Starting point of this hiking holiday is Cividale del Friuli. The long- distance hike path Alpe Adria Trail starts in Carinthia and runs through Slovenia to Friuli Venezia Giulia; therefore it is a meeting point of three cultures. The tour offers both culturally and naturally enormous variety: starting with the place of pilgrimage of Castelmonte through Cormons, karst and Brda until the end of this stage in Trieste, a former Habsburg city.

Characteristics of the route

The hiking track runs along existing paths which are connected with each other. In addition, the hiking holiday offers an adequate quality of the hike paths and takes not place in alpine terrain; no knowledge of climbing is required.
The tour is suitable for children from the age of 14.

Highlights and places of interest along the route

Cividale and its devil’s bridge
The church of pilgrimage of Castelmonte
Smartno with its picturesque historic center
Duino with its castle
Trieste, the former Habsburg city

Day 1: Arrival in Cividale

Individual arrival at the hotel in Cividale.

Day 2: Cividale - Prepotto; ascent approx. 550 m / descent approx. 575 m / approx. 7-8 hours

Alternative: ascent approx. 150 m, descent approx. 170 m / approx. 6-7 hours

The path of the Langobard town takes us to Castelmonte, the oldest sanctuary in the region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, even one of the oldest Christian sanctuaries. Enjoy the breath-taking view over the plain of Friuli and the Slovenian Brda. The day will end with a good glass of vine in Prepotto.

Day 3: Prepotto – Smartno; ascent: approx. 625 m / descent: approx. 475 m / approx. 5 hours

Today’s route takes you along the Italian-Slovenian border, passes vine landscapes of the Collio and numerous churches. Today you will walk to Smartno, a small residential area in the township of Brda. Your gaze will wander from the Carnic Alps over the wide Friaul (Friuli) to the Adria

Day 4: Smartno – Cormons; ascent approx. 350 m / descent: approx. 530 m / approx. 4-5 hours

You leave Brda, meeting-point of three cultures (Slavic, Romanic and Germanic) and return to the “Friulian” Collio. Surrounded by grape vine plants of the famous DOC vines, as well as old and autochthonous grape variety which play ever more a role in recent years, you reach Cormons with its Habsburg flair. This small town is nowadays the cultural centre of the Collio. Indulge yourself in a taste of good wine in the Enoteca directly on the main square.

Day 5: Cormons –Gradisca; ascent: approx. 100 m in altitude / descent: approx. 125 m / approx. 5 hours

Today you hike through the hilly landscape of the “Görzer Collio” with its vineyards to Gradisca. The name Gradisca has Slavic roots and means “settled place”. Under Venetian rule it was built into a fortress against the Turkish threat from East in the end of the 15th century. Also Leonardo da Vinci co-operated in the different expansion works. Still today the city is dominated by its mighty fort.
During Austrian ruling the fort was used as prison. In the historic centre you will find the “Enoteca Regionale” (regional wine-store) in the Palazzo dei Provveditori (15th century), known as LA SERENISSIMA. There it is possible to taste different wines of the region and to buy them.
Further objects of interest are remainders of the mighty town walls.

Day 6: Gradisca – Duino/Sistiana; ascent: approx. 400 m in altitude / descent: approx. 410 m/ approx. 6 hours

You leave Gradisca and the plain of the Isonzo territory and after a short transfer you will hike through the barren karst, which is characterized by many traces of the First World War. Numerous subterranean water courses in the basin of the river Isonzo share our way of today (e.g. Doberdo del Lago), as well as the water mouth of the river Timavo. This river with its length of 2 km is probably the shortest river in the world. The last part of the tour from Monfalcone to Duino/ Sistiana can be shortened by using the bus (ticket not included). At the end of the day Duino welcomes you with its homonymous castle.

Day 7: Duino/Sistiana – Triest; ascent: approx. 475 m / descent: approx. 500 / approx. 7-8 hours

The first part of the route takes you on the famous trail of Rilke which is named after the homonymous German author. You continue as if on a terrace along the karst to Prosecco and the capital city of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, to Trieste. Have a relaxed end of the day on the main square (Piazza della Libertà) with its opulent buildings.

Day 8: Departure
Individual departure or extension of your stay.

What´s included

• Accommodation in guesthouses or hotels in a 3***star category
• Breakfast buffet or full breakfast
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
• Well planned routes
• Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone
• numbers)
• Telephone service hotline for the whole tour

What´s not included

• Flights
• Transfers
• Drinks, tourist tax and all extras
• Lunch, Dinner
• Bus ticket Monfalcone - Duino
• Not mentioned entries
• Travel insurance