Toprecommended route
The eastern hills of Friuli are the bucolic backdrop for this bicycle touring route: a route through vineyards, wineries, ancient abbeys and food and wine specialties.
Food & wine
Ribolla Gialla is a white grape variety that gives a fresh and mineral wine, to be tried still, sparkling or even in the macerated version. A must stop at the osteria to taste brovada and muset: a typical dish made with Brovada DOP, turnips fermented in marc, and muset, the Friulian cotechino made from the lean cuts of the pig's snout, from which it takes its name. RECOMMENDED DISH: Crostino with muset
Itinerary
The route runs through the hills of eastern Friuli. A relaxing ride that offers panoramic views of vineyards and part of the Friuli plain. Along the way you will encounter pleasant places to rest and make a cultural stop: you can admire the ancient Abbey of Rosazzo and in Buttrio the Villa Toppo Florio with its archeo-botanical park; the villa houses the new museum of Friuli Venezia Giulia's wine civilization. Finally, you arrive at Rocca Bernarda, a 16th-century fortified residence, now home to a winery.
You can start cycling from various locations that can be reached by train (Buttrio, Manzano and San Giovanni al Natisone).
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
The hilly route is almost all on paved secondary roads with little traffic. The route is doable year-round.
From Noax to Rocca Bernarda there is a short section with a 24% gradient.
Public-transport-friendly
Regional trains (Trenitalia) can carry bicycles along the Trieste - Udine - Venice route.
The MICOTRA train is a special international and intermodal convoy between Udine and Villach (A) with a stop in Gemona del Friuli and can carry more than 70 bicycles in special cars. It makes two daily round trips and in summer extends its run to Gorizia and Trieste.
A23 highway-Palmanova-Udine-Tarvisio-exit Udine Sud and follow signs for Buttrio/Manzano.
From Gorizia SR56
Near the railway stations.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
