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Route description

Udine - Palmanova - Aquileia

The FVG1 continues south from the Piazza della Libertà along the Via Aquileia to the Porta Aquileia gate in the old city walls. From here you cross the Piazzale Gabriele d’Annunzio. Follow the pedes­trian-cyclist route to the other side of the Piazzale almost directly opposite the Porta Aquileia. Cross the road and take the underpass (the Viale Palmanova) that goes under the rail line and comes out onto the via Cernaia where you turn left and then right onto the Via Pradamano which you follow out of Udine. 

The section between Udine and Cervignano mainly follows quiet roads - with a signi­ficant proportion on unsur­faced strade bianche ‘white roads’. It takes you through several attractive country villages.

Sign for the FVG1/Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg

The next town after Udine is Palmanova. A cycleway alongside the SR352 takes you into the town through the Porta Udine and then along the Borgo Udine to the hexagonal Piazza Grande. 

Palmanova’s distinctive feature is its star-shaped defensive walls and within them the hexagonal street plan around the hexagonal Piazza Grande. As you’d expect there are elegant bars and cafes where you can enjoy a meal or a drink admiring the square. 

Aerial view of Palmanova

Heading out of Palmanova you take the Borgo Aquileia which leads you to the Porta Aquileia - the route makes a sharp left turn, and a small detour which gives you a view of the gates and city rules walls.

There’s then an unsur­faced roadside cycleway that alongside the SS 352 then alongside and under the A4 autostrada coming out onto the SP65. Take the next right onto the Via della Chiesa which takes you to Strassoldo. Look out for the signs for the Borgo Rurale which is almost directly in front of you when you come out onto the main road. This is one of the nicest corners of the region - truly a little gem. A village with two 18th century manor houses (the Castello di Sotto and the Castello di Sopra). If you want to know more, there’s a guide on the website of the ProLoco Strassoldo: visitare Strassoldo. If you get the chance, be sure to see the 14th-century frescoes in the little church of Santa Maria In Vineis. You could (although I suspect it won’t be cheap) stay the night in the Castello di Sopra.

Strassoldo

From Strassoldo the route takes you to the SR352 and a cycleway that runs beside the road into Cervignano del Friuli. The cycleway ends as you come into the town runs out coming into the town itself. The signs also seemed to disappear, but you basically follow the strada regionale through the town and then pick up the next section of cycleway a little further on. From Cervignano the FVG1 follows the course of the old Cervignano-Aquileia-Belvedere rail line. The cycleway is continuous all the way although you need to cross the road and then cross back again (both crossings have push button-controlled lights). There are also a couple of points where you cross over roads - the cycle­way’s designers have installed rumble strips as a reminder to take care.

Cyclists on the Ciclovia Alpe-Adria Radweg (FVG1) cycleway as it passes Aquileia

Aquileia

Aquileia was once one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire until it was destroyed by Attila the Hun. Most of the ancient city remains buried, but the cycleway passes right by the old forum. The old port area is also well worth a look. Aquileia’s star sight is the Basilica (cathedral). The original cathedral was burnt down by Attila’s army, but fortu­nately, the mosaic floor survived, remaining buried and undis­covered until the nineteenth century. It’s free to visit the cathedral, but it’s worth putting your hand in your pocket for the admission for the basilica’s two crypts: the cripta degli affreschi with its frescoes that date back to the 9th century, and the cripta degli scavi where you can see the remains of the original basilica. Look out for the mosaic of the struggle between the cock and the tortoise (which for the early Christians symbolised light and darkness). 

Aquileia mosaics (detail)

From Aquileia it’s an easy cruise along the cycleway to Grado. The cycleway runs alongside the main road and over the causeway that links Grado with the mainland. The cycleway finishes just before you get to Grado so there’s a short stretch over the bridge into Grado itself.

Grado is an attractive place, with a small centro storico that’s worth seeking out. It’s mainly a tourist destin­ation, but there are still plenty of fishing boats operating out of the harbour. Grado is a pretty bike-friendly - although the popularity of cycling in and around the resort means that the comune has put up quite a few no-cycling signs.