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View of a harbour on the Rilke hiking trail in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Alpe-Adria-Trail, Cividale – Trieste

From Cividale to Trieste

8 Days / 7 Nights
Walking
View of a harbour on the Rilke hiking trail in Friuli Venezia Giulia

The essentials at a glance

Walking tour from Cividale del Friuli to Trieste along the Alpe-Adria-Trail through the Friuli region. Easy difficulty on good paths with daily stages of 14-29 km. Highlights include the Lombard town of Cividale, Castelmonte sanctuary, wine landscapes of Collio, medieval Šmartno, Habsburg-influenced Cormons, Gradisca castle, karst landscape with WWI traces, Duino Castle, Rilke path, and Trieste's Piazza della Libertà. Accommodation in 3-star hotels with breakfast and luggage transfer included.

Do you have questions about this tour?

Starting point of this walking tour is Cividale del Friuli, located between the South Alps and the Adriatic Sea. The long distance path starts in Carinthia and leads via Slovenia to Friuli-Venetia Giulia and therefore leads through three cultures. This section of the 3-country trail offers a lot of culture and landscape: pilgrimage village Castelmonte, Cormons, Karst and Brda as well as the goal, former Habsburg town Trieste.

Alpe Adria, the place to be for every gourmet and culture lover! The entire Alpe Adria Trail measures about 750 kilometres from Austria’s highest mountain Grossglockner, to Muggia. You will travel 110 kilometres from Cividale to Trieste. You will pass historical sites where history comes to life. Particularly, the city of Cradisca, which became well known for the twelve Isonzo battles between 1915 and 1918. Today, the mighty fort still dominates the skyline. It’s definitely worth a visit! After the daily hikes, you can enjoy fine wines from the surrounding regions.

  • Three country trail: Starting in Carinthia via Slovenia to Fruili-Venezia Giulia, the trail takes you through important pilgrimage destinations, wine-growing strongholds and past imposing waterways.
  • Historic sites: The route from Gradisca to Duino is marked by traces of the First World War. Particularly impressive is the underground waterways from the catchment area of the Isonzo!
  • In the footseps of Rilke: Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke penned parts of his ‘Duino Elegies’ at the Duino Castle.

One the day of your arrival to the pilgrimage town of Prepotto in the province of Udine, you should definitely take a walk in the picturesque village and surrounding vineyards. Over the next few days, there are five to seven hour hikes through the Lombard town of Cividale and on to Šmartno and Trieste. The tours lead along well developed paths and through forests and meadows. After an average of 17 kilometres per day, you can enjoy Italian pasta in the evening!

Have you become a fan of the three-country trail? The Eurohike team is at your disposal for comprehensive maps and more information!

Book now
To the online version
View of a harbour on the Rilke hiking trail in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Alpe-Adria-Trail, Cividale – Trieste

From Cividale to Trieste

8 Days / 7 Nights
Walking
View of a harbour on the Rilke hiking trail in Friuli Venezia Giulia

The essentials at a glance

Walking tour from Cividale del Friuli to Trieste along the Alpe-Adria-Trail through the Friuli region. Easy difficulty on good paths with daily stages of 14-29 km. Highlights include the Lombard town of Cividale, Castelmonte sanctuary, wine landscapes of Collio, medieval Šmartno, Habsburg-influenced Cormons, Gradisca castle, karst landscape with WWI traces, Duino Castle, Rilke path, and Trieste's Piazza della Libertà. Accommodation in 3-star hotels with breakfast and luggage transfer included.

Do you have questions about this tour?

The starting point for this walking tour is Cividale del Friuli, picturesquely situated between the Southern Alps and the Adriatic Sea. The Alpe-Adria Trail, a long-distance hiking route, begins in Carinthia, passes through Slovenia, and Ends in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, making it a meeting point of three cultures. Culturally and scenically, this section of the 3-Country Trail has much to offer: from the pilgrimage site of Castelmonte, via Cormons, the Karst and Brda, all the way to the destination in the former Habsburg city of Trieste.

Alpe Adria, the place to be for every gourmet and culture lover! The entire Alpe Adria Trail measures about 750 kilometres from Austria’s highest mountain Grossglockner, to Muggia. You will travel 110 kilometres from Cividale to Trieste. You will pass historical sites where history comes to life. Particularly, the city of Cradisca, which became well known for the twelve Isonzo battles between 1915 and 1918. Today, the mighty fort still dominates the skyline. It’s definitely worth a visit! After the daily hikes, you can enjoy fine wines from the surrounding regions.

  • Three country trail: Starting in Carinthia via Slovenia to Fruili-Venezia Giulia, the trail takes you through important pilgrimage destinations, wine-growing strongholds and past imposing waterways.
  • Historic sites: The route from Gradisca to Duino is marked by traces of the First World War. Particularly impressive is the underground waterways from the catchment area of the Isonzo!
  • In the footseps of Rilke: Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke penned parts of his ‘Duino Elegies’ at the Duino Castle.

One the day of your arrival to the pilgrimage town of Prepotto in the province of Udine, you should definitely take a walk in the picturesque village and surrounding vineyards. Over the next few days, there are five to seven hour hikes through the Lombard town of Cividale and on to Šmartno and Trieste. The tours lead along well developed paths and through forests and meadows. After an average of 17 kilometres per day, you can enjoy Italian pasta in the evening!

Have you become a fan of the three-country trail? The Eurohike team is at your disposal for comprehensive maps and more information!

Itinerary at a glance

Culture and history come together between the Alps and the Adriatic, along with the pleasures of gastronomy - the cityscape of Cividale del Friuli, a glass of wine in Collio, and the impressive Duino Castle. Trieste is the worthy destination of your tour!

Welcome to the Friuli! Enjoy a walk through the picturesque city.

Out of the Lombard town you hike to Castelmonte. Enjoy today's walking tour with the wonderful views over the lowlands of Friuli near the Slovenian community Brda. If you want to hike less today, follow a shorter route along the official route of the Alpe-Adria-Trail. Finish the day with a glass of wine in Prepotto.

You walk along the Italian-Slovenian boarder, past the landscapes of the Collio, as well as past numerous churches. At the end of the day Šmartno with its beautiful historic center is awaiting you.

You leave Brda, intersection of three cultures (Slavonian, Romanic and Germanic), and you return to the “Friuli” Collio. Surrounded by vine of the well-known DOC wines you come to Cormons with still has some Habsburg flair. This small town is the cultural centre of the Collio today. Enjoy a good glass of wine in the Enoteca at the main square.

Your walking tour leads you through the hilly landscape “Görzer Collio” into the city Gradisca. The city is mainly known through the front of First World War and the twelve battles of the Isonzo. The mighty castle still dominates the city today. In the historic centre in Palazzo dei Provveditori from the 15th century, is located the Enoteca Regionale, called La Serenissima. There you can taste the finest wines of the region Friaul.

After a short transfer today´s walking route leads through sparse karst, coined through the First World War. Numerous underground waterways divide your path (for instance Doberdò del Lago) as well as the estuary of river Timavo. The river is with its 2 km probably the shortest river in the world. The last section of the todays hike from Monfalcne to Duino/Sistiana may be shortened by bus. Your goal Duino welcomes you with its same-named palace.

The first part of today´s tour leads along the popular Rilke path, it is named after the German author. You continue along the karst to the capital city of the region, to Trieste. Enjoy the evening at the main square (Piazza della Libertá) with its precious buildings.

Day
08

Departure or extension

Itinerary at a glance

A wealth of culture and history meets fine dining and culinary delights between the Alps and the Adriatic – the townscape of Cividale del Friuli, a glass of wine in Collio and the imposing Duino Castle. Trieste is the perfect destination of your tour!

Welcome to Friuli! Enjoy a leisurely stroll through this picturesque town.

Leaving the Lombard town behind, you’ll hike to Castelmonte, the oldest sanctuary in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. Enjoy the wonderful views over the Friuli plain near the Slovenian municipality of Brda. If you’d prefer not to hike quite as far today, follow a shorter alternative route along the official Alpe-Adria Trail. Round off the day with a good glass of wine in Prepotto.

Today you’ll be hiking along the Italian-Slovenian border, passing through the vineyards of the Collio region and past numerous churches. At the end of the day, the picturesque medieval village of Šmartno, the geographical center of the Brda municipality, awaits you. Let your gaze wander from the Carnic Alps across the vast Friuli region to the Adriatic Sea.

You leave Brda, the meeting point of three cultural spheres (Slavic, Romance and Germanic), and return to the ‘Friulian’ Collio. Flanked by the vineyards producing the renowned DOC wines, you'll arrive in Cormons with its Habsburg charm. This little town is now the cultural heart of the Collio region. Enjoy a fine glass of wine at the enoteca right on the main square.

Your route takes you through the hilly landscape of the ‘Görzer Collio’, with its vineyards, to the town of Gradisca. The name Gradisca has Slavic roots and means ‘fortified place’. The town became famous during the First World War for the twelve Battles of the Isonzo. Today, the imposing castle still dominates the town. In the old town, the 15th-century Palazzo dei Provveditori houses the Enoteca Regionale, known as ‘La Serenissima’. There, you can taste the finest wines of the Friuli region.

Today’s walking route takes you through the barren karst landscape, marked by many traces of the First World War. Numerous underground waterways from the Isonzo River basin cross your path (e.g. Doberdò del Lago), as does the mouth of the Timavo River. At just 2 km long, the Timavo is arguably the shortest river in the world. The final section of the walk from Monfalcone to Duino/Sistiana can also be shortened by taking the bus. Your destination for the day, Duino, welcomes you with its castle of the same name.

The first part of the route follows the famous Rilke Trail, named after the writer of the same name. The trail then continues along the karst landscape, like a terrace, towards Prosecco and on to Trieste, the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. End your day in the main square (Piazza della Libertà) with its magnificent buildings and reflect on the experiences of your week of hiking.

Day
08

Departure or extension

Difficulty level

Walking

Easy walking tour along good walking paths, as well as forest roads and meadow paths. Some daily tours are with 8 hours walking time a little bit longer but can be managed with appropriate shape without any difficulty. Some tours can be shortened by public transport.

Difficulty level

Walking

The walking tours follow well-maintained trails, as well as paths through forests and meadows. Some of the daily stages are longer, lasting up to 8 hours, but can be managed without any difficulty provided you are physically in good shape. In some cases, the stages can be shortened by using public transport.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in 3***-hotels and inns
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Digital travel documents incl. navigation app, GPS-data, route book
  • Service hotline

Optional

  • Printed route book, per room EUR 20
  • Return transfer from Triest to Cividale del Friuli every Saturday, price per person EUR 39. Reservation required, payable in advance

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Arrival by train to Cividale del Friuli
  • Trieste, Venice or Ljublijana airport. Onward journey by bus and train to Cividale del Friuli
  • Parking: free hotel parking spaces
  • Departure by train from Trieste to Cividale del Friuli, duration approx. 2.5 hours (1x change)

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price.
  • Optional bus ride from Monfalcone to Duino/Sistiana on day 6, approx. EUR 4 per person
  • Special dates for groups of min. 5 persons on request
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in 3***-hotels and country hotels
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Digital travel documents incl. navigation app, GPS-data, route book
  • Service hotline

Optional

  • Printed route book, per person EUR 20

  • Return transfer from Trieste to Cividale del Friuli, every SAT, costs per person EUR 49 (min. 2 persons), reservation is necessary, to be paid for in advance

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Arrival by train to Cividale del Friuli (www.bahn.de, www.oebb.at, www.trenitalia.it)
  • Trieste, Venice or Ljubljana airport, from there by train or bus to Cividale del Friuli
  • Parking: free, unguarded hotel parking spaces
  • Departure by train from Trieste via Udine to Cividale del Friuli, duration approx. 2.5 hours (www.trenitalia.it)

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price.
  • Optional bus ride from Monfalcone to Duino/Sistiana on day 6, costs approx. EUR 3 per person
  • Special dates for groups of min. 5 persons on request
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.
Sophia Altenberger

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Sophia Altenberger
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