Friuli-Venezia Giulia is Italy’s most northeastern region. The region nuzzles up against Austria to the north and Slovenia and the Adriatic to the south, and is comprised of the four provinces of Trieste, Gorizia, Pordenone and Udine.

This versatile region is made up of various landscapes and offers something for everyone. There are snow-capped mountains, rocky coastal cliffs, sandy beaches, lagoons, secluded alpine towns, touristy seaports, fishing villages and Roman ruins.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia was originally occupied by the Carni tribe, who were conquered by Rome in 150 B.C. The name comes from the Roman town of Forum Iulii (Cividale del Friuli). In the 15th century, the larger western part was captured by Venice and the smaller eastern part was given to the royals of Gorizia and later passed to Austria. Italy secured the country of Gorizia in 1919 and later ceded it to Yugoslavia.

Earthquakes ravaged the region in 1976, killing hundreds of people and destroying valuable works of art and architecture. Venzone, San Daniele del Friuli and Gemona were the hardest-hit parts of the region.

The region’s economy is traditionally agricultural. The openings of new ski areas in the Julian Alps (which are part of Slovenia) and the Eastern Dolomites make tourism another important element of the economy. The people of Friuli hold a definitive and customary respect for their land’s mountains. To them, the mountains mean greatness, security, solemnity and tranquility. It is a place that is good for both one’s body and one’s soul.

Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s regional capital, is tucked up next to Slovenia, with handsome buildings lining the harbor. Above the harbor stands Miramare Castle, a hilltop castle built by the Venetian governors beginning in 1368. The castle, which is open to the public, houses a museum containing 19th century drawings and prints of the city. It overlooks the sea and is set amongst perfectly landscaped gardens. Beside the castle are the ruins of the Roman basilica built around 100 A.D. There are two thrones in the church of San Giusto because the building was formed in the 14th century by linking two 5th century churches that had been built beside each other. The apses are decorated with fine 13th century mosaics in the Venetian style.

Trieste also offers several popular beach resorts, including Grado. Grado is a commune that also includes Grado Island, its lagoon and a part of interior land, as far as the river Isonzo. Its population consists of only 9,500 residents in the winter, but it jumps to 40,000 tourist residents who live there during the summer.

The province of Pordenone consists of one long street, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which is lined with arcaded houses with faded traces of decorative frescoes on their facades. A 16th century clock tower designed by Pomponio Amalteo is a major landmark of the street. Duomo di San Marco (St. Mark’s Cathedral) stands just around the corner from the clock tower. The 14th -15th century duomo houses the famous Madonna della Misercoria by Giovanni Antonio De Sacchis, who was also known as “Il Pordenone.”

Udine is a city that holds many historical and artistic monuments. The Piazza della Liberta, which is situated in the heart of the town, is widely considered Udine’s historical center and the most beautiful Venetian square outside of Venice. It is home to the Palazzo del Comune (Town Hall). The Palazzo del Comune is built of pink stone in Venetian Gothic style and it stands near the Torre dell’Orologio (clock tower), which was constructed in 1527 and is crowned by two Moors who strike on the hour. Rising beyond the square is the Arco Bollani, a gateway designed by Palladio in 1556. Its steps lead up to the Musei Civici e galleria di Storia e Arte Antica (Civic Museum and the Galleries of History and Art), which is located in a 16th century castle.

A gate in the medieval walls of Cividale del Friuli, a town located in the province of Udine, leads down to the main street and to a ravine, which splits the town in two and is spanned by the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge). The Templetto Longobardo (Lombardic Chapel), an 8th century church decorated with reliefs of saints, is located on the north bank. Cividale del Friuli’s museum contains a collection of Lombardic items, including jewelry, ivory and weapons. The duomo, which holds a beautiful 13th century silver altarpiece, is located next door.

Gorizia was carefully restored following a series of battles in both World War I and II. The Treaty of 1947 leaves part of the province in Italy and the eastern part of it in Slovenia, where it is called Nova Gorica. The Museum of the Great War provides an introduction to the realities of war, the waste, squalor and heroism. Other sites are a 14th century Gothic cathedral that was rebuilt in the 17th century, a 16th century fortress, and the Church of St. Ignatius. Today, Gorizia stands as an industrial, commercial, transport and tourist center.

Aquileia is a village surrounded by the ruins of villas, baths, temples and market places. What remains is a reminder of the past splendor of the Roman Empire. It was here that Emperor Augustus received Herod the Great, King of Judea in 10 B.C., and also where the early Christian church was counseled in 381 A.D. by the learned saints, Ambrose and Jerome. Substantial parts of the early Christian basilica containing ornate floor mosaics have survived.

Friuli-Venezia Guilia is a versatile region, with a kind of beauty that’s all its own. It’s rich history; unspoiled landscape and infused culture create a welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy.