Friuli Venezia Giulia in northeast Italy borders Austria and Slovenia on the shores of the Adriatic Sea and is home to the Dolomite mountains and Italy’s wine country. The capital of the region is Trieste, once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and full of historic sites like the Old Quarter, the Piazza Unità d’Italia square and the former royal home of Castello di Miramare. Stunning mosaics are on display at the Cattedrale di San Giusto Martire. For spectacular panoramic views of the entire region, couples can ascend Monte Santo di Lussari. The clifftop Duino Castle from the 1300s offers spectacular views of the sea far below.
Adventure seekers will enjoy potholing on guided tours through the enormous show cave at Grotta Gigante. For scenic serenity in the outdoors, hiking trails around the pair of lakes at Laghi di Fusine offer peaceful landscapes. Plöcken Pass provides for a motorcycle or scooter drive along a mountain road.
