THE CHARM OF THE BORDERLANDS

Early morning departure from the chosen location and travel to Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Stop in Palmanova, built in 1593 by the Republic of Venice, is a fortress city preserved in extraordinary condition. A national monument since 1960, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. Guided tour.

Arrive in Udine, a town with squares of Venetian charm and ancient palaces: from Piazza Libertà, called "the most beautiful Venetian square on the mainland," to Piazza Matteotti (or Piazza delle Erbe), which, all surrounded by arcades, looks like an open-air living room, observe the carousel of ancient and colorful palaces that announce the spirit of Udine. On the city's hill stands the castle from which you can glimpse the rooftops of the city, the mountains surrounding it, and, to the south, the Adriatic Sea.

Free lunch. Guided tour of the city. Udine in the eighteenth century was the city of Giambattista Tiepolo, who reached his artistic maturity here: today you can admire his masterpieces in the Tiepolo Galleries (in the Patriarchal Palace), the Cathedral, and the Church of the Purità. Today Udine is a city open to innovations while still tying its image to authentic taverns where one of the most beloved rituals is celebrated, namely the tasting of a glass of wine (tajut) to be savored in a convivial atmosphere. At the end continue to the hotel, accommodation in the reserved rooms. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Departure for Trieste. Stop along the way at the Redipuglia military shrine. Free tour of the monumental military cemetery, built during the fascist era and dedicated to the memory of more than 100,000 Italian soldiers who fell during World War I. The monument's enormous size and the large area involved in memorial park make it the largest military memorial in Italy and one of the largest in the world. Continuation to Trieste.

Meet with the guide for a tour of the historic center: the magnificent Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia, City Hall, Palazzo Modello, Casa Stratti which houses one of the city's historic cafes, Caffè degli Specchi, the Government Palace. Free lunch. In the afternoon move to Miramare Castle (entrance fees not included to be adjusted on site). The castle, surrounded by a lush park full of valuable botanical species, enjoys an enchanting panoramic position, as it is located overlooking the sea at the tip of the Grignano promontory. Commissioned around the middle of the 19th century by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg to live there with his consort Charlotte of Belgium, it offers a unique testimony of a luxurious aristocratic residence preserved with its original interior furnishings.

Upon completion return journey with arrival expected in the evening.