A True Italian Experience

Friuli Giulia Venezia (plus Venice or wine country!)

This trip is 6 days of a guided tour in Friuli Giulia Venezia followed by 4 days of either:

a vacation package in Venice

OR

a Wine Tasting tour/holiday in Dolegna del Collio wine country!

With mostly flat land and cycling paths, this trip can be an excellent BIKE TOUR!

Itinerary

Day 1: GRADO ISLAND

Airport pick-up and transport to accommodation in the historical town center of Grado, an Island resort town with a lovely port, white sandy beaches, and thermal bath spas. While your bags are being arranged in your rooms, we will briefly tour the island and finish with a complimentary welcome lunch. In the evening you will be free to rest up, to explore and to dine on your own.

Grado is a town in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, located on a peninsula of the Adriatic Sea between Venice and Trieste. Commonly known as L’isola del Sole (“The Sunny Island”) this town, once a fishing center and now a popular tourist destination, is famous not only for its spas, but also because it is located in the center of a lagoon of uncontaminated nature.
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.Day 2: CASTELLO del MIRAMARE and TRIESTE

The day will begin with a visit to the Castle of Miramare where Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg (later to become Emperor of Mexico) lived in the mid- to late- 1800s. The castle was designed by the Archduke himself to ‘feel’ like a ship; and the fact that it sits right on the Adriatic sea helps it to achieve its goal in all its splendor. The interior furniture and decorations are genuine period pieces. The extensive park is located on the seashore and was also designed by the Archduke. (a 2 hr ferry ride is also available from Grado Island to the Trieste port)

From the castle you can see Trieste where we will stop next (just minutes away).

Trieste is a port town featuring an immense piazza (town square) which looks out onto the sea and is the main attraction of the town. Why go to Trieste? For its Roman theatre? Because it was popular with the famous writers Italo Svevo, Vladamir Bartol, and James Joyce? No, silly. One goes to Trieste for the coffee, of course. Even if you don’t like coffee, it is to try and delight in here in Trieste where the coffee itself can serve as your dessert!

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Bikers: Grado to Trieste port – 2 hrs in ferry, then from port to Trieste – 15 mins

Trieste to Miramare Castle – 8.5kms / 35 mins

Day 3: AQUILEIA
The small and quiet but well known village of Aquileia lies in the plain of Friuli not far from the lagoon of Grado. It is surrounded by the greenery of the countryside which is reflected in the clear waters of the river Natissa. On its western bank, in 2nd century AD, the Romans built the town-fortress that became one of the most famous towns of the Empire, not only for its military, prowess and its economic wealth, but also for its cultural and spiritual magnificence. The archaeological remains easily found every where, bear witness of its illustrious past. The Roman forum was the lively centre of city life with its offices, temples, shops, porches and monuments. In the heart of the town the medieval Basilica, with its severe Romanesque – Gothic lines, next to a more modern steeple, in which the oldest and most illustrious memoirs of the Christian religion are preserved. Inside the medieval church you can admire the medieval mosaic floor which replicates exactly that of the Romans who had their church in the same place centuries before (the original Roman floor can be seen underneath the medieval church)! The town also has a pasticeria (pastry shop) which is out of this world – a stop for coffee and sweets is a must! Aquileia is also accessible by a bicycle path.

Bikers: Grado to Aquileia – 12 kms / 49 mins

Day 4: PALMANOVA (day of choice: biking or shopping or sipping wine with the locals)

This star-shaped town was constructed by Napolean during the war and served as a hideaway for his military camp (still today, some military bases remain in the outskirts of the town); it was a hideaway because the town can not be seen from outside of its walls as it sits low with much greenery all the way around. For this reason a walk or a bike ride around the town is quite pleasant for s/he who would like to take the 35-minute spin around. However the town is perhaps most famous for the locals (mostly elderly) who sip wine at the many wine bars all around the town and for its grand piazza in the center of the star which always remains empty because everyone is at the surrounding bars – they are happy if you join them! Just outside the town are the Italian outlet shops that we can stop at as well (I will poll the group to see who’s interested). We will finish with a lovely dinner also just outside of town where you can try the famous Friulian Frico (Frico is a mashed-potato pan cake surrounded by an outer layer of crisp, pan-fried Montasio cheese)…mmmmmmm…. And where you can drink the wine of the restaurant’s very own winery! (You can order wine tastings with your dinner as well!)

Bikers: Grado to Palmanova – 28 kms / 2 hrs – Beginners and holiday goers may opt for the private transport to Palmanova and you can pick up your bike rental in Palmanova and take a spin around the ’star’!

Day 5: GRADO – Isola di Barbana

The Isola di Barbana is the small island with a church on it that you will doubtless have seen across the lagoon. The church – a Sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna – is a popular pilgrimage destination. Once a year, on the first Sunday in July, there is a religous festival on the lagoon when a procession of decorated boats heads across to the Isola di Barbana for a mass to celebrate Grado’s relief from a thirteenth-century outbreak of plague. The event is called the Perdon de Barbana.

In the morning we will take a boat ride to a sanctuary and then I will leave you on your own to enjoy your last day in this island town – Grado is just too lovely to not spend a full day either on the lido (beach) or strolling around town. Your beach chairs are included in your accommodation so you can relax Italian style! We will meet in the evening for your complimentary farewell dinner!

Days 6 – 10:

Option – Venice

Option – Dolegna del Collio – wine tasting (bike tour available)

OPTION VENICE

Day 6: VENICE transport to the ferry taxi

After a leisurely breakfast we will depart for Venice at around 10:30am. We will put you on your ferry that will take you directly to the canal entrance of your hotel in Venice where you will be greeted and well cared for at a 4-star canal-side hotel with Venetian glass chandeliers and a huge breakfast buffet right on the canal.

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Day 7: MURANO (glass island) – recommended

I will arrange with your hotel to take you to MURANO in the morning. Please let me know on day 6 if you plan to go. Murano is the Venetian island of the famous Murano-blown glass. A private boat will take you to visit one of the most famous of the glassmakers for a tour to see how the glass is made and for shopping, naturally. This factory can make whatever you’d like. For example you may like one style of a chandelier or wine glass, but the color of another – tutto bene (all is ok) because you can order exactly what you’d like and they will ship it to you.

Day 8: BURANO (lace island of colored houses) – recommended

I will arrange with your hotel to take you to BURANO in the morning. Please let me know on day 6 if you plan to go. Burano is the Venetian island famous for both its handmade, intricately designed lace and for its darling candy-colored houses. Bring your cameras and stay for lunch.

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Day 9: VENICE – enjoy your last day roaming around Venice. If you didn’t already see them on your first three days, sites to explore include: the Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal, the Basilica of San Marco and Roge’s Palace in San Marco’s Square, the Peggy Guggenheim gallery for modern art and the Accademia gallery for 14c to18c Venetian art. But the best part about Venice is simply wandering around and letting yourself get lost strolling over the many little bridges and canal ways – don’t worry about getting lost (it’s part of the fun) because there is a ferry stop right next to your hotel, so when you are ready to go back just hop on ferry it will take you right ‘home’.

Day 10: Departure. Your hotel will have your boat taxi ready to take you to the Venice airport. Arrivederci!

OR

OPTION DOLEGNA DEL COLLIO – WINE TASTING

(with BIKE TOUR on request)

For the next few days, your home base will be at a villa in Dolegna del Collio, with daily excursions from here. On our way from Grado, we will stop at Udine before settling in Collio (bikers will stay overnight in Collio before settling in Collio).

Day 6: UDINE

Udine is the historical capital of Friuli and it is where the Far East Film Festival takes place every April.  It also has a university and so it is quite active with lots to see and do. In the principal square (Piazza della Libertà) stands the town hall (Loggia del Lionello) built in 1448-1457 in the Venetian-Gothic style opposite a clock tower (Torre dell’Orologio) resembling that of the Piazza San Marco at Venice. And like St. Mark’s Square in Venice, it is a fun place to just hang out and people watch while enjoying something to drink. The center of Udine is dominated by the Castle, built by the Venetians from 1517 over a Lombard fortification that had been ruined by an earthquake in 1511. The castle houses one of the most ancient Parliament Halls of Europe, and it hosts different events throughout the year.

Bikers: from Grado to Udine – 48kms / 3.5 hrs – Beginners and holiday goers are recommended to arrive in our private van and rent a new bike when we arrive in wine country this same day. Serious bikers will stay overnight in Udine and take off for Collio in the morning! (24kms / 1.4 hrs)

Day 7: DOLEGNA DEL COLLIO (wine country)

Collio is the wine country of Friuli Giulia Venezia and it wins hands down for the most aromatic wines in all of Italy. It is most famous for the white wine called Friuliano (formerly called Tocai), but it also has some of my very favorite reds such as Refosco and Schioppettino, literally bursting with flavors that truly delight the palate! If the wines don’t interest you, intoxicate yourself instead with the views of the beautiful countryside and rolling hills of vineyards with the Alps in the background – it’s really a lovely drive!

Day 8: CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI

This little town is bursting with splendor, antiquity, history, and charm. A visit may include: an 18th century palace, a 12th century castle, a underground Roman prison, and the mysterious Devil’s bridge.

Bikers: from Collio – 8.5kms / 37 mins

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Day 9 GORIZIA

On your last day, walk, bike, or have private transport around the wine country with wine tasting in a few select vineyards.

In the afternoon we will take the private transport to Gorizia where we will enjoy a brief visit and a special farewell meal and wine tasting right in the castle!

Bikers: from Collio – 22kms / 1.35 hrs – Beginners and holiday goers will arrive in our pirvate transport. Serious bikers will stay overnight in Gorzia and depart for the airport from here.

Day 10: Private transport to the airport.  Arrivederci! which means: to see you again! Smiles.

Prices

- with Venice: euro 2920 per person based on double occupancy

- with Wine Country (guided): euro 2920 per person based on double occupancy

Included:
• airport pick-up and drop-off in Venice airport (or Milan) in private mini-van with A/C, snacks and spirits!
• 9 nights accommodation
• daily guided tours explaining the art and history along the way
• all tickets and entrance fees
• boat ride in Grado
• boat ride to Capri
• 2 full-course meals (welcome and goodbye)
• ‘un bel divertamento’ (lots of fun!)
• special Marena treats!
• A True Italian Experience

Not included:
• airline ticket (but Marena will help you to find a good ticket)
• meals not mentioned above
• gratuities
• insurance (see website for insurance link)

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