Technical data:
- Start point: Opicina Obelisk (tram stop)
- Arrival point: Aurisina
- Difference in height: 160mt
- Maximum elevation: 353mt
- Minimum elevation: 117mt
- Length: 17Km
- Estimated travel time: 4 hours, 30 minutes (outward)
- Cartography: Tabacco chart 1:25000 sheet #047 - Carso Isontino and Triestino
- Difficulty: touristic
Description:
The route starts from the Opicina Obelisk, which you can also reach with the historical tram that climbs up the plateau since the start of ‘900s
Proceed along the panoramic Vicentina road (better known as Napoleonic), which leads to Prosecco while offering splendid views on the town and the Gulf. The last stretch of the road, which was built at the start of the ‘800s to be the town’s new post road, shows its overhanging sides, partially created with the hard work and sacrifice of the men back then, and that today make for an ideal climbing gym.
Slightly above, with a short detour, you’ll reach the first of the three lookout posts (Italia lookout) that you will meet along the route.
After getting back to the track, proceed along a short stretch of asphalt road between Prosecco and Contovello. The latter, in particular, is an ancient Carsic hamlet of fishermen, high over the sea in a dominant position.
The route, still bound nort-west, arrives to a lay-by where a monument to the fallen of the Resistance is located. Proceed along a wide carriageway until a widening, where the trail runs at first into the San Primo wood, made largely of the pine groves planted by the Austrian at the end of the ‘800s. At a later stage, the trail runs through a thin wood alternated to “grize” and karstificated outcrops along the ridge. Arrive this way to Slataper outlook, another exceptional itinerary view-point.
Following the roadmarks, arrive to Santa Croce. Before delving into the Carsic hamlet, which preserves the essential characteristics of the built-up area’s ancient structure, you’ll walk into the ancient San Rocco small church. It still preserves the stone slabs shingle, just like the other ancient buildings in the hamlet.
Paying attention not to miss the roadmarks inside the built-up area, proceed toward Aurisina. Follow the ridge into a pine grove, before reaching the ancient lifting tower (Liburnia) of the ancient Trieste aqueduct (Filtri d’Aurisina). From here, the route runs through splendid karstificated outcrops with “grize” exposed to the south: They contain the various species of the Mediterranean vegetation, among them the sage, which gives the name to this panoramic stretch of the route.
After arriving to the crossroads with Fishermen Trail (ancient Aurisina-Canovella degli Zoppoli harbor connection), hike down a short stretch, passing through a bridge over the railroad.
After a short hike (common to both trails), the itinerary (CAI 1) separates to the right and follows the ridge among the Mediterranean brush, the karstificated outcrops and the ancient waste deposits of the nearby quarries. It eventually arrives to Weiss outlook, dedicated to the young Trieste Alpino woman fallen in 1978 on the Pale di San Marino.
From the outlook you can enjoy a spectacular view on the nearby Duino crags, on the Sistiana Bay and over on the Isonzo estuary and on the Lagoon. The route runs down from the ridge to the railroad; after crossing it in correspondence of a subway, you can admire the bimillennial stone quarries of the Aurisina basin in their imposingness.
In particular, the dirt road that divides the “Roman Quarry” allows to observe the sequence of the historical cuts along sides that are over 80mt tall.
Shortly later you’ll arrive to the Town Hall square. Here you can take line 44 to reach the city.
