Experiential tourism offering is at its best in the lesser known regions and locations. You may not have heard about Friuli Venezia Giulia yet but this destination’s reputation is going to change soon. Friuli Venezia Giulia is a hidden gem in Italy: here’s why your customers will be enchanted to visit it and why you should add it to your listing as the next best experiential tourism destination.
A small compendium of the Universe
This is how Ippolito Nievo, Italian writer and patriot of the 19th century, that was deeply in love with Friuli Venezia Giulia, defines this small region: “Friuli is a small compendium of the universe. This alpine, flat and lagoon universe spreads in sixty miles from north to south”. The portrait painted by Nievo perfectly represents this corner of Italy that lies between the peaks of the Alps and the Adriatic Sea. Friuli Venezia Giulia is a border region, a crossroads of cultures, and as a result, a mix of different civilizations and traditions – the Italian, the Slavic and the Germanic cultures have been melting over decades, giving birth to a unique and fascinating cultural melting pot. Blue sea, gentle hills and uncontaminated mountains, capable of rewarding its visitors with the abundance of a surprising land. Plus, multicultural richness and slow pace of life, authentic beauty and flavors that represent a varied and unique experiential tourism offer that can be found only in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The brand “FiuLI VEnezia Giulia” to promote experiential tourism
With the aim to promote the area from an experiential tourism perspective, the Region has set up an agency that will be responsible for marketing and development of sustainable tourism in the area. This is how the brand “FriuLI VEnezia Giulia” was born with a double meaning: to both invite visitors “to live” a unique experience in the region and to live “live” the region itself. Also, not so many people know that Friuli and Venezia Giulia are two distinct parts of the region: the “live” between them in the logo aims at connecting them. The color red is symbolic too and it’s connected to the concept of “hospitality”.
Local people as experiential tourism ambassadors
In order to develop a stronger connection between visitors and local people, Friuli Venezia Giulia was the first region in Italy to launch the Social Ambassador project.
Thanks to this project, visitors are invited to explore the region together with those local people that are more than happy to share their stories, traditions, and interests.
The project involves people into using storytelling techniques to create compelling stories that your customers will love – feel free to have a look at the best ones that are published on the blog “Friuli Venezia Giulia Experience”.
What does Friuli Venezia Giulia offer to those interested in experiential tourism activities?
Friuli Venezia Giulia does not lack experiential tourism opportunities. Your customers will surely love to dive into:
- Multicultural, cosmopolitan, Roman, Habsburg Trieste that is famous for its square on the sea and the wind “bora”.
- The Barcolana and the romantic castle of Miramare
- The historic cafes and the tram in Gorizia that is surrounded by mountains and parks, and has a very interesting past: here on May 1, 2004, the last wall of Europe that separated it from the Slovenian Nova Gorica finally fell down.
- Udine is a very elegant and Venetian-style city that is rich in artistic and traditional heritage, such as Tiepolo’s art.
- The city is famous for the “tajut”, the typical aperitif that your customers will enjoy in the taverns of the ancient Roman city Aquileia.
- Cividale has been funded by ancient Romans too and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Spilimbergo is the city of mosaics, which houses a world-famous school of Roman and Byzantine mosaic art.
- Let’s not forget that Friuli Venezia Giulia faces the Adriatic Sea in all its variety: a spectacular lagoon, large sandy beaches and the Blue Flag sea of Grado and Lignano Sabbiadoro await visitors from all over the world.
- Sports and activities are to mention as well, as the region hosts part of the Alps.
- San Daniele is a beautiful ancient town on top of a morainic hill that lies along the Tagliamento river and it’s famous all over the world for its secular traditional ham. In fact, here the warm breezes of the Adriatic Sea meet the cold breezes of the Alps, creating a microclimate that is perfect for the seasoning process.
Last but not least: experiential food tourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Ramandolo, Picolit, and other world-famous white wines are produced in the area around the city of Collio, where spring cherry flowers bloom enthusiastically.
- Very few know the traditional Friulan dish “la brovada”, made of turnips soaked in grape marc and red wine.
- Another typical vegetable is the white asparagus, that grows well in drained soils and stays white because it grows covered with black plastic sheets to avoid sun exposure. Its cultivation takes place from March to May. One hectare of land produces between 40 and 50 kilos of asparagus.
- The “pestàt” is a mix of raw vegetables cut into small pieces and mixed with ground lard, salt, and herbs and it’s widely used in cooking and has been recognized by Slow Food association.
- Same it goes with the “pan di sorc”, a dessert that is made with wheat, rye and corn “cinquantino” (“sorc” in dialect), dried figs and a few grains of raisins.
There are so many more food and wine tourism experiences in Friuli that is almost impossible to list them all here but your customers will surely love to explore this interesting side of the region.
Artès supports experiential tourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia with its “stories to live together”
Passionate operators of experiential tourism welcome visitors and share with them unique and original experiences related to their interests and local traditions: these are Artès stories to live together set in Friuli Venezia Giulia, such as:
- The excellent Frico Friulano of Nonna Marisa – with Alessandra
- Spilimbergo painting collection: a Prosciutto for your art – with Tamara
- Giovanna’s Blogtour in Cividale del Friuli – with Giovanna
- Reportage on the Magredi asparagus at Del Zotto farm – with Manuela
- Caneva’s Figo Moro fig fruit conquers Japan – with Giuliana
Looking for some more reasons to add Friuli Venezia Giulia to your listing?
Last but not least, Friuli Venezia Giulia ne organizza tanti durante tutto l’anno ed alcuni sono strettamente legate alle storie da vivere insieme di Artès. Di seguito ve ne segnaliamo alcuni da non perdere
May, 18th – 20th – Pordenone Viaggia
June, 21st – 24th – Festa del Prosciutto San Daniele del Friuli
July, 7th – MiddleAge Day
July, 14th – Festa del Figo Moro – Castello di Caneva
July, 15th – 20th – Pordenone Blues Festival
Friuli Venezia Giulia is a lesser known region but it’s still full of life and surprising hidden gems. If you are looking for a local partner to know more about this beautiful region, feel free to contact us: we at Artès would be happy to assist you and your customers.