Go With Kids.Com
Have kids will travel
Europe
Fairytail Finland
Christmas Finland
Heart of Ireland
Czech Republic
Saxony
Prague
Greek Delights
Disneyland Paris
Budapest
Austria
Legoland - Denmark
Holland
Brittany
Italy
Uk
Heart of England
Shakespeare Country
County Fermangagh
Cornwall
Kent
Leicestershire
Wales
North America
Miami
Kansas
Oklahoma
North Africa
Morocco
FAMILY TRAVEL TO ITALY
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
Friuli Venezia Guilia is a versatile region with a unique kind of beauty and peacefulness that make it the ideal destination for a stress-free family holiday. Italy’s most north-eastern region is barely mentioned in most guidebooks and rarely visited even by Italians, which makes it a great place for families seeking a new experience. The area is made up of various landscapes and offers something for everyone, from snow-capped mountains in the north to warm sandy beaches along the Adriatic coast in the south. The secluded alpine towns, bustling seaports, fishing villages, Roman ruins, rich history, unspoiled landscape and infused culture create a welcoming environment for families.
The region comprises of four provinces - Trieste, Gorizia, Pordenone and Udine, and borders Austria to the north and Slovenia and the Adriatic to the south. Families are welcomed and catered for throughout the region and whether your visiting the beaches, attractions and marinas of Lignano Sabbiadoro, or the ski resorts and parks of the Fruilian Dolomites and Julian Alps, travelling to the various locations is comfortable with plenty of choices of accommodation in splendid hotels and farmhouses. The Adriatic beach areas and northern ski resorts are popular in the high seasons but not overcrowded.
Lignano is known as ‘The Italian Florida‘ due to its long strip of golden sand and lagoons. It was Ernest Hemmingway who referred to this beautiful area as the “New Florida” and it has rapidly developed into one of the principal tourist resorts of the Adriatic. It has over 8 kilometres of sandy beaches, amusement and water parks, spacious marinas, and plenty of hotels and villas immersed in the pine groves. The main attractions are:- Aquasplash, one of the largest water parks in Europe; Gulliverlandia takes you back in time; the Aquarium with its transparent underwater tunnel; Parco Junior is a play area only for children under 12; and the Parco Zoo Punta Verde has over 1500 animals roaming in 12 hectares of natural parkland.
For a tranquil, educational day out take a boat trip to the fishing village of Marano and visit the Marano Lagoon, a unique ecosystem surrounded by nature reserves.
The ancient Romans left many remarkable traces in this area, mainly in Aquileia, which is a rich and famous archaeological centre. The village is surrounded by the ruins of villas, baths, temples and market places, and what remains is a reminder of the past splendour of the Roman Empire. It was here that Emperor Augustus received Herod the Great, King of Judea in 10BC, and also where the early Christian church was counselled in 381AD by the learned saints, Ambrose and Jerome. Substantial parts of the early Christian basilica containing ornate floor mosaics have survived.
Grado evolved in the Roman epoch with its harbour and dockside to serve nearby Aquileia and to ensure its ships had a secure military port. It is known as the “ Sunny Island” and together with its old town of Venetian origin is renowned for its spa, golf course, golden sandy shore, and above all the excellent restaurants made famous by their fish cuisine. Grado is not just a holiday resort, its also a historical and artistic centre of great interest. Great for families is the Parco Termale Acquatico ( Seawater Park) directly on the main beach. Surrounded by greenery, its 85mt long sea-water pool has a swimming channel, whirlpool, spring boards, water chute and games for children. Other places of interest include St Eufemia's Basilica (Basilica di S. Eufemia), The Baptistery, St Mary of Graces' Basilica (Basilica della Madonna delle Grazie), Lapidarium and Basilica of Piazza della Corte.
Udine , the capital of Friuli, is an interesting city that holds many historical and artistic monuments. The Piazza della Liberta, which is situated in the heart of the town, is widely considered Udine’s historical centre and the most beautiful Venetian square outside of Venice. The Palazzo del Comune (Town Hall) is built of pink stone in Venetian Gothic style and it stands near the Torre dell’Orologio (clock tower), which was constructed in 1527 and is crowned by two Moors who strike on the hour. Rising beyond the square is the Arco Bollani, a gateway designed by Palladio in 1556, its steps lead up to the castle, which after much reconstruction looks like a majestic Renaissance palace. Housed here is the Musei Civici e galleria di Storia e Arte Antica ( Civic Museum and the Galleries of History and Art).
Cividale del Friuli, a pretty town located in the province of Udine, has a gate in the medieval walls leading down to the main street and a ravine, which splits the town in two and is spanned by the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge). The Templetto Longobardo (Lombardic Chapel), an 8th century church decorated with reliefs of saints, is located on the north bank. Cividale del Friuli’s museum contains a collection of Lombardic items, including jewellery, ivory and weapons. The Duomo, which holds a beautiful 13th century silver altarpiece, is located next door.
You wont find any theme parks in the Carnia region, but this is an area where families can relax and enjoy Roman ruins, rich history, archaeological delights and an unspoiled landscape with amazing scenery. Tourism is unheard of here, a holiday in Carnia has a human dimension and means you can enjoy the nature, sport, history, culture, local food and wine without the excesses of overcrowding. The Alpine lakes, waterfalls, rivers and valleys are natural attractions that provide fun and relaxation for the whole family. During the year you can enjoy the atmosphere of local village festivals celebrated according to ancient customs, such as the Kiss of the Crosses held in May at the Pieve of San Pietro, the oldest church in Carnia beautifully located on a hill overlooking Zuglio. Also here is the Iulium Carnicum ( Civic Archaeological Museum), where objects from all over the Carnian region are housed.
Tolmezzo , the capital of Carnia, is an historic town with traces of its ancient origins still evident in imposing buildings, museums, churches and wide piazzas. An interesting place to visit here is the Museum of Folk Traditions and Art, where you can see reconstructed rooms from private houses full of objects, furniture and work tools. Nestling on Mount Strabut in the Tagliamento Valley, is the tiny village of Illegio. Time has stood still in this pretty village and you can visit the Mulin dal Flec, a functional 16th century mill where it’s possible to see grain being milled into exquisite flour for the 17th century oven to bake fresh bread, a delight to eat with the cheese specialities of the village. Despite being such a small village its produce and products are well-known internationally, satin sheets made and embroidered here are used by the Queen of England. Take a short walk through majestic landscape from the village to St Florian’s Church, where you can appreciate the features of Renaissance and Gothic periods together with works carried out during the 8 th century.
Beautifully overlooked by the towering peaks of the eastern Dolomites is Forni di Sopra, an area that benefits from very particular geoclimatic conditions and rapidly developing as a popular destination for families. The landscape is exceptionally colourful in summer and the facilities include a swimming pool, bicycle and walking trails, including a special path for families. Many trails lead into the beautiful Natural Park of the Fruilian Dolomites, whose visitor centre is in the town. The terrain and ideal snow conditions in winter make this one of Carnia’s main skiing centres. Snow-making equipment ensures the presence of snow, there are illuminated trails in town, an ice-skating rink and a dog-sledding centre in nearby Andrazza.
Arta Terme is the perfect base whilst touring the Carnia region. This spa town is renowned for its excellent local cuisine, healthy air and the therapeutic benefits of the Pudia spring waters, known as far back as the Roman age. Of remarkable importance is the spontaneous architecture, many elegant buildings date back to the 1700's and have typical large arches in tufa. The town has many good restaurants and hotels to visit whilst you enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the spa with its healing and beneficial treatments.
ATTRACTIONS
Parco Zoo Punta Verde - Lignano Sabbiadoro
This magnificent zoo and wildlife park spreads across 10,000 sq/km of land set in a loop of the Tagliamento river in the north-west of the Lignano peninsular. The park features over 1000 animals belonging to 200 different species, including mammals, birds and reptiles.
Aqua splash - Lignano Sabbiadoro
This huge water park caters for the whole family. A variety of pools include a wave pool and numerous slides. The water attractions include the Balena (Whale), Dinosauro (Dinosaur), Tartar (Turtle), Elefante (Elephant) and Orso (Bear) for younger children, and Anaconda, Missile, Black Hole, Kamikaze and Undulant (Riding the Waves) for the older ones seeking a thrill ride.
Gulliverlandia - Lignano Sabbiadoro
Located next to Aquasplash this amazing park is an ideal place to spend a fun day. There’s something for everyone here, including the Scivolone Niagara (Niagara Slide), Valle dei Dinosauri ( Jurassic Valley), Aquarium, Gully Circus and Fuga dal Castello ( Freefall Tower). Don’t miss the Torre Panoramica ( Panoramic Tower) from where you will get fantastic views across the park and Aquasplash. The excellent facilities include a restaurant and baby areas.
Recommended places to eat
From the mountains to the sea, this region has a cuisine made up with a thousand different tastes. The dishes vary according to the seasons because the people work with what they have, but be adventurous and sample the many local dishes specific to the various provinces.
This is a list of recommended restaurants.
Da Bepi Salon , Via Peresson 7033020 Piano d'Arta.
A great example of typical Carnian cuisine. Opened in the 1940s, it is still run by Bepi Salon, doyen of Carnian hoteliers, with his wife, Signora Fides.
Miramonti Restaurant, Via Superiore, Illegio.
Vecchia Osteria Cimenti, Via C. Battisti, Villa Santina
Ristorante Taverna al Pescatore, Via San Vito, Marano Lagunare
Osteria da Mario, Latisana
Recommended places to stay
Accommodation is varied and plentiful, varying from rustic farmhouses, wonderful villas and apartments to a full range of classy hotels. Good bed and breakfast accommodation is becoming more readily available and a useful website is: www.bedandbreakfastfvg.com.
Also, for a wide choice of excellent farmhouse accommodation (Agriturismo) look at: www.agriturismofvg.com.
Hotel Florida, Lignano Sabbiadoro
Child-friendly, family managed hotel ideally located in a quiet area close to both the beach and town centre. They have family rooms, bicycles, a private beach area and mini-club for younger children with an outdoor playground.
Borgo Soandri,Via Roma 56. Sutrio
Houses and villas dating from the 18th century, located in the heart of the old districts of this pretty village, have been converted into comfortable ideal for families.
Useful contacts:
Friuli Venezia Giulia - www.turismo.fvg.it
Lignano - www.aiatlignano.it
Carnia - www.carnia.it
Grado e Aquileia - www.gradoturismo.info
Trieste - www.triestetourism.it
Udine - www.provincia.udine.it
Arta Terme Spa - www.termediarta.it
email: info@gowithkids.com