia. Its main attraction is the lake which surrounds Bled Island. The island has several buildings, the main one being the Gothic church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. The church has a make-a-wish bell and is frequently visited by newlyweds and other guests. Lake Bled will certainly leave you speechless since it offers various sport activities and represents a place where you can spend the most romantic moments of your life. On the trip, you will walk around the lake enjoying the fresh alpine air and watching swans and ducks at play. Also, you will admire Bled Castle built on a precipice above the glacial lake which according to written sources is the oldest Slovene castle. At the end, you will pass by some other local monuments and refresh ourselves with a delicious vanilla and custard cream cake called cremeschnitte (kremšnita). You will also have a chance to take some beautiful photos of the lake, island, castle and the nearby Alps.
Flavours of Istria Tasting Experience from Trieste
During our tour we will visit 3 famous Istrian villages where we will taste local liquors, wines, cheeses, truffle products, and marmalades. Hum, the smallest town in the world, is located in the heart of Istria that claims only 20 inhabitants. Your visit to Hum will be like a beautiful fairy tale of small Istrian towns. This hidden, picturesque region of Istria is extremely friendly to all visitors who come to marvel in the sights the town has to offer. According to local legend, Hum was built with the stones left over when giants were building towns in the Mirna River valley, an area in central Istria that includes wonderful mountain towns such as Motovun, Roč, and Bale. Apart from being famous for being the smallest town in the world, Hum recently became popular for biska, a spiced brandy made with mistletoe according to an old Hum recipe. Northern Istria, located high above the Mirna River, is home to arguably the most attractive and famous medieval town in the country – Motovun. This fascinating city that lies on top of a hill is the characteristic symbol for the inner heart of Istria. The bell tower, which was built in the 13th century in a Romanesque-Gothic style, dominates the center of the historic town from its position adjacent to St Stephen’s 17th century parish church. There are many other beautiful historic buildings that surround it. Motovun’s forest is a particularly good hunting ground for truffles, the alleged aphrodisiac fungus which grows underground and is prized for its distinctive aroma. Vineyards surround the town from all sides; Istria’s finest wines are produced from the grapes of these vineyards. The whole region is sprinkled with superb restaurants and “konobe.” Grožnjan is a small Istrian town that holds a great cultural significance not only to Croatia but worldwide. Surrounded by green hills and magical white soil, this town is a must-see for those who want to discover the treasure trove that is Istria. Because of its interesting history, Grožnjan is rich in ancient churches, prehistoric sites, medieval castles, magnificent palaces, and many other historic structures whose past glory was recovered once again through restoration. Its white soil feeds the many neighboring vineyards and olive groves. Because of all this, the area of Grožnjan is ripe with agritourism and many taverns and restaurants offer traditional Istrian cuisine to their guests. Grožnjan is also home to several national and international artists. There are as many as 28 ateliers in this small town; there is also the City Art Gallery which hosts artists’ works from around the world (even the well-known Imaginary Film Academy found its home here). In the summer, all of Grožnjan becomes a stage for world renowned jazz and classical musicians, as well as many of the other artists who have discovered the true joy of creation here.
Discover Trieste on Foot
The guide will take you to the most important highlights of the city, which are the Audace pier, built in the 18th century and originally called the pier of San Carlo and it extends for into the sea. Very famous in Trieste is Piazza Unità d'Italia, which is one of the most unique major markets for its spaciousness, vicinity of the sea and many important buildings, which will take your breath away.At the Stock market you can see the best example of neo-classical arhitecture and hear about trading, then see the Grand Canal, originally the main river canal for the salt pans. In the 19th century the Ponte Rosso or Red bridge was built and the area got known for its rich marketplace, for which is still well known today.At Market of St. Anthony, the guide will explain the cultural and religious diversity of Trieste. A Roman theatre is located below the hill of St. Giusto. The theater was lost under the new buildings and then re-discovered in the early 19th century. Then see the church of St. Mary, which was built by Jesuits and today shows its baroque characteristics.The tour lasts around two hours but may be shortened or extended. Because of the private nature of the tour and the experienced guide, it can be adapted to your interests.
Following in the Footsteps of the First Lady of USA from Trieste
Sevnica, the quiet industrial town on the banks of the Sava River in central Slovenia was Melania's childhood home. The small town combines a rich history, a charming nature and friendly residents. In Sevnica we will walk through the streets of the historic center where Melania spent her youth, we will visit the apartment building where she lived with her family, the elementary school she attended, and the house where she lived with her family afterwards. We will also climb to the historic hilltop of Sevnica Castle, which is the main attraction of Sevnica, and enjoy fine views of the surrounding countryside. In nearby cafés and pastry shops we can try some of the desserts dedicated to the new First Lady, among most popular is a cake named after her.Melania, her parents and sister later moved to Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, where she attended the city's Secondary School of Design and Photography, and studied at the University of Ljubljana. The city is renowned for its rich history, which is reflected in its unique and spectacular architectural heritage. The old town center is embraced by the majestic Ljubljana Castle, sited on top of a hill, and the river Ljubljanica where the feeling of the city is the strongest. During a tour of Ljubljana we will drive by Melania's high school and visit her favorite café - The Horse's Tail – which is located near Tromostovje, a famous triple stone bridge on the river Ljubljanica.
Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle from Trieste
Postojna Cave, the queen of all caves, is the best-known cave in the world. It is also the greatest tourist attraction in Slovenia and one of the world’s largest karst monuments. This is the only place in the world where the underground landscape can be traversed on an electric train and where you get to meet this underground kingdom’s most famous inhabitant – the proteus (olm) – up close. A fantastic web of tunnels, passages, galleries and halls, astonishing diversity of karst features, as well as easy access are certainly the main reasons for such popularity of the cave and a large number of visitors (more than 36 million of them in over 200 years).The Predjama Castle reigns over the surrounding area, not far from the Postojna Cave, in the idyllic village of Predjama. This picturesque, magnificent, defiant, mysterious and impregnable castle has been perched up in the middle of a vertical 123-meter high cliff for more than 800 years. Its romantic appeal is further emphasized by the idyllic Lokva River, which disappears into the underground world deep down below the castle. As the only preserved cave castle in Europe, the Predjama Castle offers a unique insight into the building techniques and resourcefulness of people in the Middle Ages, who were looking for and found a safe harbor for themselves right at the entrance into the cave. During a siege that took place in the 15th century, the castle provided a refuge for its best known and most notorious owner - Erazem of Predjama. The legend about the courageous robber baron Erazem, who remained undefeated until one of his servants betrayed him, is still in people’s minds, inspiring and alluring as ever. It was this safe abode of his which helped the brave knight resist the besiegers without much difficulty for more than a year.
Piran Walking Tour and Panoramic Slovenian Coast from Trieste
Piran is one of the oldest and most beautiful Slovene towns with rich history and culture. Almost 500 years lasting Venetian influence has given this town an inimitable charm. Its culture heritage is not at home only in museums since the architectural and artistic pearls, which decorate the everyday life of the local people, can be found at every corner.Giuseppe Tartini, the world famous composer and violinist, who was born and raised in Piran, had a great impact on the town. Today, his bronze statue adorns the town’s main square together with Tartini’s house where visitors can admire one of his violins. The Tartini Square is surrounded by majestic buildings, such as the richly decorated Municipal Palace, Tartini Theatre, Maritime Museum, Aquarium, Marine Biological Station, Baroque House and Apollonio Palace. On the hill above the town is the biggest and most important church, the Church of Saint George, which offers a wonderful view. Piran’s town wall, narrow streets, fishermen’s nets, compact houses that rise up the slope and beautiful sea will give you the feeling of walking through a painting.On this panoramic trip along the Slovene coast you will also visit the coastal towns of Portorož, Izola and Koper, where a tourist guide will tell you about the main attractions, historical facts and local tradition. Portorož, which literally means 'Port of Roses', is a popular tourist destination with hotels, casinos and beautiful beaches. Nearby are located the Sečovlje natural salt pans where salts are extracted from the pure sea water using interesting traditional methods. On this trip you will also have the chance to admire a typical Istrian village and refresh yourself with local food and wine. At the end, you will visit Izola, which is known for its fishing history, and Koper, an important European port and the largest city of the Slovene Coast. During the trip you will be able to enjoy a splendid view of the sea, with the Alps in the background, and you will have plenty of time to take some wonderful photos.