Friuli by bicycle
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a region with a double name that was created after the Second World War by combining the province of Udine, until then part of the Veneto, with what remained of the Venezia Giulia region, which passed largely to Yugoslavia, and now Slovenia and Croatia. In fact, these two parts of the region have different histories behind them: the provinces of Udine and Pordenone had been for many centuries a part of the Republic of Venice, while those of Gorizia and Trieste for centuries were part of the Habsburg Empire - a difference that is still apparent in the urban characteristics of these cities.
Friuli offers several bike routes on roads with relatively low traffic; flat routes (but cyclable only in winter!) are located near the coast: along the Tagliamento River to Lignano, and from Aquileia to the Laguna di Grado [Grado Lagoon].
Still under construction is the Alpe-Adria [from the Alps to the Adriatic] bike path on the rail bed of the former Pontebbana train, now replaced by a new line. Currently (as of 2007) the last stretch from Camporosso in Valcanale to the border with Austria has been completed.
Routes across the border are possible thanks to the Train + Bike service that is quite widespread here: e.g. from Palmanova to Gorizia and Nova Gorica; in Slovenia from Caporetto [Kobarid] to Gorizia along the Isonzo Valley; or from Tarvisio through Carinthia (Austria) ending at Villach.
Many mountain routes are also possible: e.g. the Valcellina route, or, a decidedly challenging route, the climb from Aviano to Piancavallo.
