Friuli: a trip in a marvellous nature

A trip in the Friuli Dolomites, a land rich of history and culture plunged in a marvellous nature. It offers not only the well known ski slopes, but also architectural routes, mountain excursions and detours in Carnia looking for dainty dishes.

There's a place where sport and culture, nature and traditions sublimely meet. We are in the Italian North-East, where the Padana Plain turns first into hills and then into mountains, up until the marvellous Dolomites, for sure among the most beautiful mountains in the world. Friuli is one of the Italian regions more tied to its traditions, so much that it adopted biligualism (Italian and Friuli language). We will go through the Friuli Dolomites, in the Pordenone province, and then through the bordering Carnia region leaving from the plain: Salice (16 Km from Pordenone, on the border with Treviso) was called "The Garden of Serenissima" because of the Venetian character of its streets with arcades and of the noble palaces on the Livenza river. It is popular for the "Sagra dei Osei" (Birds Feast), taking place since 1274 on the first Sunday after August Holiday (15th August); it includes the "chiocciolatori" competition, an exhibition of singing birds.

Search last minute: golf vacations, destination imagination, last minute flights

In a fairy nature, Cimolais (8 km from Claut) is the heart of the Natural Park of Friuli Dolomites, an unspoiled oasis of great interest for flora and fauna characterized by narrow and long valleys. Dinosaurs traces have recently been detected here, what improved the interest for this hard and wild land. But the whole Cimoliana Valley presents zones of great natural beauty: Montanaia Valley with its Campanile (2.173 m.) training area for alpinists from all bordering regions, its Duranno (2.668 m.), its Cima dei Preti (2.706 m.) and the Pramaggiore Mount (2.478 m.).

Search last minute: disney vacations, travel package, travel services

Reaching the Carnia region, we visit Sauris where a medieval dialect of German origins is spoken. The village includes Sauris di Sopra (Upper Sauris) and Sauris di Sotto (Lower Sauris), here you must see its lake hiding a flooded village and taste its flavored traditional ham. It is the most isolated village in Friuli but there you can breath a dry, bracing, balsamic air. Thanks to this magic microclimate here are made the best Italian hams and speaks: the secret lays in an extremely slow smoking process at low temperature in faggots of beech, pine and juniper berries.

Le Dolomiti: sci, neve, montagne

---