02 - Between the Karst and the sea

02 - Between the Karst and the sea

Gps Track

Gps Track

  • Start: Trieste
  • Arrival: Grado
  • Total Length: 101,7 km
  • Difficulty by Foot: Medium
  • Cycle type: Hybrid
  • Difficulty by Cycle: Medium

Intermodal sections: bike + train, bike + boat

Things to see en route

From Unità Square, heart of the city, you reach the San Giacomo district, where the Giordano Cottur cycling path starts from, a constant, gentle uphill ride, it leads to the Karst overlooking the Rosandra Valley, one of the most interesting nature sites in the territory. Then you go to Draga Sant’Elia, you leave the cycling path which you followed here from Trieste to go towards Basovizza; continue alongside the Karst Plateau and then easily ride down to Duino, where there is the famous castle, also celebrated by Rainer Maria Rilke. You soon reach Monfalcone: for those who are not so well trained we advise catching the train from Trieste to Monfalcone. From here a splendid route starts along the estuary of the Soča, among nature parks, reeds, valleys, gulfs, canals, lagoons, little islands (the sanctuary of the Madonna di Barbana), a paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers. You then arrive in the historical centre of Grado, enhanced by its insularity and the presence of extraordinary monuments such as the Cathedral of Saint Euphemia, the baptistery and cathedral of St. Mary of Graces.

Description

This route starts from the spectacular cycling-walking path, named after the champion from Trieste Giordano Cottur, from Trieste it leads to the Karst using the nineteenth century Trieste-Hrpelje railway line, using the narrow viaducts and tunnels. At the start from the San Giacomo district, there is also an information centre. You go back up the wild Rosandra valley, the route of an ancient spice and salt road, dominated by a picturesque little church, Holy Mary in Siaris – clinging to a rock spur. At Draga Saint Elijah at the Slovenian border, go towards the left in the direction of Basovizza; you pass through Opicina, Borgo Grotta Gigante, Rupinpiccolo and Sgonico, on the far side of the Karst Plateau, to then descend to the sea at Sistiana and Duino, a well-known resort for its castle as well as the wonderful Falesie di Duino Nature Reserve and for the panoramic “Rilke Path”. Having crossed the Timav, you enter Bisiacaria, (an unconfirmed word origin says it derives from the Latin bis aquaei), a historical region between the estuaries of the Timav and the Soča with its traditions, history, culture and language. You then arrive in Monfalcone: we advise this route only for those who are well trained, while we suggest that all the others catch the train from Trieste to Monfalcone. From Monfalcone a pleasant cycling path starts which touches three very important nature areas: the Regional Nature Reserve Estuary of the Soča, the Nature Oasis of Caneo and the Cavanata Valley Regional Nature Reserve. When you reach Punta Sdobba and the huge reed beds among mudflats and sandbanks at the estuary of the Soča, you cycle along a spectacular river bank where there is a blending of the sounds of the backwash, the smell of the sea, the view of the Istrian coast and the never-ending expanse of the Bonifica della Vittoria (Victory Land Reclamation). Remaining on a cycling path you reach the splendid town of Grado, a jewel of art and history.

Conditions: some long stretches are on protected cycling paths (Trieste – Hrpelje and Punta Sdobba-Grado), others on mixed traffic roads

Useful addresses

Tourist Office FVG Grado
viale Dante Alighieri 72, Grado
T. +39 0431 877111

Trieste Railway Station
piazza della Libertà 8, Trieste
www.trenitalia.com

Monfalcone Railway Station
piazza della Stazione 1, Monfalcone
www.trenitalia.com

 

Adriabike_Brochure_2_2_EN.pdf

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