7 days / 6 nights

Fly and drive: Friuli immersion

DAY 1

PORDENONE AND THE CHOCOLATE TASTING

Arrival at the hotel and visit of Pordenone, with its characteristic archways (porticoes) along the central main street today Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Corso Garibaldi with the Dome and its bell tower, the Palazzo Municipale and Palazzo Ricchieri (wich is the seat of the Art Museum). During this walking tour through the historic town centre, a little stop in historical chocolate to taste their superb chocolate sweets. Dinner in a typical local restaurant where it will be possible to taste a variety of cheese and the famous Prosciutto di San Daniele. Overnight.

DAY 2

CORDOVADO, SESTO AL REGHENA, VALVASONE AND THE WINE TASTING

After breakfast visit of the medieval old village of Cordovado, with its castle, the ancient S. Andrea parish church area, the 1600’s Sanctuary of the Madonna and the convent of the Dominican fathers. The tour will continue with the visit of Sesto al Reghena that is associated with the magnificent Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria in Sylvis, dating back to the 7th century. The trip will continue with the visit of the beautiful local winery and a light dinner, with wine tasting of some good wines from the Friuli region. In the afternoon departure to the medieval village of Valvasone, a small town that lies on the right side of the Tagliamento river, rich in historical memories like the Medieval Castle the square in renaissance style, the antique XV cent. Water mill with the wheel, its ancient centre, the medieval and renaissance buildings. Return to the hotel and dinner in a typical restaurant. Overnight.

DAY 3

SPILIMBERGO, POFABBRO, MANIAGO AND THE ARTS

After breakfast excursion to Spilimbergo, known throughout the world for its decorative mosaics and its prestigious Mosaic School of Friuli, an institution unique in the world founded in 1922. Today it teaches the use of Roman, Byzantine and modern mosaic techniques and it researches and experiments aesthetic and functional solutions applied to contemporary times. Will visit the school but also its suggestive historical centre and a castle where the spectacular Palazzo Dipinto stands out. Lunch in a typical restaurant. In the afternoon departure to Pofabbro a very particular village where the architectural buildings in Pofabbro were built without plans and with suggestive stone walls and wooden balconies. On the way back a stop in Maniago, known for its knife production.  After visiting the Museo dell’Arte Fabbrile e Delle Coltellerie, that gathers information about the steel manufacture of the factories in the area, a chance to stop and do some shopping. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 4

CIVIDALE AND THE COLLI ORIENTALI DEL FRIULI (EASTERN HILLS OF FRIULI)

After breakfast departure to Cividale, in the heart of the Colli Orientali del Friuli. Guided tour of Cividale, founded by Giulio Cesare under the name of Forum Iulii, in 568 BC, this little village became the seat of the first Lombard duchy in Italy and then the residence of the patriarchs of Aquileia for several centuries. Today, Cividale still holds significant clues about the history of the Longobard period, such as the Tempietto (Little Temple), one of the most extraordinary and mysterious pieces of architecture of the western early Medieval period. This historic and artistic place was recognised by UNESCO in 2011.
After a shot walking departure for a renowned winery in the Collio area, tasting the famous Picolit and other fine white wines. The Friulian wine is an excellence of the territory and is the result of a tradition that goes back to the time of the Roman Empire. Fine wines and 8 D.O.C. awarded zones, rich in both native and European vines: robust and intense reds and fruity and scented whites, worldwide recognized and rewarded. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 5

GRADO AND AQUILEIA WITH SEAFOOD LUNCH

After breakfast departure to Grado, a beautiful historical small town on the sea. Walking tour in the historical centre, the churches and their mosaics and the square with Roman ruins. Seafood lunch in a typical restaurant. In the afternoon departure for Aquileia, a very important city of the Roman Empire and then the main centre for the diffusion of Christianity in Northern and Eastern Europe. It has been a UNESCO site since 1998 due to the importance of its archaeological area and the beauty of the floor mosaics that it safeguards in the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, which make Aquileia a kind of the capital of the Western Roman mosaic. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 6

TRIESTE

After breakfast departure for Trieste, the most international city in the region, suspended between a glorious past of "Little Vienna on the Sea" and the present cosmopolitan city. Guided tour of the historical centre, Piazza Unità and Palazzo Stratti with its antique Caffè degli Specchi; the beautiful neoclassical palaces of Borgo Teresiano, very important during the Asburg time; the Roman ruins; the Synagogue and the Orthodox churches. Trieste is also well known like Coffee producer since the eighteenth century. Its port is the most important in the Mediterranean for the trade of coffee: the beans that arrive here are not only intended for local coffee roasters but also for those all around the world. For this reason in Trieste coffee also became in rhythm with literature: many and beautiful are the literary cafes, which are historical premises with retro charm, frequented by poets and writers such as James Joyce, Italo Svevo, and Umberto Saba. Taking a coffee break in one of the historical cafes of Trieste is a real ritual that is not to be missed. Meeting in the evening to move to the Carso Triestino for dinner in an “osmiza” (typical tavern) where we will have a taste of local wines, cold cuts and cheeses. Overnight.

DAY 7

THE MIRAMARE CASTLE AND THE GROTTA GIGANTE WITH WINE TASTING

After breakfast departure for the Carso Triestino and the famous Grotta Gigante (Giant Cave); escorted entrance with a specialized guide, the tour is about 1hr long. At about 80 m. Depth there is the most massive part of the cave, a spectacular natural room about 100 m. High, 170 m. Long and 75 m. Wide. The deepest point the tour will reach is at 101,10 m. from the entrance. The tour guide will show you an underground world and will explain the secrets of the karstic cavities formation and their evolution with the stalagmites, stalactites and the calcareous flow.  Light lunch in a typical tavern embedded in the karst rocks and a taste of typical wines. In the afternoon departure to the “Miramare Caste” the romantic castle of Maximilian and Charlotte of Hapsburg building directly on the sea. Return.

PARTICIPATION FEE- MIN. 10 PERSONS:
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FEE:
DISCOUNT FOR TRIPLE OR QUADRUPLE BEDROOM ON REQUEST

Price includes:

  • 3 nights accommodation in a 3-star charming hotel, bed and breakfast;
  • Wine tasting as the program
  • Two nights accommodation in a hotel on the Collio;
  • 1-night accommodation in a hotel in Trieste;
  • 3 nights accommodation, bed and breakfast, in a 3-star hotel;
  • Meals as on the program;
  • Light buffet dinner and wine tasting as the program;
  • Train ticket to Venice;

Price does not include:

  • Tips and personal extra expenses;
  • Everything not specified in “Price includes”.
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