The region of Friuli Venezia Giulia is generally unknown to most tourists who travel to Italy. The area is often bypassed by those who prefer to tour the ruins of Rome or to marvel at the spectacular countryside of Tuscany. Considered one of Italy's most versatile regions, Friuli Venezia Giulia has all of that and more: mountains, beaches, Roman ruins, seaports, quaint small towns and villages. Located in the extreme Northeast, Friuli Venezia Giulia is one of Italy´s most culturally rich and diverse regions, as it is bordered by the Central European countries of Austria and Slovenia and the beautiful Adriatic Sea. Throughout history, control of the region has constantly changed between ruling governments. The Hapsburg Empire ruled the region for most of the 19th century, so it still retains many Austrian and Slavic influences in the areas of cuisine and lifestyle.
Its location has also made it the site of numerous conflicts throughout history, dating back as early as Roman times. More recently, Friuli Venezia Giulia was host to World War One's most significant episodes. It is an area that was also immortalized by Ernest Hemingway in his beloved classic, A Farewell to Arms. Hemingway, who based this work on his own experiences as a soldier during the First World War, would never forget the horrific events he saw on the battlefields of Northern Italy. The names of Schio, Fossalta, and the Piave River were forever etched in his mind. Nor have the people of Friuli Venezia Giulia forgotten about the blood that was shed on their land more than 90 years ago. Visitors to the region can now pay homage to the soldiers of the First World War at the Great War theme park, an open-air museum in Monfalcone, the War Memorial at Redipuglia, where the remains of 10,000 soldiers are laid to rest, and the Museum of the Great War in Gorizia.
Coupled with the experience of seeing the stirring reminders of the war that was to end all wars, the cuisine of Friuli Venezia Giulia is equally rich an experience. The cuisine of the region has been equated to being as varied as the landscapes, extremely rich and diverse. It comes from the joining of the three culinary traditions that have shaped and influenced the region the most: the Austrian, the Venetian, and the Slav. Some of the delectable dishes from the regional capital of Trieste are jota, a soup made of beans, potatoes, and white cabbage; goulash; and presnitz or cuguluf, a ring-shaped pastry of Viennese origin. From Gorizia, a small town at the foot of the Alps, comes such dishes as potato gnocchi with plums, drizzled with melted butter, cinnamon and a little sugar; and kaiserfleish, smoked pork loin scattered with grated fresh horseradish and served with sauerkraut.
Friuli Venezia Giulia is one of Italy's best kept secrets and will enchant all those who visit. It is a region not to be missed, one that will reward those who seek out its many wonders.
For More Information Visit These Sites:
Turismo.fvg.it
Lost Generation.com
Maria Liberati.com
