Hi, I’m Giovanni!
Ippolito Nievo described it as a “small compendium of the universe”: nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, contaminated by German, Greek and Slavic cultures, Friuli-Venezia Giulia offers an incredibly diverse range of opportunities within just a few kilometres.
We start from Trieste, the epicentre of the cosmopolitanism lavished on this tiny piece of land: for centuries, its places of worship have attracted people from all over the world, drawn by the aromas of freshly roasted coffee and curious succession of dishes as delicious as their origins are varied: sarde in saor, Nordic Sacher torte and the not-to-be-missed cooked ham “in crosta”.
Just a few minutes’ drive and we find the rugged Karst and sinuous heights of the Gorizia Collio awaiting us, with panoramic tastings among the vineyards or precious ancient wine cellars, equivalent to jewels carved into the rock.
The beautiful Udine and Pordenone will revive ancient artisan traditions such as mosaics, offering cuisine with PDO delicacies such as San Daniele and Montasio.
Along the way, prestigious UNESCO sites such as the Longobard Cividale and the Roman Aquileia welcome us for an exclusive visit just before a spritz along the canals of the beautiful Grado, giving us some time to relax between the elegant thermal baths and peaceful boat trips on the lagoons.
In the space of a few hours, it’s possible to go from fairy-tale castles by the sea to mountain treks, from the trenches of the Great War to the footsteps of great writers such as Joyce, Svevo, Rike and Saba, all profoundly inspired by these very places.
I look forward to you joining me for unique experiences alongside intense moments of work.