Pordenone mountains
The great park
The Friulian Dolomites Nature Park, bordered by the Tagliamento and Piave rivers, is the biggest in the region. The Montanaia valley, with its spectacular 300 metre bell tower-like pinnacle, is an ideal area for rambling, hill-walking and mountaineering.
From the peaks to the sea
The views of the typical Dolomite landscape are marvellous, and on a sunny day you can see the Adriatic from the highest peaks. There are deltaplane facilities in Castaldia, where you can launch yourself into the clear blue sky from a height of 1108 metres above sea level.
On the water and in the ground
Canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing can be done on the emerald green waters of Lake Barcis or in Val Tramontina, where there are several mirror-like lakes.
The Green caves of Pradis, with their caves, ravines and limestone gorges are quite unique.
Another spectacular example of erosion is the Cellina Gorge, set in some of the loveliest scenic countryside in the whole of the Alps.
Italy's most beautiful villages
In Val Colvera there are villages such as Frisanco, with its intricate network of alleyways, and Poffabro, listed in the prestigious 'Italy's most beautiful villages' list. There are lovely stone and wood houses and interesting buildings in Erto e Casso, scene of the Vajont disaster in 1963, when part of a mountain slid into a hydroelectric reservoir causing a wave to come over the top of the dam on to two villages. The dynamics are illustrated in an exhibition in the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park visitors' centre.
Knives and boxing
Maniago is famous for its steel craftwork. The skilled knife makers here have been making knives and blades since the fifteenth century, and were arms suppliers to the armies of the Most Serene Republic. Sequals is the birth and burial place of Primo Carnera, the popular 'gentle giant' world heavyweight boxing champion in 1933.
Unique products
These valleys are the home of the pitina, a special kind of sausage made with either game or mutton, diced and mixed with salt, pepper and wild fennel. Also well worth trying is the asino cheese, the classical soft variety of which can be found in Vito d'Asio, Clauzetto and Spilimbergo.
Sport for everybody
In winter Piancavallo is one of the ski area of Friuli Venezia Giulia with its modern downhill and cross-country skiing centres. You can also skate in an ice skating stadium, have fun in the Snow Park of Collalto, between slopes for freestyle and children's playground.
In summer you can choose from horse riding, walls climbing, paths for trekking or mountain biking trails, excursions and walking tours.