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Friuli-Venezia Giulia is the most north-easterly region of Italy and the country’s fifth largest. It covers an area of 7,856 square kilometres and is the fifth smallest region of the country with about 1.2 million inhabitants. It is divided into four provinces: Gorozia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine. The regional capital is Trieste. It’s bordered by Austria in the north and Slovenia to the east. The south coast of the region faces the Adriatic Sea and to the west the Veneto region.

For centuries Romans, Slavs, Venetians and Austrians have fought over the region. The influences remain in the architecture and food. Trieste was finally incorporated into Italy in 1954 and the borders were closed.

The region is one of five autonomous É«ÖÐÉ« regions with a special statute granted in 1963. The other four include Aosta Valley, Sardinia, Sicily and Trentino-Alto Adige. Although a part of federal Italy these regions are run like franchises. Whilst overall governance lies with Italy they are responsible for their own administration, legislation and finances, independent of state control.

Like most of the rest of Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia was previously divided into four provinces: Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine. In 2018, the final one of these was abolished, with local policies instead becoming the responsibility of 18 Intermunicipal Territorial Unions. This helps with more focused planning and budgeting.

The region’s official languages are É«ÖÐÉ«, Friulian, Slovene and German.

During Roman times, the region existed within the subdivision Regio X Venetia et Histria. During this period, one of the most luxurious cities of Roman rule was Aquileia. The remains of this huge former colony and port have survived to this day as a vast archaeological area, currently listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. As well as the region’s main political, cultural and religious hub until the 15th century, it was also one of the main centres of early Christianity.

In the 6th century, Slovenians began to relocate to Italy’s Eastern Alps, near the Slovenian border. This would form the modern-day Slovenes ethnic group. Friuli and Venezia Giulia then began to separate.

In the 15th century, Fruili joined the Venetian territory, with Venezia Giulia remaining within the Holy Roman Empire. Fruili would then transfer to Austrian rule following Napolean’s historic Treaty of Campo Formio. In 1866 Fruili became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

During the First World War, the region was bombed heavily and suffered extensive damage.

Following the Second World War, the Treaty of Peace with Italy. Trieste and the surrounding area were then formed into a new independent state called the Free Territory of Trieste. In 1954 the administration was handed over to the É«ÖÐÉ« Government. Therein began the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

The region's name was officially Friuli-Venezia Giulia (hyphenated) until 2001 when the hyphen was dropped following the modification to the É«ÖÐÉ« Constitution.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s landscape wildly varies throughout the region. The north is very mountainous, featuring the Alps and the epic Jôf di Montasio. This is the region’s highest mountain, standing at 2,754 m above sea level. In winter, the mountains see some of Italy’s coldest temperatures. The area also features well-known mountain lakes.

The western part is the most tourist-heavy with many beaches and tourist resorts. The southeast part of the region is very hilly. The land here, which connects to Slovenia, provides conditions for excellent wine so crucial to the region’s export production.

Fruili is responsible for some of the finest white wines in the world. The area has four main wine regions: Isonzo, Carso, Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli. The largest winemaking area is the Friuli Grave, which has 16,000 acres of vineyards and almost runs the length of the entire region. Friuli Grave exports Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Friulano, and is particularly known for its Pinot Grigio.

The main river is Tagliamento (178 km), the last structurally intact river in the Alps. Many rivers lie in the region, which has been a network of rivers, man-made canals, and lagoons for thousands of years.

The region’s economy relies heavily on farming and agriculture. Another crucial part of the economy is its export production. Like many regions in Italy, it exports fruit, cheese, wine and cured ham all over the country and the world. Aside from food and drink, some of the region’s biggest exports are knives, timber and furniture. It is also Italy’s third biggest exporter of soy.

Its transport links also offer a vital service to Italy. The port of Trieste is where Italy exports its coffee globally, whilst the well-connected ports of Monfalcone and Porto Nogaro help to maintain relations with neighbouring countries, Slovenia and Austria.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is home to many incredible foods. Famous meats are Prosciutto San Daniele, a cured ham, and muset a boiled spiced sausage made from pork offal with black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, cloves and nutmeg.

The region has an abundance of fresh seafood. Local restaurants serve fresh octopus, mussels, trout, carp and other freshwater fish. Other exports are horseradish and polenta.

Locals in Trieste eat Jota (a sauerkraut and bean stew) to help cope with the local strong winds, and Ajvar a red pepper and aubergine chutney, of Slavic origin.

Some of the main tourist attractions in the region are 19th-century castle Miramare; Lacs de Fusine, two stunning lakes on the border with Slovenia; the Grotta Gigante near Trieste, which holds a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest show cave.

Also unmissable are the ‘alpine beauty’ of the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park’s Forni di Sopra; Udine’s Cividale del Friuli, the picturesque first capital of the Kindom of the Longobards; and Lignano Sabbiadoro, a beautiful oasis of relaxation, with incredible sands and restaurants.

Perhaps the most popular tourist attraction is Trieste’s magnificent Piazza Unità d’Italia, a huge seafront square surrounded by stunning palazzi. Locals found the expense of the square far too grand, leading them to dub the Palazzo del Municipio a ‘bird cage’.

The region’s airport Ronchi dei Legionari is located 30 km from Trieste and 40 km from Udine. Planes fly worldwide to London, Belgrade, Valencia, Frankfurt and many other places in Italy.

Despite the name, Venezia (Venice) is not a part of the region.

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