Map of Alpina Mediterranean cycle route

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Venzone – Cividale del Friuli

Start of the First Stage: Venzone and the Tagliamento River

The first stage of the Alpina Mediterranean Cycle Route starts in the beautiful village of Venzone (Pušja vas) in the province of Udine and the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Just south of the meeting point of the Fella and Tagliamento Rivers, the stage begins quietly. This section spans nearly 55 kilometers with a gentle descent. Furthermore, the road remains peaceful and easy to follow.
The route then follows the Tagliamento River as it moves south and east.

Before heading out, take a moment to enjoy the culture of Venzone. This unheralded community has a history that spans 3,000 years. Furthermore, Venzone is a quiet village that never demands your attention. Once you arrive, however, you will wonder how you ever missed it. In fact, the town is a picturesque medieval gem with well-preserved walls. It also sits in an alpine setting surrounded by vineyards.

The walled village with cobblestone streets is a journey through several architectural periods. Visit the Duomo di Sant’Andrea consecrated in 1338. After, go see the mummies housed in the Cemetery Chapel of Saint Michel.

Leaving Venzone and Heading Toward Cividale del Friuli

When you are ready to hop on your bicycle, it is important to note that in the town of Venzone, the Alpina Mediterranean Cycle Route diverges from the well-known Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg, which continues toward Udine, Palmanova, Grado. When leaving Venzone on the Alpina Mediterranean, you’ll follow the turquoise Tagliamento River. It is one of Europe’s last untamed rivers. You then continue with a gentle descent for almost 15 kilometers. Most of this section is on asphalt, although some short stretches remain unpaved. Equally important, the Alpina Mediterranean’s first stage runs from Venzone to Cividale del Friuli. In addition, this stage is a combination of several existing routes. FVG3 and FVG3/d.

Pedaling along the edges of the Udine Plain, this is a paradise for gourmet types who love cheese, wine, and prosciutto. You’ll ride through the community of Case Rivoli Bianchi and the charming village of Ospedaletto on the way to the bustling and mountain-ringed town of Gemona del Friuli (about 10 kilometers into the ride). While here, visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Gemona Castle.

South of the city of Tarcento, just after the settlement of Molinis, the route reaches its high point (239 meters) before continuing through the villages of Qualso and Zompitta. After, there will be a regular shift back and forth between paved and unpaved (but packed and easy to ride) surfaces on the way to the beautiful town of Cividale del Friuli (Čedad).This is the final part of our first stage.— which rests next to the Natisone River.

Founded by Julius Caesar and considered the chief city of Italy’s first Lombard duchy, Cividale del Friuli is an incredible destination that drips with history.

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Cividale del Friuli – Tolmin

Today’s stage of approximately 45 kilometers begins in the UNESCO town of Cividale del Friuli (Čedad), which sits along the Natisone River. Located about 16 kilometers from the Italian city of Udine to the west and around 20 kilometers from the Slovenian border (further along the route) to the east, the town, known as Čedad in Slovenian, is a cultural nexus.

Founded by Julius Caesar in approximately 50 B.C., Cividale del Friuli is famous for its Lombard history. While here, make sure to visit the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge), the historic town center, the National Archaeological Museum, the Cathedral’s museum and treasury, and the Lombard Temple.

When you’re ready to pull yourself away from the majesty of Cividale del Friuli, hop on the Alpina Mediterranean Cycle Route and head north. The route will pass through vineyards and follow the Natisone River and over the fork of the Torrente Alberone River. You’ll ride through the villages of Sanguarzo, San Pietro al Natisone, Biarzo, and Stupizza into the realm of Mount Matajur, a 1,642-meter peak in the Julian Alps on the border between Italy and Slovenia. To this point, the trail is rolling and nearly all quiet asphalt and gently ascending.

Once in Slovenia, the Natisone River takes a new name: the Nadiža River. Make sure to visit the Nadiža River Pools, near the village of Robič, for a refreshing splash before the trail parts from the waterway. From here, the route continues to roll and undulate but the elevation gain levels off and crosses an approximately three-kilometer, unpaved section leading to the famous and gourmet town of Kobarid.

Kobarid is a combination of history (this was the town Ernest Hemingway wrote about in his WWI novel: “A Farewell to Arms”) and great food (this is also the site of the Michelin-starred Hiša Franko restaurant). While in town, make sure to visit the Kobarid Museum to learn about the history and conflicts that occurred here as the front lines of WWI. Kobarid is also a stop along the Walk of Peace hiking trail, which aims to replace the concept of conflict with understanding.

The route, now in the beautiful Soča River Valley, will begin an easy-going, approximately 15-kilometer slightly up and down as it follows the clear, emerald-green Soča River though the villages of Kamno and Volarje and the settlements of Gabrje and Dolje. You’ll then continue to the south and east on the way to the city of Tolmin at the confluence of the Soča and Tolminka Rivers and near the southern edge of the Triglav National Park.

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Tolmin – Nova Gorica

The first full stage of Slovenia’s section of the Alpina Mediterranean Cycle Route starts in Tolmin, which is tucked in the Julian Alps and wedged between the Soča and in the Tolminka Rivers. This idyllic town is famous for its festivals (especially music), outdoor sports of all sorts, and it is the perfect spot to begin your initial Alpina Mediterranean experience in Slovenia. While here, visit the Tolmin Museum and don’t miss the Tolmin Gorges.

Leaving from Tolmin, you’ll pass the confluence of the Soča and Tolminka Rivers and roll along the new cycling path towards the Most na Soči artificial lake and to the town of Most na Soči (five kilometers along the route). Here, at the confluence of the rivers Soča and Idrijca, is the geographical beginning of the Dinaric Alps (the exact borderline between Dinaric and Julian Alps). For geographers, this point is important as it marks the northernmost point of the Dinarides and a new world of mountains as you cycle south.

From here, you’ll have wonderful views of the lake. After a short and steep asphalt climb, cyclists will come to a challenging gravel section that follows the Soča River high above the left riverbank. The sensation here is that you’ve entered a remote and wild section of the stage. Around the 10th kilometer of this stage, you will encounter a short but somewhat challenging section of the route. When crossing the ravine of the Vogršček stream, just after the village of Gorenji Log, there is a steeper downhill segment followed by an uphill with a loose gravel surface, usually requiring a short bike push (about 100 m).

Near the halfway point of the stage, close to the town of Kanal (Kanal ob Soči), the route becomes easier. You’ll transition onto a quiet asphalt road which crosses the Soča River over an old stone bridge in the village of Kanal itself. At about 28 kilometers, in Plave, cyclists will find a quiet cycle path to Solkan and directly along the Soča river.

You’ll ride past the old stone railway bridge and cross the river again over the new bridge just for cyclists and pedestrians. Then cycle directly along the national border with Italy to the head of the Vipava Valley until the Europa Square in Nova Gorica, which was named, with its next-door sister city Gorizia, the European Capital of Culture for 2025. If you have some free time, drive to the Franciscan Monastery Kostanjevica, located on a hill south of Nova Gorica. In addition to a beautiful view of the city, you can also see the Škrabec library, where some 10,000 books and 30 first prints are stored; the oldest dates back to 1476.

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Nova Gorica – Sežana

The Alpina Mediterranean’s next stage leaves from Nova Gorica, where you’ll find cafes, galleries, and superb restaurants. Take some time to enjoy a rare instance (anywhere in the world) of the cross-border tranquility that Slovenia and Italy have accomplished with their two sister cities: Nova Gorica and Gorizia. Once just one city, the two were divided after World War II with the Treaty of Paris in 1947. The cities were “reunited” after Slovenia became independent and joined the European Union in 2004.

This stage of the Alpina Mediterranean route then travels along relaxed paths that lead safely through the larger urban area and past the towns of Šempeter pri Gorici and Vrtojba. Cyclists will then slowly approach the edge of the Karst Region. Get your camera ready because you’ll soon see a nice crossing of the Vipava River close to the town of Miren. After the town of Miren, at around the 11-kilometer mark, the route enters an easy-to-pedal unpaved section for about three kilometers.

You will then make a short climb up to a Karst plateau above the Vipava Valley — with a suggested detour and stop at the 25-meter-high Monument of Peace and Observation Tower in Cerje. Also a nice place to take a break, there is a coffee shop and great views to the Soča and Vipava Valleys and the Alps spreading out behind. From here, cyclists will ride across the typically karst landscape — a combination dry stone walls, vineyards and Karst forests, which create the uniqueness of the cultural landscape of the Karst. An interesting fact worth highlighting: the knowledge and techniques of drywall construction have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2018.

The route heads south through the settlements of Lokvica and Hudi Log before heading east just above the village of Sela na Krasu (where you’ll find a great camper stop with soon-to-be camping option as well) on a quiet country road about three kilometers south of the town of Kostanjevica na Krasu. At around the halfway point in this approximately 55-kilometer stage, adventurers will go back and forth between asphalt and packed gravel. They will roll through wonderfully scenic villages, such as Lipa and Sveto, past historical monuments, caves, and other landmarks all the way to the village of Komen and the nearby village of Štanjel (a recommended detour), where you will be squarely in one of the most beautiful areas of the country and, in fact, Europe.

The stage will become gentle (fairly flat) with rolling hills that continue to shift between gravel and asphalt for the next 20 kilometers — through the villages of Gabrovica pri Komnu and Krajna Vas and past the 300-meter hilltop of Kamarija — ending with an enjoyable ride along the new karst cycling path, all the way to the town of Sežana.

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Sežana – Ilirska Bistrica

Before starting the next stage of the Alpina Mediterranean — this one spans around 54 kilometers (three-quarters of which is paved) — take advantage of time in the town of Sežana. Enjoy coffee at one of the cafes and then visit the Sežana Botanical Garden at Villa Mirasasso. From Sežana, you’ll ride directly through the Karst Living Museum, where you can observe typical karst phenomena such as sinkholes, coves, landslide valleys, underground caves, etc. In addition, this is a space that, in the form of important elements of the authentic Karst cultural landscape, such as stone shepherd’s huts, dry walls, etc., reflects the coexistence of Karst man and nature. After, the route shifts onto a wide, single-trail section that takes cyclists on an easygoing section towards the Lipica stud farm.

In Lipica, where you will want to stay for a while and see the famous UNESCO-inscribed (for intangible cultural heritage) Lipizzaner horses and the oldest continuously operating stud farm in Europe at nearly five centuries. From here, you’ll take remote old paths to the peaceful town of Lokev, the largest Slovenian village, and its Lokev Military Museum (housed in a tower). After more easygoing asphalt and gravel roads, you’ll pedal to Matavun, Škocjan, and Betajna, which are an integral part of the Škocjan Caves Regional Park. The Škocjan Caves are the first monument in Slovenia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to their underground canyons, large halls, and natural bridges.

From Matavun, again remote and quiet gravel and asphalt roads take you on a slow ascent towards Rodik and the Rodik Mythical Park, where stone and statues create a storytelling venue for the whole family. From Rodik, the route begins to climb towards the Brkini, where the landscape turns into a hilly area with mixed forests and pastures. The most demanding part of the stage is the climb towards the village of Artviže, which lies at 817 meters above sea level. At the top, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Brkini, the Karst and, on clear days, even the Adriatic Sea. On the north side, the view reaches the extensive forests of the Snežnik plateau with the white mountain Snežnik in the middle.

Then, a relaxing ride awaits you on a narrow asphalt road through typical Brkini villages, such as Pregarje, Zajelšje and Tominje. Somewhere along the way, between one clustered village and another, it seems that time passes more slowly. The Brkini are also known for producing high-quality fruit, especially apples and plums, and for the Brkini plum brandy. The end of the stage brings you to Ilirska Bistrica, where you can explore local attractions. The Sušec Waterfall is hidden just a few steps from the old town center, built on water. Stroll among exotic and indigenous plant species from the Kidler Botanical Park to the Hill of Freedom.

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Ilirska Bistrica – Opatija

The last (or first) stage of the Alpina Mediterranean Cycle Route — which started in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, passed through the Julian Alps and Dinarica Alps in Slovenia while pedaling along river valleys and the Karst Region — will find its final stop (or beginning) in the iconic Croatian coastal town of Opatija. Before you get to that point, however, there’s a lot of great cycling to do, starting in Ilirska Bistrica. In the town of Ilirska Bistrica itself, you’ll find the remains of castles, museums, great places to eat and drink, and loads of outdoor sports like hiking and fishing.

Heading south from Ilirska Bistrica, the approximately 46-kilometer route is rolling and relatively flat as it follows quiet asphalt roads and through short unpaved stretches. Settlements and villages such Jasen, Vrbovo, Jablanica, and Zabiče escort you as the trail parallels the Reka River. When the route parts with the river, it turns west toward the villages of Sušak and Novokračine, which sit around three kilometers north of the Croatian border. Soon after, just over halfway into the ride, the Alpina Mediterranean heads south and passes the country line.

A new set of charming villages and communities await. Lipa (with Memorial Centre “Lipa Remembers”), Škalnica, and Breza spread out along a gently descending section with stretches of unpaved surface before heading west again — positioning the route and cyclists directly above the final push south to the coast.

As you roll down to the coast, take time for a small and highly recommended detour to Lisina, a protected forest landscape, and to the fields “Zvonejske njivi” in the village of Zvoneća: “a picturesque example of land cultivation, today protected as a monument to culture, human labor and perseverance.” Near this spot, you’ll also find the fascinating and well-preserved World War II-era Jurdani bunker.

After, the route will take you into the sphere of the beautiful municipality of Matulji, which is known as the “Gateway to the Opatija Riviera.” From here, one can head east to the city of Rijeka, or west — as the Alpina Mediterranean will do — to Opatija. With the Adriatic Sea before you, make the sharp and enjoyable descent to the town of Opatija, which many claim to be the home of tourism’s beginnings in the 19th century. Incredible views, cafes, restaurants, and villas await in this still epic throwback to an earlier time.

To celebrate your journey, be sure to take a long, contemplative walk along the city’s 10-kilometer seaside promenade known as Lungomare, which extends between the coastal towns of Volosko and Lovran. Take a moment to fully soak in what you’ve accomplished with your adventure along the Alpina Mediterranean Cycle Route.