Trieste- un viaggio tra storia, natura e sapori

Trieste Udine and Ljubljana. Tour from Friuli to Slovenia. An intense journey into a mosaic of natural and cultural environments between two neighboring countries. A 6 day tour that includes a route with 3 stops starting from Udine and arriving in Ljubljana. The three cities symbols of Italian and Slovenian excellence. The Tour starts from Udine in Piazza Libertà, called “the most beautiful Venetian square on the mainland”, is the town of Giambattista Tiepolo that here reached its artistic maturity. An extraordinary visit awaits you at Cividale one of the most fascinating cities of Friuli. Castled on the banks of the Natisone River, marked and enriched by the passage of the Longobards and Franks. Here you will discover the walls in Roman times in the Canussio Castle, an extension of about 60 meters. After enjoying the tastes of local produce and wines, you can enjoy a stroll in the most beautiful village in Italy of 2017 Venzone, a living room in the medieval walls, the only example of a fortified town of the 1200 in Friuli Venezia Giulia and guardian of the famous mummies of Friuli. The stop at San Daniele del Friuli, a town rich in history and art, will make you a trip back in time and you will discover the unique goodness of tasting the ham of San Daniele on site with guided tour of one of the best ham factory of the area. After the visit to Palmanova, the nine-pointed star fortress “National Monument”, continues to Aquileia, a precious treasure chest of art and history, one of the largest and richest cities in the Roman Empire since 1998 heritage of UNESCO, where you will visit one of the most prestigious wine cellars in the region with the story of wine history in Roman times. Finally tasting local wines and typical products. Grado, a place full of surprises, joined to the mainland by a thin strip of land, which can remember the territory of Venice. Visited the lagoon by sea. You arrive in Trieste from the coast suspended between the Rocks of the Karst and the blue sea, with breathtaking views over the Gulf of Trieste. Trieste, you will discover history, monuments, squares and natural beauties. You will be affected by the beauty of Miramare Castle and the story of the troubled love story of Massimiliano and Carlotta. One of the wonders of the world is the Postumia Caves, the most extensive cavern of the Karst, a cobwebs and tunnels stretching over 21 km. Last stop is Ljubljana, in slovenian language “Ljubljana” means “beloved”, fascinating capital of one of the most small nations of Europe, elected Green Capital of Europe in 2016. The city crossed by the river and framed by the Alps is a wonderful mix of ancient and modern.

Three Cities Two Countries A Unique Experience!

Route: Udine-Cividale-Venzone-San Daniele of Friuli-Palmanova-Aquileia-Grado-Trieste-Cave of Postumia-Ljubljana

Languages: Italian, English and German

Price:

from € 640

The fee includes:

Accommodation in Hotels 3 stars / HB
guided tours
tasting of wines and local produce
entrance tickets-boat-funicular-caves
transport

The fee does not include:

tourist guide
services not included under “The fee includes”

routes and services are customizable on request.

PROGRAM

First day: Udine

Udine guided city tour. Aquileia Gate, with its characteristic Ghibellina crenellation, Church of the Blessed Virgin of Carmine of the sixteenth century, the streets framed by arches overlooking elegant buildings, you will admire the imposingness of Duomo, which holds some masterpieces of Tiepolo and Piazza San Giacomo , the animated "living room" of the city. You will be impressed by the charm of Piazza Libertà, surrounded by the Loggia del Lionello (1448), in splendid Venetian Gothic style, from the Loggia di San Giovanni and from the Clock Tower, a 16th century structure by Giovanni da Udine, Raffaello pupil. You will climb to the hill where the castle boasts the name of being one of the oldest castles in Europe dominating the whole city.

Second Day: Cividale, Venzone and San Daniele

Departing from Udine, you will arrive at Cividale, site of UNESCO in 2011, the site of the first longobard duchy in Italy. Discovering the city with the guide through the Natisone River on the Devil's Bridge, from the heart of the historic center to the wonderful Longobard Temple. Visit to Canussio Castle, important for the historical reconstruction of the entire Roman wall circuit of Forum Iulii. After the tasting of local products and wines leaving for Venzone, since 1965 the National Monument to be the only fortified 14th century village of the region, visit the town and the 5 of the 40 mummies discovered in Venzone for centuries. Last visit to the town of San Daniele del Friuli, known internationally for the production of an inimitable ham that you will enjoy along with the visit of one of the prestigious ham factory of the area. You will discover the most beautiful Renaissance frescoes of Friuli in the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate. Return to Udine, dinner and overnight.

Third day: Palmanova, Aquileia and Grado.

Departing from Udine, you will arrive at Palmanova, a fortress town designed to defend the regional boundaries, one in a kind, a perfectly symmetrical star with nine tips and a central hexagonal square from which six radial roads leave. After Palmanova the route continues to Aquileia, the historic capital of Friuli and the largest archaeological center in northern Italy. From the Basilica Square, take the guided tour of the Basilical Complex and the Archaeological Areas. On the road between Aquileia and Grado, there is a guided tour of one of the most prestigious wineries in the area with the story of wine history in Roman times. After the tasting of local wines and typical products, the journey continues to Grado, where you can enjoy a sea-going walk through the lagoon and the casoni, typical of the straw roof, once inhabited by fishermen. Arrival in Trieste, dinner and overnight.

Fourth day: Trieste

Trieste: guided tour from the city center in Piazza Unità d'Italia, the largest square in Europe overlooking the sea, to the Castle of San Giusto, the symbol of the city, situated on the summit of the homonymous hill that from its origins , the middle of the Bronze Age, dominates the territory. A tour between the streets of the old town, the monuments and the most fascinating places in the city. Tasting of local produce and wines in a characteristic tavern of the city. In the afternoon, arrive at the Miramare Castle by the sea, admiring the coast and the gulf. Guided tour of the Castle of Miramare, residence of Maximilian of Habsburg and his wife Carlotta of Belgium and the story of their extraordinary and troubled love story. Return to the city through the promenade of Barcola and the Lighthouse of Victory. Dinner and overnight stay.

Fifth day: Postumia caves

Free morning in Trieste. Afternoon arrival at Postumia Caves, one of the most famous caves in the world. The complex explored today has over 20 km of galleries alternating with majestic salt rooms, with an extraordinary show of stalactites and stalagmites that form real limestone sculptures that are able to arouse continual amazement. An underground train will take you to the heart of the caves for 2 km and a comfortable walking path of less than an hour will take you through the wonders of the karst cavity. You will discover the proteo, an albino fish that lives only in the karst caves. Arrival in Ljubljana. Dinner and overnight stay.

Sixth day: Ljubljana

The tour ends in beautiful Ljubljana. Driving along the city center streets and by boat along the banks of the river Ljubljanica, where elegant Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings characterize the city. With the funicular on the top of the hill Grajska Planota you will visit the medieval castle of Ljubljana, symbol of the Slovenian capital, and here you will have a breathtaking view of the whole city and the Julian Alps. Departure for return.