JULIAN ALPS and PREALPS – Nature – culture – minorities in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Arrival in VENZONE elected in 2017 the “Borgo più bello d’Italia”. In the afternoon  guided tour  of the historic center and the impressive  defensive system expertly recomposed after the 1976 earthquakes. Possibility to visit the “Tiere Motus” exhibitions in the  Orgnani – Martina  Palace  or the Mummies Museum.

Accommodation in 3-stars hotel  area Carnia/Venzone

Dinner and overnight at the hotel

It is possible to rent a car at airport/railways station, see supplement

Departure for the VAL RESIA. Arrival in PRATO/Ravanca and  morning dedicated to discovering the Visitor Center of the Julian Prealps Natural Park,  one of the two protected areas of the Region which extends over about 10.000 hectares, to discover  the floristic heritage made up of about 1200 species  and subspecies.

At the end is possible from  Lischiazze/Liščaca  to take a short walk along a splendid beech forest up to “Fontanon del Barman”, in the hearth of protected area, and interesting system  of  karst  springs that manifests itself through a waterfall that collects a large part of the water network karst of the pre-alpine chain of  the Musi Mountains.

Lunch in a “trattoria”, a historic restaurant in the valley to discover the flavours of Resian cuisine including the famous Garlic of Resia (Slow Food Presidium)

In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to learn more about the cultural peculiarities of the valley by visiting the Museum of the People of Val Resia and Museum of  Knife Grinder.

The inhabitants of Val Resia, like all Slovenes, derive from the Alpine or Carantani Slavs (a component of the Southern Slavs) who, between 625 and 631 AD, crossing the Alps also settled in these valleys. The main ethnic characteristics handed down are the Resian dialect (one of the most archaic Slovenian dialects), the narrative heritage, dance, music and the Knife Grinder profession.

At the end from  Stolvizza/Solbica a suggestive walk along the valley floor is recommended along the “Ta lipa pot”.  A loop of about 10 km, lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes, with an easy difficulty and a difference in height of 150 m between woods, meadows and wetlands on the banks of the Resia stream that flows along the entire valley and divides the Julian Alps from the Prealps of the same name.

Breakfast, dinner and overnight at the hotel 

Lunch in trattoria (historic restaurant)

Departure along the Canal del Ferro, stop at the Benedictine abbey of San Gallo Abate from the 12th century. Continue along the Val Canale up to CAMPOROSSO/ Žabnice from where with the cable car you go up to Mount Lussari / Svete Višarje with the Marian Sanctuary that can, rightly, be defined European because it is a destination for pilgrims from the three peoples who meet here, characteristic alpine village the gaze sweeps over a large part of the mountains of the Julian Alps. For centuries, in fact, the easternmost peaks of the Alps have been the natural border between the Latin, Germanic and Slavic worlds. Here, even today, the languages ​​of all these populations are spoken and it is a land of encounter and friendship. Free lunch.

In the afternoon, after a walk in the center of TARVISIO / Trbiž, departure for MALBORGHETTO / Naborjet and visit to the Ethnographic Museum of the Venetian Palace.

In the exhibition rooms of the historic building of the late sixteenth century, in addition to understanding the daily life of the past in these valleys and the history of the Palace itself, the proposed setups highlight the main characteristics of the territory, with particular reference to the languages ​​spoken, to the mining activities , the forest, geology, paleontology and prehistory.

Breakfast, dinner and overnight at the hotel

Departure for GEMONA del FRIULI, lying on the slopes of the Julian Pre-Alps, a symbol of the tenacious character of the Friulian population, after being the epicenter of the devastating 1976 earthquake, it has become an example of reconstruction. Time available for a free visit of its historic center with the Cathedral, the Town Hall and the Castle.

At the end tasting lunch with typical products of its territory

Breakfast at the hotel 

Lunch tasting with typical products in Gemona del Friuli

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