Occupying the north-eastern corner of Italy, the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia is bordered to the east by Slovenia, the north by Austria, to the west by the Veneto and to the south by the Adriatic sea. Principle towns include Trieste, Pordenone, Gorizia and Udine.
Travel writer Eric Newby described the region as 'where the Mediterranean ends and Mitteleuropa begins'. The north of the region, bordering Austria, where towns include Tarvisio, Pontebba, Ara Terme and Comeglians, is mountainous, Alpine in flavour. Further south, Udine has been voted 'Italy's best place to live' by the Italians themselves - it has a rather Venetian flavour. It also has superb frescoes by Tiepolo.
There is skiing at Carnia, Roman remains and a superb Basilica at Aquileia, and some pleasant resorts on the Triestine Riviera, on the Adriatic: resorts include Barcola and Miramare. Check out the stunning, cave-pitted landscape of the Carso, and head to the Grotta Gigante, the world's largest accessible cave.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, just to whet your appetite,
as well as links to individual towns in Friuli (top left);
See also Friuli hotels (full listings) and our Friuli hotel map.
