The region of "Alps Adria" shows its beauty through its sea and mountain landscapes but  also hides wonderful art treasures and a large historical heritage. Those wishing to go in search of the beauty hidden by towns or enjoying feelings of ancient times are invited to visit Trieste, Udine and Gorizia. The three towns are all steeped in history and, therefore, crammed with hotels and nice restaurants. Gorizia is a meeting point for cultures crossing the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Trieste

Is a town looking forward to considerable changes in its history but at the same time it seems to want to recapture its former splendour. It is torn between future and nostalgia for the past and seems, therefore, to wait for the golden age to come back again. Indeed, it was the most important trade centre at the time of the Austrio-Hungarian Empire as well as a meeting point of different cultures coming from all over the world. History has left behind many traces, such as the old city centre going back to the Middle Ages and the ancient Roman remains to be found on top of the S. Giusto Hill. The waterfront is one of the most charming areas, with a long promenade winding along the sea and inviting tourists to enjoy the spectacular view from Piazza Unità d'Italia, the main Square of the City overlooking the sea. Another major attraction is Miramare, the beautiful Castle recalling the glourios times of the Habsburg's dynasties and providing a wonderful view over the sea, along with its exotic gardens full of rare species of trees, where visitors can peacefully walk around.

Udine

Is a town enabling visitors to enjoy the pleasure of discovery, as its beauty is hidden amidst churches and old buildings. There are, indeed, many places that have not changed in history, many streets and squares to walk along. The Piazza della Libertà is made up of buildings and monuments from the Renaissance and is the core of the town. Its most important monument is the Loggia di S. Giovanni, a Renaissance structure dating back to the 16th century, along with the Duomo of Udine , characterized by a large Baroque interior. The Diocesan Museum and the Galleries of Tiepolo's Frescoes are housed in the Patriarchal Palace, which contains a collection of paintings of local traditions as well as other works of art, such as old, valuable portraits of rare beauty. The frescoes painted by Gian Battista Tiepolo, who originally came from Venice, are contained in the Santissimo Sacramento's Chapel and the Patriarchal Palace and have left an important trace in Udine's local history. Steps and ramps lead down the hill of the Castle, from which a view over Udine's historical centre can be enjoyed. There are also the Civic Museums.

Gorizia

Is a border city and has always been an important meeting point for different cultures throughout history, thereby evoking a cosmopolitan atmosphere that is yet to be found along the roads and the squares. It is a city characterized by a hidden charme emerging little by little amid its buildings dating back to the 16th century and the crystalclear water of the  Isonzo river. The Transalpina railway square was important for the line connecting the town of Gorizia to the Austro-Hungarian capital Vienna and because it was crossed by the international border once dividing Western and Eastern Europe, which was destroyed when Slovenia joined the EU in 2004. The old city centre is dominated by the Castle, located on top of a hill and beautifully overlooked by the Collio hills and Nova Gorica, the other half of the town just a few miles away on the Slovenian border. The Castle is an important remain dating back to the Middle Ages and including the Provincial Museums to be found nearby. One of the most important is the Museo della Grande Guerra, the War Museum, recalling the tragic past of a city based on the borders of First World War, along with the Museo della Moda, the Fashion Museum.

Aquileia

Is a town that does not lie far away from the coast and is important for its archaeological area and for being a powerful trade centre during the ancient Roman Empire. Main sights are the ancient remains of the Fluvial Port that include large blocks once forming the quayside and the Roman Forum, an old meeting point of merchants that still contains wonderful Corinthian columns. The National Archaeological Museum is also one of the most important museum of Ancient Rome in Italy. Not only does Aquileia reveal a cultural heritage dating back to the Ancient Rome, but also contains many Medieval treasures, such as the Patriarchal Basilica, a church built in Romanesque-Gothic style and decorated with frescos belongs to various ages, whose pavement is covered with mosaics from the 4th century.

Grado

Is a small sparkling jewel owing to the beauty of the numerous Palaeo-Christian monuments set up in the old city centre and lies quite close to Aquileia. The town is one of the most picturesque of the area in the North-Adriatic sea owing to its old city centre that has been well-preserved in its history up to now. Modern landmarks include Roman remains set in front of the octagonal Baptistry and the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, very close to the former. The latter building is very interesting because it contains mosaics as well as valuable examples of early medieval sculpture.

Cividale

was founded as a Roman municipium by Julius Caesar around 50 BC with the name of Forum Iulii, which subsequently came to designate the Italian region Friuli and is universally known as the “Lombard City” owing to many art treasures dating from their ancient times. The Christian Museum annexed to the Duomo houses  outstanding examples of Lombard and Romanesque sculpture. The small church known as Lombard Temple is a notable example of High Middle Ages art including frescoes from the 14th century. The National Archaeological Museum contains remains ranging from Roman antiquities to Lombard collections.  The town, split in two by the Natisone river, is easily accessible by the impressive Devil's Bridge, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view over the town. Inspiration for the building of the bridge has been drawn from local legends.

Palmanova

Is one of the best example of late Renessaince fortress cities. Indeed, Palmanova is famous for its fortress plan and structure called a “star fort”, which means that the tiny town has a shape of a nine-pointed star and is characterized by a well-organized network of streets joining together into the hexagonal Piazza Grande, the main Square. The three monumental gates, Porta Aquileia, Porta Cividale and Porta Udine are part of the urban plan and evidence of the Venetian elegance. The Military Historical Museum is located near the second Porta.

Spilimbergo

The small town of Spilimbergo, the “capital” of the visual arts, has been characterized by a Medieval organization since 1958. Its historical centre is situated around the Medieval Castle, which overlooks the Tagliamento river, thereby once being in a strategic position for its trade relations. The frescoes painted on the façade of the Castle date back to the the 15th century. The Castle is also separated by the Tagliamento river from the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built in a Romanesque-Gothic style. Its interior is decorated by a great deal of works of art and frescoes. What makes the small town important is also the Scuola Mosaicisti of the Italian region Friuli, the Mosaic School, whose foundation was encouraged by aristocrats and patrons of the arts for the building of pavements inside their palaces.

Sesto al Reghena

The municipality of Sesto al Reghena is famous for its Abbey of Santa Maria in Sylvis, which is thought to have been founded by the Lombard brothers Erfo, Anto and Marco in the first half of the eighth century on the banks of the Reghena river. It is characterized by a bell tower, the Palace of the Chancellor and a church featuring many transformations during history.

The Baroque building known as Villa Manin is, in fact, a centre of contemporary art and is located just few kilometres away from Udine, in Passariano di Codroipo. It was the residence of Antonio Manin, a noble originally coming from Friuli and is surrounded by a park with lakes, fountains and statues. The luxurious villa has been an important Centre of Contemporary Art since June 2004. Exhibitions in collaboration with the most important art museums of the world are on the programme there all year round. The Villa Manin is also famous for being the place where Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campoformido in 1797, thereby yielding the Republic of Venice to Austria and changing the destiny of many European countries.

Slovenia

Ljubljana is the capital of the Republic of Slovenia. The town, being situated in the heart of Europe, is a beautiful city with a strong Austrian feeling and one of the most important commercial and economic centres. The city, being the capital of a very young nation that joined the European Union not long ago, is characterized by cultural and artistic events, above all music festivals. Even the architecture stresses the impression of the Austrian feeling left behind by the Habsburg rulers. The city, hemmed in by the Karst mountains and by the Alps, is crossed by the Ljublanica river and located 298 metres above sea level. The local inhabitants are famous for their dynamic lifestyle, its historical city centre is built in Baroque style and its buildings in Secession (Austrian Art Nouveau) style. Large areas of the city built in the early 20th century feature the work of the architecht Jože Plečnik. The city is finally dominated by the Castle on top of the Ljubljana Hill.

Bled is also a brief visit worth. Slovenia's oldest castle perches at the top of a seep cliff above Bled Lake. It is protected by a high Romanesque wall with a battlemented parapet and a powerful Gothic defense tower. The residence now houses a museum whose exhibitions show the historical development of the area around Lake Bled. Bled Castle attracts many visitors thanks to its picturesque architecture and the wonderful view of the lake.

Piran is the most beautiful town and municipality on the Slovenian Adriatic coast and can be  reached very quickly driving along Muggia, another small seaside town built in Venetian style very close to Trieste. The structure of the city and its architecture recals the typically Venetian style of the Istrian peninsula, which differs from the Habsurg's style, mostly to be found in large cities in the heart of Europe. Narrow streets and compact houses give the town its special charm, thereby making it one of Slovenia's major tourist attractions. Going up the hill and reaching the Duomo will enable visitors to enjoy the view over the sea surrounded by Istria and Italy.

Maribor is the Štajerska capital and the second most important centre in Slovenia. It is the foothills and the slopes of the Mariborsko Pohorje, a Slovenian area, that are developing into the key toruist area offering wellness activities or more in winter and in summer. Maribor is a university city and shows evidence of its flourishing history and its rich architecture of past centuries, such as its houses, the old city centre and the remains of the defense walls that the city has preserved well for all its past difficulties. Maribor is becoming one of the most modern tourist centres in the country. Along the Drava River crossing the city will lead tourists to the "Stara tra" grapevine  in Lent, named as the oldest grapevine in the world in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ptuj is a small jewel located in the North-east of Slovenia along the border winding across  an old village on the Drava River. Its important position enabled the town to become involved in historic European events, which is why Ptuj still boasts an ancient, rich cultural heritage. Even Roman writers, to begin with Tacitus, often mentioned Ptuj in connection with important events. Ptuj still boasts the most important early medieval site in Slovenia. One of the most traditional Carnivals in central Europe take place in Ptuj every year in the streets, namely a prominent  entertaining event called Kurentovanje that has earned the town the status of the Slovene Carnival Capital in the European Environment.

Higher up in the Rižana Valley, not far away from Koper, a Slovenian town, there are old clusters of hamlets forming the village of Hrastovlje, which has become famous all over the world for the fortified Church of the Holy Trinity and its frescoes. The Romanesque church lies on a small rocky rise at the edge of the village and its interior is very attractive. Visitors are surprised by the variety of iconographic themes, including the "Danse Macabre", which is of particular beauty. Hrastovlje is, therefore, one of the most important places owing to the rich treasury of wall paintings.

Croatia

As the northern coastline stretches southwards, monuments, ruins and ancient villages mark the beauty of the Croatian Adriatic Sea. The road along the coast of the Istrian peninsula will lead visitors to Poreč, a small town with beautiful Romanesque and Gothic ivory-coloured palaces built in Venetian style. The Euprhrasian Basilica, with its mosaics dating from the times of the Byzantine Empire, is one of the most intersting buildings belonging to the Byzantine art declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1997.

Another important tourist resort lying 30 kilometres far away from Poreč is Rovinj, one of smallest and most beautiful seaside towns in Istria characterized by narrow, twisting lanes from which marvellous sunsets can be admired. Steep streets, such as the important Via Grisia, winding from Piazza Tito will lead tourists through the small village and finally reach the hilltop, where the largest Baroque church is located, S. Eufemija Church, whose beauty is marked by the bell tower built in Venetian style. The architecture of the town is so picturesque as to recall other Italian cities, such as Venice.

Pula is the most important town of the Istrian peninsula and is located farther south of Rovinij. The city is best known for its many surviving ancient Roman buildings, the most famous of which is its first century Arena (Colosseum), sixth largest in the world, locally called Arena, one of the best preserved amphitheaters from antiquity. It was built by Roman Emperor Vespasian in the 1st century. Pula was once an important Roman settlement but was subsequently ruled by the Republic of Venice and the Austrian Empire. The Archaeological Museum is not far away from the Amphitheatre.  The city's old quarter of narrow streets is lined with modern buildings as well as ancient palaces whose beauty recalls Rome, Venice and Vienna. Two other notable and well-preserved ancient Roman structures are the 1st century AD Triumphal Arch, the Arch of the Sergii and the co-eve temple of Rome and Augustus, built in the 1st century by the Roman emperor and lying in the ancient Forum.

Hum is another of the most lovely towns in the Istrian peninsula. It was first built by the Romans and reinforced in the Middle Ages with the construction of new castles, walls, towers and roads. The Venetian rule has left its traces in many sculptures of lions, windows built in Gothic style and to some extent in the dialect spoken. It was named the smallest town in the world and is characterized by a valley crossed by a river.

Motovun is one of the small inland towns located in the West of Croatia, namely a town rich in forests that once provided Venetian fleets with wood. The town is situated on a hill 227 metres above sea level from which a superb view of the surrounding landscape is enjoyed and is characterized by embattled walls, stone wells and stairs. One of the most valuable treasures of the town is the Church from the 17th century, one of the buildings characteristic of the Istrian hinterland.

Pazin is a village standing on a hilltop surrounded by horse-chestnuts and lime-trees, in the heart of the Istrian peninsula. The landscape is dominated by the fortress dating back to the 15th century. The valley lying below the hill is enveloped in clouds and is crossed by an underground river spurting water here and there in the earth's surface. An underground cave situated under the castle winds its way through shallow tunnels and stone walls hundreds of metres high. Pazin is also interesting owing to its churches, narrow, dark lanes and old buildings.

Austria

Klagenfurt, the capital of the federal state of Carinthia, in Austria, lies just 60 kilometres away from the Italian border. Its old city centre in Italian style spreads around the Alter Platz, the old square surrounded by narrow lanes, hidden lobbies and numerous ancient buildings, such as the Rathaus from the 17th century. However, the Neuer Platz, the new square, is the very epicentre of the city and is characterized by the Lindworm Fountain whose construction drew inspiration from an ancient tale. Other interesting buildings include the Landhaus near the Alter Platz and the Landesmuseum, devoted to collections of historical evidence of Carinthia's history and famous for its mosaic pavement dating from the Roman ages. The Diözesan-Museu, devoted to sacred art from the Romanesque to the Neo-classical age, is also an important attraction.

Villach, situated 500 metres above sea level, along the Drau river, is certainly an important point in the road network of Carinthia. It is, therefore, the ideal starting point for those wishing to explore the Austrian region. The St. Jacob Church stands on the side of the Hauptplatz, the central square. Furthermore, an authentic model of the whole Austrian region carved in relief can be found in the Schillerpark. Another major attraction id the Fahrzeugmuseum, displaying cars and motocycles from the 50s and the 60s apparently arranged in random order. Obviously, Villach is most famous for its thermal springs, Warmbad Villach, just three kilometres away from the centre.

Gurk is a market town famous for its Cathedral and its twin bell towers, a beautiful example of Romanesque art built between 1140 and 1200. Its inner vaults are built in Gothic style, whereas all othe decorations, friezes and columns in Baroque and Rococo style. The district of Sankt Veit an der Glan is universally known ad the residence of the Dukes of Carinthia who lived there from 1170 until 1518 before moving to Klagenfurt. The most interesting attraction is the Hauptplatz, the main square near the Schüsselbrunnen which is overlooked by the Rathaus, decorated with stuccoes in Baroque style. The Verkehrsmuseum, a museum hosting  interesting exhibitions about transport systems, is not too distant from there. The Hochosterwit Castle, one of the most evokative and best preserved castles in Austria, stands on a high hill just a few kilometres away from Sankt Veit and can only be reached by an ascending spiral path.