Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Trieste
You'll land at Trieste airport and hop on a shared bus with the group heading to Udine, which serves as your base for the first several days. The drive gives you a chance to settle in and get oriented before things really get going.
- Day 2
Udine
Spend the day in Udine checking out Piazza della Libert, known as the most beautiful Venetian square outside Venice itself. You'll wander through the old town's narrow streets, see paintings by the Tiepolos, and grab coffee or wine at local spots. If you want, the Museum of Modern Art on the edge of town is worth a visit in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Piazza della Libertà and old town alleyways
- Visit to artworks by Tiepolo and other painters
Optional Activities
- Stop at local cafés or wine taverns for wine and regional dishes like frico (potato dish)
- Visit Museum of Modern Art
Landmarks Piazza della Libertà Museum of Modern Art, Udine - Day 3
San Daniele
Head out about 80 km to Spilimbergo and its medieval Piazza Duomo with the Gothic loggia and cathedral. After that you'll check out the mosaic school to learn how they've been training artisans since 1922. Then it's on to San Daniele for the famous D.O.P. ham and cold-smoked trout, plus the cathedral and Baroque Santuario della Strada with the beautifully frescoed S. Antonio Abate church.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Snack
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Spilimbergo mosaic school
- Ham and trout tasting in San Daniele
Optional Activities
- Explore Piazza Duomo and cathedral in Spilimbergo
- Visit cathedral and Santuario della Strada in San Daniele
- View frescoes in S. Antonio Abate church
Landmarks Piazza Duomo, Spilimbergo Spilimbergo Cathedral Spilimbergo Castle Spilimbergo Mosaic School San Daniele Cathedral Santuario della Strada, San Daniele S. Antonio Abate Church, San Daniele - Day 4
Udine
Travel about 40 km to Cividale to see the ancient Roman settlement that was once Friuli's center. You'll explore the Longobard Temple for Lombard history, check out the Christian Museum with the Ratchis Altar and patriarchal throne, walk through the cathedral full of medieval and Renaissance pieces, and cross the Devil's Bridge. You're back in Udine by afternoon to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cividale including Longobard Temple
- Visit to Christian Museum with Lombard art
- Cathedral visit with medieval art and Renaissance paintings
- Walk to Devil's Bridge
Optional Activities
- Explore decorated old town of Cividale
Landmarks Longobard Temple, Cividale Christian Museum, Cividale Cividale Cathedral Devil's Bridge, Cividale - Day 5
Grado
About 110 km takes you to Aquileia, one of the top ten Roman cities that had 100,000 people. You'll see Roman remains and the basilica with its massive 4th-century mosaic floor covering over 700 square meters. Lunch includes local food and wine, then you head to Grado, Aquileia's former port, to walk Venetian-style streets and see the S. Maria delle Grazie and S. Eufemia cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Snack (Wine along with typical local specialties at lunch break in Aquileia)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Aquileia Roman city and basilica
- Wine tasting and local specialties lunch in Aquileia
Optional Activities
- Explore Grado's alleyways and squares
- Visit S. Maria delle Grazie church
- Visit S. Eufemia cathedral with baptistery
Landmarks Aquileia Basilica Aquileia Roman Remains S. Maria delle Grazie, Grado S. Eufemia Cathedral, Grado 
- Day 6
Collio Wine Region
This 100 km trip takes you to Gorizia, a city that was once split between Italy and Slovenia. You'll explore the old town and castle with its medieval borgo, then detour to Nova Gorica to see the 1950s socialist architecture built under Tito. The Oslavia war memorial and ossuary explain the WWI Isonzo battles, and you finish in the Collio wine region tasting fine white wines at the Enoteca Comunale in Cormons.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gorizia old town and castle
- Visit to Oslavia war memorial and ossuary
- Wine tasting in Cormons at Enoteca Comunale
Optional Activities
- Detour to Nova Gorica to see 1950s architecture
Landmarks Gorizia Castle Nova Gorica Oslavia War Memorial - Day 7
Miramare Castle - Trieste
After leaving Udine, you travel about 85 km to Duino Castle sitting on rocky cliffs near Trieste, famous from Rainer Maria Rilke's writings. From there head to Miramare Castle built by Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria with sea views from both the castle and park. You'll walk through the Karst landscape before arriving in Trieste, where your guide fills you in on the city's literary and historical background.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Duino Castle
- Visit to Miramare Castle
Optional Activities
- Walk through Karst landscape
Landmarks Duino Castle Miramare Castle - Day 8
Trieste
Start at Piazza Unit d'Italia and walk through Piazza della Borsa into the Theresian Quarter, seeing the S. Michele del Canale and S. Spiridone Taumaturgo churches. You'll do a coffee house tour hitting famous caf like S. Marco to experience Trieste's coffee culture and try local styles like capo and bicerin. Later you climb to Colle di San Giusto for Roman Tergeste ruins, the medieval cathedral with mosaics, the castle, and Winckelmann's neoclassical tomb, then enjoy a relaxed afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Piazza Unità d'Italia, Piazza della Borsa, and Theresian Quarter
- Coffee house tour of historic cafés
Optional Activities
- Visit to Colle di San Giusto with Roman remains
- Cathedral visit with mosaics
- Explore castle and cemetery
- Afternoon stroll through town
Landmarks Piazza Unità d'Italia Piazza della Borsa S. Michele del Canale S. Spiridone Taumaturgo (Serbian Orthodox Church) Trieste Cathedral Trieste Castle Colle di San Giusto - Day 9
Pula - Groznjan
This 280 km journey crosses into Slovenia and Croatia to reach Porec in Istria. You'll see the cathedral with one of the oldest mosaics of the Virgin Mary in existence. Heading south along the coast to Pula, you explore Roman temples and the impressive Roman arena. Groznjan, a trendy artist colony with great Mediterranean views, is where you stop for local food like white truffles at a traditional inn.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Snack (Regional specialties including white truffles at typical local inn in Groznjan)
Included Activities
- Visit Porec Cathedral with ancient Virgin Mary mosaic
- Guided tour of Pula Roman temples and Roman arena
- White truffle tasting in Groznjan
Optional Activities
- Explore Groznjan artists' colony
Landmarks Porec Cathedral Pula Roman Arena Groznjan 
- Day 10
Lipica Stud Farm
Travel about 120 km to the massive stalactite cave system in the Karst rock near Postojna, also called the Adelsberg Grotto. After exploring the caves you visit the Lipica stud farm to watch a demonstration of the white Lipizzaner horses and learn about how they breed and train these famous animals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour of Postojna stalactite cave system (Adelsberg Grotto)
- Visit to Lipica stud farm with Lipizzaner horse demonstration
Landmarks Postojna Cave Lipica Stud Farm - Day 11
Return to Trieste
The 200 km drive takes you to Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. You walk through the colorful old town to see its mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau buildings. The market has farmers selling regional food, then you head back to Trieste in the afternoon and have a farewell dinner with the group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Ljubljana old town
Optional Activities
- Visit farmers market for regional delicacies
Landmarks Ljubljana Old Town 
- Day 12
Departure from Trieste
Your 12-day tour wraps up today as you make the return trip to Trieste airport, heading home with all your new memories from the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
