Parks and Lagoons Venezia Giulia: a park to discover A trove of magic sounds, unexpected encounters, infinite panoramas and crystal clear waters. Parks and reserves make this whole region invaluable, with its realms of rare animals and favourite destinations for birdwatchers.

xperiencing also dropping straight into the sea. If you are E means following the most beautiful partial to lagoon landscapes, the Isola della trails, taking in the profiles and Cona and the Canal Novo and Cavanata colours of the landscape, and discovering valleys have very unusual ecosystems with the fauna and flora of an untouched a special allure for birdwatchers. environment. From the sea, to the hills and up to the mountains, there is a world of Friuli Venezia Giulia also boasts many fascinating opportunities awaiting you, interesting lakeside areas, such as the where you can immerse yourself in an emerald green Cornino lake, a nesting unspoilt environment, whose boundless ground for the majestic griffons often seen spaces are enveloped in magic silences, in the area, and the Nature reserve of only broken by the sounds and voices of Doberdò and Pietrarossa, populated by nature. Off the beaten track, you come woodpeckers, golden jackals and its across tiny protected areas brimming with characteristic black poplars. unusual sceneries, or vast splendid parks. Look out for the interesting geomorphologic features of the Riserva Naturale Forra del There are two main natural parks: the Parco Cellina, the largest canyon in the region delle Dolomiti Friulane the Parco delle and one of the most stunning in , and Prealpi Giulie. These are ideal places for those of Val Rosandra, in the karst very interesting nature walks, visits and highlands, featuring cliffs, vertical rock excursions, where you can catch sight of walls, small waterfalls, lakes and gorges. deer and roe deer, see tracks of bears and lynxes, and glimpse magnificent birds Don’t leave Friuli Venezia Giulia without of prey soaring up above, first going for a quiet horse ride along the between the clouds. On the gentle slopes of the Parco Intercomunale other side of the region, delle Colline Carniche, where, between along the coast, places of worship and ancient hamlets, lie the nature reserves pinewoods and guided trails, you can of Miramare and of the admire the original varieties of wild orchids Falesie di Duino, and various animal species which inhabit where you can dive this mini “compendium of the Universe”. into the sea world on a guided tour, or Come and discover the immense natural enjoy breathtaking wealth of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a unique settings walking park in a unique region. along the Rilke Trail, with its Mediterranean vegetation and cliffs

3 Parco Naturale Regionale Highlights delle Dolomiti Friulane Events February - Resia Carnival Majestic dolomitic peaks and splendid natural settings. May - Eastern Alp Parks Rendezvous Ideal for excursions, trekking and mountaineering. June - Rio Resartico Mine Festival

he Regional Natural Park is situated on the mountain range towering over the T Western Friulian Plain bordered by the Tagliamento and Piave rivers. It covers 36 950 hectares of the most beautiful land in the whole region. The dolomitic peaks Parco Naturale Regionale and the splendid natural settings make this area a real paradise for excursions, trekking and mountaineering. Promotion initiatives for advertising and protecting the territory delle Prealpi Giulie favour schools, but do not exclude individuals and groups. For example, “A scuola nel Parco” (at school in the park) is a project proposing both ethnographic trails aimed at environmental observation and education, as well as sports and recreation schemes useful for stimulating psychomotory skills. Booking is required for these all-year activities. INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Have a go at rock climbing with “Formula Ecoclimbing”; Managing Body it also offers two winter formulas: “Formula Iceland” Ente Parco Naturale Dolomiti friulane and “Racchette da neve” (snowshoes), which Via Vittorio Emanuele, 27 include the technical materials needed for coping 33080 Cimolais (Pn) on snowy and icy terrain. Tel. +39 0427 87333 Paths crossing the valleys and snaking up the hills are also great to climb with expert Fax +39 0427 877900 guides. In summer, the trails are imbued with the inebriating fragrance of flowers. [email protected] www.parcodolomitifriulane.it In winter, go for a hike on snowshoes to look for wild animal tracks in the snow.

stablished in 1996, the Regional INFORMATION AND CONTACTS E Natural Park of the Julian Prealps Managing Body Highlights extends over just under 10,000 Ente Parco Naturale Prealpi Giulie Highlights Piazza del Tiglio, 3 hectares, including the higher areas of the 33010 Prato di Resia (Ud) Permanent exhibitions in visitors’ centres Mount Plauris and Mount Musi ranges and Tel. +39 0433 53534/53483 Some proposals • Cimolais visitors’ centre (Pn) - Tel. +39 0427 87046 the Mount Canin massif. These areas have Fax +39 0433 53129 On snowshoes in Sella Saturdays and Sundays 10.30-12.30am / 3.30-6.30pm been declared a reserve in virtue of their [email protected] Prevala. A day dedicated to The exhibition: “Educational itinerary valuable geology, nature, landscape and www.parcoprealpigiulie.org self-rescue in an avalanche as an introduction to the park” also history and culture, containing as they situation, which also • Erto e Casso visitors’ centre (Pn) - Tel. +39 0427 879246 do unusual features which are hard to find Ufficio informazioni di illustrates and tests search Via Nazionale, 77 elsewhere. The Park Authorities organise Saturdays and Sundays 10-12am / 2-6pm 33010 Resiutta (Ud) techniques using ARVA The exhibition: “The Vajont catastrophe, a space for guided visits along the many trails running Tel. +39 0433 5502401 devices. In January. memory” and “Vajont: images and memories” through the valleys and up the mountains [email protected] Blossom Observation along • Andreis visitors’ centre (Pn) - Tel. +39 0427 764416 in the protected area. In summertime you the Natura Valle Musi Trail. Sunday 4-7pm can really feel the strong appeal of the In June. Exhibition “Avifauna in the park” mountains and their brightly coloured The Canin plateau rock • Poffabro visitors’ centre (Pn) - Tel. +39 0427 784944 blossoms, while in the quieter winter garden and a visit to the Sunday 4-7pm season, it is fun to walk along the snowy display showcase dedicated Exhibitions: “The Poffabro dairy” paths on snowshoes, looking for footprints to karstification and to and “In mont - Malghe in the park” left in the snow by wild animals. And it’s speleology in the Canin area. • visitors’ centre (Ud) - Tel. +39 0433 88080 not just about walks in the great outdoors, In August. Fridays 5-7.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays the visitors’ centres and all the Deer roaring in Val Uccea. 10-12am / 5-7.30pm municipalities located within the Park In September. Exhibition: “Vegetation in the park” territory open their doors to visitors so they • visitors’ centre (Ud) - Tel. +39 0433 877403 can deepen their knowledge of the natural, Booking is required. historical and cultural features Exhibition: “Forest typologies in the park” distinguishing this territory.

4 5 Riserva Naturale Regionale delle Falesie di Duino

Parco Intercomunale delle Colline Carniche

A lovely park he Park extends over the area where The Rilke trail winds along surface by earthquakes thrusting upwards, T the Degano stream flows into the causing the formation of the sharp towering to visit all year Tagliamento river, and it owes its name Highlights an easy path imbued with the outcrops overhanging the gulf. Despite the round, offering (Park of the Carnic hills) to its gentle slopes fragrances of Mediterranean fact that most of the Reserve is covered in cultural and nature and sunny hills covered in woodlands and Activities and park vegetation, offering wonderful black pines (typical continental vegetation) trails for people glades, although it also hosts one of the attractions views of white cliffs dropping the protected area highlights the change largest and most fertile plains in Carnia. Go for a horse ride, setting out from woodland to Mediterranean brushwood, of all ages. It is situated at a low altitude and can from the stables situated inside down into a deep blue sea. mainly composed of holly oaks and Come and try be visited all year round. the Pineta di . hornbeams, which gradually give way to it out on foot, The trails are all easy and can be followed The stables also organize shrubs towards the sea. This is a suitable even on a fine winter’s day, although visits hippotherapy activities. INFORMATION AND CONTACTS stablished in 1996, the Duino habitat for reptiles (snakes, adders and on a mountain bike may not be possible in some icy areas. As part of the Park’s initiatives Managing Body E Regional Nature Reserve extends over lizards) and nesting for non-migratory birds di Duino-Aurisina Spring is the best time for admiring the of propagation and promotion, 107 hectares, along a strip of land such as blue rock thrushes, herring-gulls or on horseback. Aurisina, 102 flora, but winter colours also offer an orienteering map has been 34013 Duino Aurisina (Ts) where the climate change from Middle and ravens, not to mention the peregrine, a spectacle of rare beauty. adapted for children, so they Tel. +39 040 2017371 European to Mediterranean is clearly visible. an endangered species which has found It is the ideal place for cultural and nature can really get close to nature. www.comune.duino-aurisina.ts.it Its high biodiversity gives life to a landscape shelter in the most inaccessible points on INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Managing Body excursions for people of all ages. A network The aim is to extend this of rare beauty, featuring white limestone the cliffs. In autumn and spring, you can Comune di Villa Santina of trails take you past sites of both natural experience to other areas in the cliffs dropping straight into the sea. The often catch sight of various migratory or Piazza Venezia, 1 and historical interest, open views and region and to further the Highlights path named after bohemian poet, Rainer wintering species, like grebes, and the 33029 Villa Santina (Ud) unusual sights. Some of these tracks are development of this discipline Maria Rilke, was inaugurated in 1987 and pinewood is home to chaffinches, jays, Tel. +39 0433 74040 also for mountain biking and the famous woodpeckers, sparrowhawks and also some as a competitive sport. Many Ecotourism extends over 1700 metres. It provides Fax +39 0433 74040 race “Gran Fondo” is held here. attractions in the park can be access to the Nature Reserve from both squirrel colonies. [email protected] In an attempt to preserve reached by car: the network Sistiana and Duino (both areas have car this unspoilt environment, has car parks and welcoming, parks). The trail is more or less on level flower picking, walking easily accessible, well ground, so anyone can manage the walk and dogs off leads, cycling equipped recreation areas. admire the morphology of the rocks and its along the Rilke trail, wealth of protected flora and fauna. Like lighting fires and leaving the whole , the Duino cliffs are litter are not allowed. made of carbonate rocks created by the There is a refreshment bar sedimentation of animal shells on the part way along the trail. bottom of a shallow sea. About 50 million years ago, the sea bed was brought to the

6 7 Camargue horses and a host of bird species make for wonderful horse riding and birdwatching. There are cycling trips and boat trips, in a heterogeneous environment, with fresh water Riserva Naturale Highlights swamps, reed thickets and watery meadows. Plus a refreshment bar and refuge. Regionale Visit the Reserve The Foce dello Stella Regional Nature Reserve can only be visited via water. Foci dello Stella From October to May visitors can enter the Reserve on the motor ship which for years has guided tourists in their discovery of the lagoon. From Mondays to Thursdays, visits are for schoolchildren alone, while on Saturdays and Sundays anyone wishing to learn more about this exclusive corner of Friuli Venezia Giulia is welcome.

INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Visitors’ centre Riserva Naturale Regionale Comune di - Ufficio riserve naturali della Foce dell’Isonzo Via delle valli, 2 33050 Marano Lagunare (Ud) Tel. +39 0431 67551 Fax +39 0431 67930 he Foce dell’Isonzo Regional Nature the fauna fit harmoniously into the natural [email protected] www.riservenaturali.maranolagunare.com Highlights T Reserve extends over about 2400 environment and will meet the needs hectares along the last 15 kilometres of anyone seeking peace and tranquillity. Seasonal opening hours of the Isonzo river, and is the northernmost Inside the area you can enjoy typical The Reserve is open all year round. Facilities wetland in the Mediterranean. The terrain dishes, buy handy packed meals at the Closed on Mondays. • Visitors’ centre features a host of heterogeneous Bar Pettirosso and spend the night in the Opening times: • Duck museum environments, benefiting the presence spacious and welcoming refuge for hikers. mid September to end of May • Marinetta Observatory of many animal and plant species, some The reserve plans to meet its own energy 9am to 5pm June to mid September Cjos Observatory of which are extremely rare. When you visit needs with renewable sources: plants have 9am to 2pm / 4pm to 8pm • Birdwatching stations the protected area you can immerse been set up to allow the facilities to work • “Al Pettirosso” yourself in its unspoilt nature and enjoy exploiting the biomasses (for heating the Refreshment bar splendid sceneries of seascapes, freshwater buildings) and solar energy via solar panels • Conference Hall swamps, reed thickets, watery meadows, and photovoltaics (for producing hot water • Didactic hall tall herb woods and river forelands. and electricity respectively). • “Isola della Cona” It is an area of remarkable ecological Nature refuge interest, thanks to its high biodiversity: The only resurgence river in the Adriatic flows into the lagoon and • Equipped trails besides the many species of birds and • Bike hire reptiles, it also hosts herds of Camargue is inhabited by a wealth of avifauna. The large reed thicket provides • Binocular hire horses. The facilities designed for observing shelter for red herons and marsh harriers. • Boat trips • Horse riding INFORMATION AND CONTACTS he protected area extends over 1377 hectares, including the delta of the Stella Reservations for: Reserve Operational management T river and some typical wetlands, featuring remarkable variations in salinity and Il Mosaico Consorzio di Cooperative Sociali - temperature, with canals, intertidal mud and sandbanks. The heart of the guided visits, lunches, Registered office: Viale XXIV Maggio, 5 - 34170 Gorizia Regional Nature Reserve is the mouth of a resurgent river in a lagoon area: the only games activities for Tel. +39 0432 998133 groups, birdwatching, Fax +39 0432 997021 one of its kind in the Adriatic. The exceptionally rich profusion of avifauna adds summer camps. [email protected] significantly to the naturalistic value of the reserve. Countless species and quantities of www.isoladellacona.it birds populate and animate the marshy environment during the year. Many rest here for Events a while as they migrate, some spend the winter here and others find the perfect place The river and the stars. Ticket office opening times: to nest here. The main species populating these wetlands find shelter in the large reed 9am - 6pm in summer thicket. Birds nesting here include red herons, marsh harriers, various passeriformes Music, art and culture 9am - 5pm in winter. such as reed pheasants, Savi’s warblers, great reed warblers and reed wrens. In winter, in the Reserve. Closed on Thursdays. Period: July - August. large flocks of waterfowls, mostly coots and anatids, gather together in the lagoon inlets Verdeacqua. Public surrounding the reed thickets. meetings to present the various activities in the Reserve. Period: September.

8 9 INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Managing Body Ente Parco Naturale Dolomiti Friulane Highlights Via Vittorio Emanuele, 27 33080 Cimolais (Pn) Tel. +39 0427 87333 Tips Fax +39 0427 877900 The best time to observe griffons [email protected] in flight is in the morning. www.parcodolomitifriulane.it You are also advised to bring binoculars, suitable clothing, food and water if you are going for an excursion in the area. Please respect the local flora and fauna. Riserva Naturale della Forra del Cellina

Over the years a strong torrent has dug a narrow canyon-like gorge, INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Visitors’ centre which can be seen in all its glory from “Troi del Dint”. Tel./Fax +39 0427 808526 Open all year on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays Winter opening times: 9am - 5pm Summer opening times: 9am - 6pm

Managing Body he Forra del Cellina Nature Reserve incorporates the most important part of the large furrow dug by the Cellina Comune di (Ud) T torrent in the limestone strata, between the large prealp Barcis valley and the high plains of Montereale. Piazza Tre Martiri, 4 The narrow gorge, carved away over the years by the torrent, resembles a grand canyon and features intense 33030 Forgaria nel Friuli (Ud) phenomena of erosion and karstification, creating a striking landscape. You can visit the protected area along the Tel. +39 0427 808137 “Troi del Dint” (“Dint path”), a themed itinerary taking you to many natural sights and panoramas over the stunning Fax +39 0427 808136 www.riservacornino.it canyon. Itineraries inside the gorge and other natural cavities are in the pipeline, such as the “Educational caves of Valcellina and the Old Dam”. Riserva Naturale Regionale Lago di Cornino

An equipped area, he small Cornino Lake Regional Nature Reserve covers a surface area of about 500 T hectares between Forgaria nel Friuli and Trasaghis. The wide bed of the with a host of Tagliamento river and the rocky walls of the Carnic Prealps embrace a territory observation points brimming with floristic and vegetational species, where for the last twenty years an where majestic international project for the conservation of the griffon-vulture has been developed. An ideal destination for schoolchildren and birdwatchers, the Reserve offers guided griffons soar excursions along panoramic trails: there are a host of observation points, where you overhead. These can admire the many faunal species inhabiting the area, and, in particular, the griffons vultures nest on the soaring across the morning sky. There are also areas set up for packed meals. The visitors’ centre displays and illustrates the territory’s natural characteristics rocks overlooking and its peculiarities, with a large area dedicated to birds, the emerald green in particular European vultures. Adjacent to the centre lake. Many trails are some aviaries and a terrarium. Easy equipped trails set out from here to the beautiful Lake suitable for trekking Cornino and its surrounding river environment. start here. Experienced hikers can follow one of the many trekking itineraries leading to the plateau of Monte Prat and Monte Cuar.

10 11 INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Managing Body Riserva Naturale Regionale Frazione Zolla, 37 34016 Comune di dei laghi di Doberdò e Pietrarossa Tel. +39 040 327335 , 45 34010 Comune di Sgonico Tel. +39 040 229101 Doberdò, one of www.parks.it/riserva.monte.lanaro the few karst lakes www.parks.it/riserva.monte.orsario in Europe. Its water reflects the black poplars, an ideal shelter for woodpeckers, including the rare lesser spotted Riserve Naturali woodpecker. Regionali And you may catch sight of a golden del Monte Lanaro jackal in the wetlands and the e del Monte Orsario marsh meadows.

he Regional Nature Reserve lies on landscapes surrounding the lakes as they The Carso freely expresses itself here, in dolines and furrowed T the western boundary of the karst merge into barren steppe and furrowed Highlights plateau and includes three fields. The area is also populated by a fields, home to wild cats and European hedgehogs. municipalities in the province of Gorizia: large variety of mammals, from the more Visitors’ centre’s Doberdò del Lago/Doberdob, common species such as roe deer to initiatives and . other, less easily sighted species such The Gradina Visitors’ The area features two karst depressions as the golden jackal. centre is not far from partially occupied by lakes and separated the village of Doberdò by a ridge. The larger depression houses (Doberdob); its the Doberdò lake, one of the few karst interactive, scenic lakes in Europe. Its water level varies displays present various with the levels of the Vipacco and Isonzo itineraries highlighting rivers. During the drier periods, its water INFORMATION AND CONTACTS he Regional Nature Park Reserves extend over 285 hectares (Lanaro) and 156 the ecological and level drops and the lake surface is Visitor’s Centre T hectares (Orsario) of gentle hilly land; both are situated within the municipalities historic/cultural features reduced to canals and small pools. Via Vallone, 32 of Sgonico (Zgonik) and Monrupino (Repentabor). This land features typical karst needed in order to This particular hydrological regime 34070 Doberdò del Lago (Go) plateau landscapes. The Monte Lanaro area features hilly heights and well-preserved Tel. +39 0481 784111 understand the protected is characteristic of karst lakes, which woodlands which have been left untouched by man. area. The Reserve alternately undergo flooded periods Managing Body The Monte Orsario area, on the other hand, is dotted with dolines, round dells caused contains the (spring and autumn) and dry periods Via Roma, 30 by water erosion. There are also many furrowed fields, limestone outcrops bearing archaeological site of (winter and summer). 34070 Comune di Doberdò del Lago grooves, holes and small basins corroded by atmospheric a castelliere dating back Along the banks of lake Doberdò lies Tel. +39 0481 78108 agents. These are the famous phenomena of the karst to the bronze age a thin strip of riparian wood, formed surface. The extended areas of karst brush (ca. 2000-ca.1000 BC). mostly by black poplars and other forest alternates with beautiful durmast and turkey oak This is an ancient village trees which provide excellent shelter woods and a profusion of black pines growing defended by walls built for nesting woodpeckers, including the in the southern half. Wild cats and European in dry laid masonry, famous lesser spotted woodpecker. hedgehogs have been sighted in the area, bearing witness to the The lake ecosystem contrasts with the while the number of brown bears and first forms of dwellings surrounding barrenness of the karst jackals is marginal. in Carso, dating back environment, hence the protected area’s to protohistory. high biodiversity. Along the reserve trails you can admire the typical wetland

12 13 INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Visit this former fishing valley and its Visitors’ centre, featuring typical casoni. Managing Body Ente Parco Naturale Prealpi Giulie Plus the aquarium where you can learn about the organisms inhabiting this Piazza del Tiglio, 3 extraordinary environment. 33010 Prato di Resia (Ud) Tel. +39 0433 53534/53483 Fax +39 0433 53129 [email protected] www.parcoprealpigiulie.org

Direzione centrale risorse agricole, naturali, forestali e montagna Servizio tutela ambienti naturali e fauna Via di Toppo, 40 Riserva Naturale Regionale 33100 Tel. +39 0432 555290 Fax +39 0432 507751 Valle Canal Novo [email protected]

Spectacular rocky ridges, waterfalls, crystal clear torrents and untamed woods. The habitat of rare flowers such as white buttercups and Julian poppies.

he Val Canal Novo Regional Nature who stay for a few days have an original T Reserve covers a total surface area opportunity for deepening their knowledge Riserva Naturale Regionale of 121 hectares, made up of a of a unique land in terms of its history, former fishing valley bearing the same nature and culture, in an engaging, della Val Alba name, a small lagoon area called exclusive way. “Corniolo” and some sowable land. A complex natural ecosystem, it includes wetlands and water of varying levels of salinity. A lagoon visitors’ centre has been he Val Alba Regional Nature Reserve extends over 3000 hectares and contains set up inside the reserve, not far from T a remarkable example of an almost unspoilt mountain environment situated in the Marano, based on the English Wetlands eastern part of the southern Carnic Alps, adjacent to the Julian Alps and Prealps. Centre. Some edifices have been built in Furrowed by rio Alba and rio Simon, it features spectacular rocky ridges, waterfalls, the traditional style of the local casoni crystal clear torrents and untamed woods, as well as wreckages from military action (fishermen’s houses) and equipped with which took place immediately after the First World War. This area is home to ungulates modern facilities and didactic but also a thoroughfare for large carnivores from . At relatively low altitudes the instruments, for the purpose of offering vegetation consists of manna-ash and hop-hornbeam, as well as black pine which advanced methods and new opportunities colonizes the particularly steep rocky terrains, while the wetlands in the gorge are for getting to know the enchanting populated by badgers. There is also an important, albeit limited distribution of floristic wetlands better. In addition to the huts species such as white buttercups, Julian poppies and lilies. and structures built for observing the avifauna and studying the lagoon environment, an aquarium has recently INFORMATION AND CONTACTS been built in the area so visitors can Visitors’ centre immerse themselves in the lagoon and Comune di Marano Lagunare - Ufficio riserve naturali discover the various organisms inhabiting Via delle valli, 2 33050 Marano Lagunare (Ud) this extraordinary environment. Most of Tel. +39 0431 67551 the tanks are set in a scenery which Fax +39 0431 67930 ideally reproduces a section of the most [email protected] important lagoon habitats: the river www.riservenaturali.maranolagunare.com mouth, sandbanks, hummocks, canals Seasonal opening hours: and dunes. A new important facility has The reserve is open all year round, from Tuesday recently been built within the reserve: to Sunday. Closed on Mondays. Opening hours: the cason sarsegna: modern, cosy guest mid September to end of May 9am to 5 pm quarters which can hold up to 60 people. June to mid September 9am to 2pm / 4pm to 8pm Individual classes or groups of students 14 15 INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Visitors’ centre Località Fossalon di Grado Riserva Naturale Regionale Tel. +39 0431 88272

Managing Body della Val Rosandra Piazza Biagio Marin, 4 34073 Comune di Grado Tel. +39 0431 898111 Fax +39 0431 898202 [email protected] www.parks.it/riserva.valle.cavanata/

Riserva Naturale Regionale della Valle Cavanata

An area of international value inhabited by many waterfowl species, on sandbanks, beaches and in canals.

he Valle Cavanata Regional Nature Reserve extends over about 340 hectares Where the alpine nstituted in 1996, the Val Rosandra to viewpoints offering stunning panoramas T (67 under seawater) within the municipality of Grado. The area is criss-crossed I Regional Nature Reserve covers a over the gulf of Trieste. Highlights with canals and watercourses communicating with the open sea through locks; terrain meets surface area of about 746 hectares in The valley also boasts a 36-metre before being declared a protected area, the whole valley was dedicated to fishing and the sea, in a spot the municipality of San Dorligo della Valle waterfall on the Rosandra river and the Visitors’ centre’s hunting: the woods and glades along the canals have always been populated by a large boasting a - Dolina, in the southeastern part of the ruins of a Roman aqueduct which lies initiatives number of animal species. Inside the reserve are various beaches as well as a host of Trieste province. It encloses a valley along the first stretch of the “Sentiero The reserve is visitor- sandbanks, islands brimming with vegetation which thrives in contact with sea water, Roman aqueduct, carved out by the Rosandra stream, and dell’amicizia - Pot prijateljstva” footpath. friendly, with easy while in seasons of low tide, many areas of intertidal mud appear on the beds of the a 36-metre waterfall as the area is a meeting point between A former railway line passes through Val trails and educational watercourses. The diversified ecological environment, characterised by a wet climate, and a path built the mountain terrain and the coast, it is Rosandra, which until 1959 connected and propagational has led to the formation of particularly suitable habitats for many species of waterfowls. home to many animal species, some Trieste to Hrpelje in Slovenia. The whole resources available Hence the Valle Cavanata has been declared a wetland of along a former central European and others belonging to railway route has now been turned into a at the Visitors’ centre. international importance for avifauna by the Ramsar convention. railway track. the Mediterranean ecosystem. The two cycle footpath leading from Borst - Many of its trails let It guarantees optimum conditions for wetland birds to nest Wonderful for sides of the valley are geologically very Sant’Antonio in Bosco to Draga Sant’Elia. you observe the birds and spend the winter. different: the sunny northeast slope of in their habitat, lovers of trekking vertical flysch walls has a mostly warm on your exploration and mountain biking, temperate climate, while a cold climate of a territory immersed prevails on the southwestern slope of in unspoilt nature. and a thrill for mainly scree which is exposed to the wind climbers and and has no direct sunlight. potholers The wind blows through this natural passage, from the inland to the coast, thus contributing to creating a unique, varied microclimate. This territory has an interesting population of reptiles and INFORMATION AND CONTACTS amphibians as well as avifauna which live Managing Body and nest in the woodlands. Comune di San Dorligo Val Rosandra is visited by many climbers della Valle Dolina, 270 and potholers, as well as lovers of 34018 San Dorligo della Valle unspoilt nature: it is renowned for its Tel. +39 040 8329111 climbing practice wall, where climbing Fax +39 040 228874 www.sandorligo-dolina.it courses are organized for various different levels. Many itineraries lead to caves with ancient writings, or to the ruins of castles and castellieri, running alongside streams 16 17 A few minutes away from Trieste, near the famous castle and interesting historic and Steep rugged rock walls and Norway spruce, black pine and larch woods. natural jewels, it offers the thrills of diving, guided visits and sea-watching courses.

Riserva Naturale Marina di Miramare

he Miramare Marina Nature Reserve T was established in 1986 and extends around the Miramare Highlights promontory, a littoral offshoot embedded between the tourist marina in Grignano Visitors’ centre’s initiatives and the Barcola seashore, just a few The visitors’ centre is open every Riserve Naturali Integrali kilometres northwest of Trieste. day from 9am to 5pm from October It is situated inside a tourist hub to March and from 9am to 6.30 pm combining natural and historic/cultural from April to September. Guided di Rio Bianco e Cucco features, including and visits can be booked. An itinerary park, a museum and historic residence has been recreated inside the centre protected by the Cultural Heritage Office; through the reserve’s marine the museo delle ex Scuderie di Miramare, environments where you can learn he fully protected nature reserves near the Malborghetto, on the moraine a museum housing a host of exhibitions about the organisms populating it. T of Rio Bianco and Cucco were slope of Monte Alpe Piccola. It is and shows and the modern Immaginario Many initiatives are organized established in 1975 within the distinguished by the presence of a pure Scientifico Science Center in the bay of between March and November, to Forest of . Both feature rare population of Austrian black pines; Grignano. The karst plateau can be deepen visitors’ knowledge of the ecological aspects of great value. despite its limited size, it is populated reached along historic footpaths which marine world: guided sea-watching by a host of animal species. start out from Miramare promontory and tours and diving tours with aqualungs The Rio Bianco Nature Reserve extends over lead up to Contovello past terracings of for licensed divers. Other exciting 378 hectares at 700- 1900 metres above vineyards and olive groves offering courses are the “Blue weekends” sea level. Its boundaries, at first glance breathtaking views over the gulf of Trieste. and the sea-watching courses for very tortuous and irregular, were drawn This fully protected area extends over 30 children. Since 1989 the precisely to include all the unspoilt areas hectares and is surrounded by 90 partially educational team at the Miramare which, due to their inaccessibility, had protected hectares, known as the buffer Marine Reserve has planned and remained untouched by human activity INFORMATION AND CONTACTS zone, which was established in 1994. offered a varied range of fun INFORMATION AND CONTACTS in the past. The rugged aspect of the Visitors’ centre Managing Body Riserva Naturale Marina di Miramare The Marine Reserve’s operating base is educational activities for schools Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, overhanging cliffs makes for a very Viale Miramare, 349 housed inside the gardens adjacent to of all levels, from infant school Alimentari e Forestali attractive landscape, but only leaves 34014 Grignano - Trieste Miramare castle, in a small building to secondary school; during the Corpo Forestale dello Stato space for small areas of woodland. Tel. +39 040 224147 commonly known as the “castelletto di school’s summer term holiday week, Ufficio Territoriale Indeed, mixed woods of Norway spruce, Fax +39 040 224636 Miramare”. This also houses the Visitors’ children have a chance to get per la Biodiversità black pines, [email protected] centre, the Marine Environmental familiar with scientific instruments Via Romana, 35 Scots pines and larch only become www.riservamarinamiramare.it Educational centre (CEAM), a themed and observation techniques and 33018 Tarvisio (Ud) established where they can, often Tel. +39 0428 2786/2787 Managing Body library, a lecture hall and a science to discover the wealth of the Fax +39 0428 644017 accompanied by a thick carpet of shrubs. Associazione Italiana per il WWF laboratory. marine ecosystem. [email protected] Beech and spruce woods only grow in the for Nature - ONLUS most sheltered hollows.

The Cucco Nature Reserve extends over 21 hectares near the Rio Bianco reserve, at 800 metres above sea level, in the area 18 19 AUSTRIA

TARVISIO CARNIA

SLOVENIA

UDINE PORDENONE GORIZIA

TRIESTE

Easy to reach, hard to forget

TURISMO FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA TEL. 0039 0432 734100 Piazza Manin, 10 loc. Passariano 33033 (Ud) - Italy tel. +39 0432 815111 fax +39 0432 815199 [email protected]

DSF design / photo: Vicario, Musi, Valenti, Michelis, Di Gallo, Ota, Di Lenardo, Paolini, Gaudenzio, Felcher, Aila & Francesco Zanuttin, de Martin, la LIPU e gli Archivi fotografici di tutti i Parchi e le Riserve citati nello stampato / in collaborazione con: Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Direzione centrale risorse agricole, naturali, forestali e montagna - Servizio tutela ambienti naturali e fauna / printed by: Grafiche Manzanesi

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, SEND THIS COUPON TO: AGENZIA TURISMOFVG, PIAZZA MANIN 10, 33033 CODROIPO (UD), ITALY, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE. name surname date of birth: day month year street address postcode city country tel. mobile phone e-mail

SEA MOUNTAINS/SKIING MOUNTAINS IN SUMMER SPORTS TOURISM NATURE TOURISM CULTURAL TOURISM FOOD AND WINE TOURS CONGRESS TOURISM CITIES OF ART SPA AND HEALTH TOURISM TOURISM FOR SENIOR CITIZENS SCHOOL TOURISM OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)

I hereby authorize the Agenzia TurismoFVG to communicate my details to both public and private tourist operators in order to receive information and promotional material relating to tourism initiatives in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. YES NO Under the terms of art. 13 of D. Lgs. 196/2003, I am hereby informed that the office handling personal data is the Agenzia TurismoFVG. Data will be used exclusively for sending requested promotional material. The party concerned can at any time revoke use of this data by contacting the l’Agenzia TurismoFVG in person or by writing to [email protected]. Further information regarding the usage of personal data is available on our website. signature