How to experience Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy’s best-kept secret

One of Italy’s most alluring regions is also one of its hidden treasures. This tiny corner of the country, tucked away in the north-east, borders Austria and Slovenia. It spans the Alps, Dolomites and the Adriatic yet is less than two hours’ drive from Venice. Thanks to its varied and untouched natural environment, it represents a haven for outdoor lovers, from hiking and river-rafting in summer to skiing in winter. Visitors also marvel at the sheer amount of history and culture found here, in its cities, buildings and gastronomic credentials.

Here you’ll find art-fuelled cities featuring world-class museums, exhibitions and architecture. Make sure to invest in the FVGCard, a digital pass that includes free admission to many attractions in the area.

Cosmopolitan Trieste, the region’s capital, sits by the coast, its literary soul shaped by a history as a hub for writers and poets, from James Joyce to Umberto Saba. Its streets, however, very much owe their grandeur to the largesse of the Habsburgs, for whom this multicultural port city was once a vital trading hub. Today, this is where Central Europe meets the Med. The city’s beating heart, the vast Piazza Unità d’Italia, opens dramatically onto the sea, from where the Molo Audace pier offers views back towards stately palazzi and the churches lining the Canal Grande.

Cultured and elegant, Udine combines Venetian-influenced architecture with a vibrant arts scene, where you’ll find everything from Tiepolo frescoes to contemporary art exhibitions. Legend says that Attila the Hun created Udine’s ancient castle hill; don’t miss its many fascinating museums. Look out especially for the Impressionism and Modernism show at the Casa Cavazzini (30 Jan–30 Aug), bringing together works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Magritte, Klee and more.

Marked by a complex history, Gorizia was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire before being annexed by Italy and split in two with Slovenia after the end of World War II. A dividing fence even ran through the Piazza Transalpina until 2004. In 2025, Gorizia was the European Capital of Culture alongside its Slovenian counterpart, Nova Gorica, symbolising a new future for the pair. December also saw the opening of DAG – Digital Art Gallery/Gorizia – in what used to be the Bombi underpass. Its inaugural installation, Data Tunnel, is by leading digital artist, Refik Anadol.

Pordenone has been designated the Italian Capital of Culture for 2027. Known as the ‘Painted City’ thanks to a historic centre that is filled with frescoed buildings, it was also the birthplace of Giovanni Antonio de Sacchis, a renowned Renaissance painter whose masterpieces can be seen in the Duomo di San Marco and the Museo Civico d’Arte. The city also hosts the Pordenonelegge book festival and the Silent Film Festival.

One of five remarkable UNESCO-inscribed sites in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Aquileia is a former wealthy metropolis of the Roman Empire, founded in 181 BC. The Patriarchal Basilica Complex is home to the largest mosaic floor in the Western Christian world.

Embark on a gastronomic journey through a region where Adriatic influences merge with Italian, Alpine and Central European traditions, celebrated in an array of simple, authentic dishes. Six curated itineraries lead you through diverse landscapes and include the chance to visit wineries and producers, as you taste your way through local wines, cheeses, charcuterie and desserts.

Every corner of Friuli Venezia Giulia has its own culinary specialities. In the mountains, farmers and sheep-herders craft remarkable cheeses, including Montasio PDO, made from cows’ milk; formadi frant, a mixed cheese bound with milk and cream; and smoked ricotta. Then there’s the famed PDO Prosciutto from the town of San Daniele, up in the hills, which is silky and tender, as well as Pitina PGI, a cured meat made from pork lard mixed with a blend of sheep, goat or wild game. Lastly, don’t forget to try cjarsons, the filled pasta from the Carnia region, which balances sweet and savoury flavours, or indulge in some comforting frico, a crispy cheese-and-potato cake.

The region’s DOC wine districts are famed for their purity and precision. White wines are the stars: crisp, almond-noted Friulano; delicately aromatic Ribolla Gialla; and the region’s expressive, textured Pinot Grigio. Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay also flourish here, shaped by the Alpine breezes and Adriatic sunlight. Among the reds, Refosco and Schioppettino showcase spice and dark-berry depth.

Trieste is the region’s coffee capital, home to centuries of bean imports, historic cafés, roasting houses and the famed University of Coffee. Stopping at a café is a ritual and requires some small knowledge of the local lingo: an espresso is a nero, a gocciato comes with a drop of milk, and a capo in b is a macchiato served in a glass.