FRIULI & SLOVENIA CLASSICO Ability Level: Athletic Beginner / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION ITINERARY OUTLINE Friuli & Slovenia Trip Essence / Page 2 / Page 3-5 Wheels and wines in a little-seen corner of Daily Itinerary Europe Arrival & Departure / Page 6 Bike Information / Page 6 Welcome to Italy’s wine-rich Friuli region! In this little-visited locale, tucked between Slovenia and Austria, you’ll find the cultural imprints of Terms & Conditions / Page 7 both countries —not to mention some of the most rewarding roads you’ll Reserve Your Space! / Page 7 ever pedal. Over the years, this region was occupied by various European powers and it developed a unique language and culture. While it is unlikely that the Friulano language will survive the next century, the customs and traditions of the land live on. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to experience an amazing mixture of Venetian Italian and Austrian/Slavic cultures. It will be a trip of a lifetime! Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 1 FRIULI & SLOVENIA CLASSICO Ability Level: Athletic Beginner / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION TRIP ESSENCE TRIP DETAILS Ability Level • Be among the first of your friends to ride this beautiful region • Athletic Beginner • Pedal through lands that inspired Joyce, Hemingway, Freud, and Rilke Summary of Daily Distances • Day 1: 10/13 miles • Enjoy a striking variety of cultures: Italian, Austrian, and Slovenian • Day 2: 35/43 miles • Day 3: 30/41 miles • Bike through the lush vineyards of Friuli’s burgeoning wine country • Day 4: 32/41 miles (and sample the local vintages, of course) • Day 5: 23 mile optional loop • Day 6: 28/44 miles • Spin along “roads less traveled” in Italy and Slovenia • Day 7: 40 miles • Day 8: Nasvidenje! • Discover the towns of Gorizia and Cividale in Italy and Bled in Slovenia Optional extra loops available • End in the romantic and charming Ljubljana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of Slovenia WHAT’S INCLUDED • Use of a carbon road bike (see page 6 for details) • Service of local, professional guides throughout the program • Ciclismo jersey and water bottle • All accommodations • 5 dinners, 2 lunches & all breakfasts • Wine tasting • Cycling clinics & one-on-one coaching • Guided visits of Gorizia and Cividale • World War I museum visit in Kobarid • Group shuttle during and at the end of the tour • Open air activities in Bovec (rafting and/or hiking or cycling) “Every experience - food, wine, tours, routes, was beyond any expectation. It was mind-numbing to see how the “bar” kept elevating. Each experience topped the last one!”- John R. Pittsford, NY Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 2 FRIULI & SLOVENIA CLASSICO Ability Level: Athletic Beginner / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 1 Highlights GORIZIA We meet at 12:30 pm in the lobby of our hotel for lunch and greetings, followed by a bike fitting and a spin near the border. We begin our tour in Daily Mileage - 10/13 miles Gorizia, which has a central European flavor and is split into two sides, with the Slovenian side called Nova Gorica. Find out why it was a favorite spot Riding Terrain - Flat and one of the Hapsburg nobility in the 19th century, when you experience the mild climb (3 miles) on extra loop climate, green parks, and brilliant social life. Hotel - Grand Hotel Entourage • Location: Gorizia The 4-star Grand Hotel Entourage was once home to the Court of King • Duration: 2 Nights Charles X. It has been completely restored and retains all of its majestic • www.hotelentourage.it/en features, incorporating them with modern facilities. Each guest room and suite is elegantly decorated, some with antiques. They overlook the square, the rose garden, the grounds, or the castle. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the hotel. DAY 2 Highlights Pedal towards east and cross the border, discovering a unique and natural GORIZIA AND THE environment called “Carso.” According to linguists, the name Carso comes CARSO from the root “karra,” a pre-Indo-European word for stone – and stone Daily Mileage - 35/43 miles is the very essence of Carso. The vast limestone outcrops, grottoes, and underground rivers are results of slow water erosion; they constitute an Riding Terrain - Rolling and a astonishing and unforgettable environment. Today we cross the Italian/ few hills on main road and extra Slovenian border multiple times at the abandoned border crossing posts. loop Hotel - See Day 1 DAY 3 Highlights The area of Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli covers part of the province COLLIO, COLLI of Udine and stretches across the hills bordering Slovenia. Today we ride ORIENTALI, AND to Colli and explore it in greater depth, wheeling between gentle slopes CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI awash in grapevines. Thanks to the region’s succession of hills and plentiful southward-facing slopes, the area named Collio provides the perfect Daily Mileage - 30/41 miles environment for premium quality winemaking- especially white wines– with over 200 makers! Naturally, you’ll have ample opportunities to sample Flat and rolling Riding Terrain - superb wines. Cividale del Friuli was the ancient capital of the Lombard hills; one solid climb (5 miles) on dukedom and the style of the time is still well represented by the typical extra loop architecture. Hotel - Locanda del Castello • Location: Cividale del Friuli Boasting a modern spa and a restaurant, the 4-star Locanda al Castello • Duration: 1 Night Wellness Resort offers nine rooms individually decorated in an exclusive and • www.alcastello.net refined manner with individual antique pieces and tasteful décor. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 3 FRIULI & SLOVENIA CLASSICO Ability Level: Athletic Beginner / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 4 Highlights SLOVENIA: BOVEC AND Today we’ll cross the border into Slovenia and explore the Soca Valley THE SOCA VALLEY (Isonzo Valley in Italian). Note how quickly the sights and environment change! The clear, alpine waters of the Soca River, called the Emerald Daily Mileage - 32/41 miles beauty by locals due to the crystal quality of the water, the shadowy routes, and fresh breezes from the nearby Mount Triglav will refresh your senses. Riding Terrain - Rolling and This area experienced a lot of military action during World War I, including flat; one short and steep climb playing host to 12 different battles between May 1915 and November 1917. (1 mile) on extra loop We spin along the valley visiting the Slavic town of Kobarid and its famous WWI museum, nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic before arriving in Dobra Vila Bovec Hotel - Bovec for the evening. • Location: Bovec • Duration: 2 Nights Housed in a historic telephone central office surrounded by green • www.dobra-vila-bovec.si/ sceneries, the 4-star Hotel Dobra Vila features a wine boutique and air- conditioned rooms. DAY 5 Highlights This is a day dedicated to enjoying the region. On the Isonzo river you ACTIVITY DAY IN BOVEC can choose to experience a easy rafting descent, one of the several water Daily Mileage - 23 miles sports that Bovec is known for. A local company will provide us with all the (optional) equipment necessary to enjoy this experience: wetsuit, boots, life jacket and helmet. In the afternoon you may also choose to hike on the foothills Riding Terrain - One climb (2 of Mt Canin or simply relax at the hotel. We will also have the opportunity miles), then gentle rolling to enjoy an optional loop ride available in the afternoon, which is highly recommended to those of you who wish to further explore the valley of Hotel - See Day 1 Soca river. DAY 6 Highlights The morning begins with a 1 hour shuttle to avoid the climb to the Predil BLED Pass. Our bike ride begins from Kranjska Gora, initially on a beautiful bike path and then, at times, riding through the countryside en route to Bled. Daily Mileage - 28/44 miles This is another beautiful opportunity to enjoy the Triglav National Park Riding Terrain - Flat and rolling and to savor the enchanting atmosphere of one of the most famous and then one climb (2 miles) on frequently visited places in Slovenia. We finish our day in the charming town main route, more hills on extra of Bled, famous for its lake and tranquil atmosphere. loop The 4-star Hotel Triglav has exquisite charm arising from its elegant interiors Hotel - Hotel Triglav and pleasant location on the lake. All guest rooms have lake views. An • Location: Bled indoor pool, Finnish sauna and relaxation and reading room are available to • Duration: 1 Night guests, free of charge. • www.hoteltriglavbled.si Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 4 FRIULI & SLOVENIA CLASSICO Ability Level: Athletic Beginner / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 7 Highlights LJUBLJANA Today on out last ride we reach the enchanting Ljubljana, ancient capital of the historical region of Carniola, and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Daily Mileage - 40 miles Site and capital of Slovenia. This charming town has been influenced for centuries by its geographic position, at the crossroads of the Slavic, Riding Terrain - Rolling Germanic and Latin cultures. Allow some time before dinner to take a stroll in the old part of town and maybe also visit the castle located in the center Hotel - Grand Hotel Union Executive and just a few minutes away from our hotel. This is the perfect location to • Location: Ljubljana end our fantastic tour across two countries in the middle of Europe, which • Duration: 1 Night were once part of the Roman Empire.