Beaches of Friuli
The southern part of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region faces the Adriatic sea. The western side includes the coasts of the Udine province, the eastern side includes the beaches of the provinces of Gorizia and Trieste.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia West area
Udine
The most famous and popular tourist destination in this region is undoubtedly Lignano Sabbiadoro, which annually attracts thousands of tourists from all over Europe. It is located on a small peninsula divided between sea and lagoon, the beaches are composed of fine golden sand (as the name suggests) and the sea bottom remains low for many meters offshore.
There are beach resorts with also facilities to host dogs, the services are of excellent quality and in the area there are different hotels, lodges and restaurants. Lignano Sabbiadoro is an ideal destination both for those seeking quiet and for those who want wild entertainment.
Always in the province of Udine is located Belvedere Pineta, 5 km far from Grado. Belvedere Pineta is a 500,000 square-meter natural park that also includes a huge golden sand coastline overlooking the Adriatic Sea. You can stay in Belvedere Pineta camping with your own means, or by choosing the cottages and apartments in the area.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia East area
Moving further east we find the provinces of Gorizia and Trieste, the latter with its gulf and the picturesque port o the city, but above all with noteworthy seaside destinations.
Gorizia
In the province of Gorizia there is the town of Grado, which was an island frequented by fishermen until 1936, when it was artificially joined to the mainland. The Grado beach is made up of a golden sand and the seabed slopes softly allowing to touch it also many meters away from the coast. There are numerous equipped bathing establishments. Grade is also renowned for its culinary excellence and for its historical and cultural heritage, qualities that make this city a destination for all needs.
Those who want to get away at all costs from the hustle and bustle and spend some time of absolute relaxation may consider the idea of spending time on the Banco d’Orio beach, always near Grado. The Banco d’Orio beach is a long stretch of golden sand that separates the lagoon from the sea and is surrounded by clear and spotless waters; it is inaccessible by land, but you can reach it by a boat service that leaves from Grado. Its hard accessibility is the reason of its isolation, as well as its charm.
Trieste
In the province of Trieste there is another charming isolated place, the Costa dei Barbari in the town of Duino. This coastline has a series of small beaches of gravel dominated by high cliffs covered with vegetation. The sea is very clean and are totally absent bathing facilities and other types of services. Nature reigns supreme on this corner of Adriatic paradise. Costa dei Barbari is ideal for those seeking peace.
Not far from Duino, in the town of Sistiana it is situated the beach of the Ex-Caravella, in the zone of the old quarry Sistiana-Duino Aurisina area. This pebble beach overlooks a beautiful crystal clear sea, one of the best in the Adriatic. At day you can enjoy the countless entertainment that establishments make available to tourists, including sports and board games, at night the Ex-Caravella transforms and animates the nightlife of the Sistiana bay, with music, lights and dances .
The small port of Canovella de’Zoppoli, near Trieste, takes its name from “Zoppoli”, ancient boats used by Slovenian fishermen carved in a single piece of wood. It is a very quiet place, ideal for long walks both by the sea and along the karst embankments accessible via small paths that climb there. In Canovella de’Zoppoli there are bed and breakfasts, beach services, bars and restaurants serving fresh fish.
About 10 minutes from Canovella de’Zoppoli there are the naturist beaches of Liburnia and Filtri. The Liburnia beach is one of the historic destination for the naturists of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and is very quiet even in the hottest months of the year. Near the beach of Filtri there are freshwater spring tubs that allow bathers to soak and cool off to fight the summer heat.