Cycling through Friuli: Alpe-Adria

The journey begins in the heart of Carinthia, in the charming town of Villach. Here you are greeted by the silence of the mountains, crystal-clear lakes and an atmosphere filled with diversity. Take a walk through the old town, enjoy a coffee on the square and recharge before the week's cycling. 

You leave Villach along the Gail river and soon you are across the border to Italy. Here Austria, Italy and Slovenia meet and here people have lived side by side for centuries. In the alpine town of Tarvisio, the first Italian cappuccino awaits, flavors of the new country and the mountains that rise around the valley.

Today it rolls easily downhill in the Val Canale valley. The trail is well-built on an old railway embankment and lets you enjoy at a leisurely pace. The landscape opens up with untouched nature and large forests. Today's highlight is the historic village of Gemona del Friuli, with its mighty cathedral Santa Maria Assunta. As you approach Udine you see the first vineyards, a reminder that the Mediterranean is no longer far away. For After Bike we suggest a glass of refreshing white wine from the local Friulano grape.

After breakfast the journey continues southward. Soon you are met by vineyards, medieval churches and small Italian villages. When you pedal into Udine it feels like stepping straight into la dolce vita: have an espresso on a piazza, enjoy Gothic and Renaissance architecture and let the city charm you with that typically Italian combination of energy and relaxation.

The last day beckons with the sea, but there is much to discover along the way. Stop in Aquileia, which was so important during antiquity that it is called "the second Rome". The fortified town of Palmanova also fascinates with its star-shaped city plan. The final stretch goes over the lagoon before you reach charming Grado with its canals, fishing harbor and golden sandy beaches. The town is often called "little Venice" and offers a much calmer experience of this coast between sweet lagoons and salt sea. Here you end the journey with a dip in the sea in the evening sun and dinner at a cozy trattoria.

After breakfast it's time to travel home, or perhaps stay a few extra days by the sea? Grado is a place that invites rest, swimming and Italian pleasures. It is also an excellent starting point for further travels to Venice, Trieste, Slovenia or Croatia.