Friuli – based in two hotels

On the first day you have the option of choosing between a shorter and a slightly longer round trip tour. The shorter tour takes you to Prepotto (Prapotno in Slovenian), a small picturesque town with winding alleys and old houses in the province of Udine. The longer route takes you to the university town of Udine. Here, too, the cathedral and the Loggia del Lionello on the ground floor of the town hall invite you to visit.

This day takes you across the border to Slovenia and to Brda, meeting point of three cultures (Slavic, Romanic and Germanic). The Brda is well known mainly because of the winegrowing but also for its castles and white churches which are situated mostly on hills.

The Gorizia Hills (Collio in Italian) became well known due to its good wine, but it offers a lot for history lovers too. Today you cycle to the castles of the Collio, among which you can discover the castle Rocca Bernarda. This castle was a fief of the patriarchy of Aquileia and had been given as a present to the city of Cividale. This city left it to the Roman family Capiferro in the 15th century. Afterwards it was sold several times to different owners and finally to the family Perusini. The beautiful castle in the style of the 16th century is situated in the midst of extensive parks, on a hill surrounded by vineyards. Thanks to the dedication and the competence of Gaetano Perusini the cultivation of the “Picolit” grapes started, which have gained worldwide renown over the years.

Today you leave Cividale del Friuli and cycle to Cormons, the cultural and economic center of the Gorizia Hills (Collio). The main square of Cormons invites you to take a break and enjoy a glass of wine. Continue to Gradisca, a little village near the Slovenian border. Here we recommend to visit the Palazzo dei Provveditori in the old town with its Enoteca Regionale, where you should let the day fade away while enjoying the fine local wine. Overnight stay in Gradisca d’Isonzo.

This bicycle journey takes you to the formerly biggest city of the Roman Empire. Today the remnants of this settlement are still to be seen. Discover the secrets of the Roman city of Aquileia, the so-called “Second Rome”; Roman ruined cities, ancient churches. It is worth visiting the Aquileia Cathedral, which interior has a mosaic pavement from the 4th century.

On the last day of the cycle holiday there will await you Trieste, the former Habsburg city. On the first part of the route, following a breathtaking coastal, the Karst Plateau accompanies you along the Adriatic Sea. Before you enter in the old seaport and commercial town of Trieste, the Castle of Miramare invites you for a visit. By train you return to Gradisca.