Outdoor Escape: between sky and earth
Beyond the flight, into history
Gemona del Friuli & Vipava Valley: Landscapes to live, stories to hear.
Have you admired these lands from above or rushed through them? Now it's time to pause. Step off the saddle or fold your wing—there’s a thousand-year-old heritage waiting for you: medieval villages, war memories, and borderless towns.
On the ground, with new eyes
Target: Pilots looking for post-flight inspiration & companions.
What caught your eye while circling in thermal lift? A lone castle? A geometric square? What the sky hints at, the land reveals. Turn your flying impressions into a one-of-a-kind cultural journey.
🇮🇹 Gemona: The Geometry of Rebirth
After landing, explore the places you flew over.
- Rebuilt Middle Ages: Walk through the historic center of Gemona, overlooked by the Castle and the majestic Gothic Cathedral.
- Walls from Above: Visit Venzone, a fortified village with a perfect geometric layout visible from the sky, and climb to Artegna Castle on San Martino Hill.
- Hidden Treasures: Small frescoed churches and ethnographic museums will reveal the resilient soul of a community that rebuilt its identity after the 1976 earthquake.
🇸🇮 Vipava Valley: A Borderless Story
While waiting for pick-up or your next flight, explore a borderland that has torn down all barriers.
Castra & Castles: From the Roman remains of Ajdovščina to the castles scattered throughout the valley – a journey through time just a few kilometers from take-off.
Two Cities, One Heart: Visit Nova Gorica and Gorizia, where Transalpina Square connects Italy and Slovenia in a single step. Don’t miss the Railway Museum and the Bourbon crypt in the Kostanjevica Monastery.
Stone Record: In Solkan, admire the railway bridge with the world’s largest stone arch.
Cycling Through Memory
Target: Cycle tourists, history lovers, outdoor enthusiasts.
The bicycle is the perfect vehicle to travel through history: fast enough to cover ground, slow enough to feel the soul of a place.
🇮🇹 Gemona: Between the Great War and Resilience
Cycle along a historical timeline stretching from 1915 to 1976.
- Following the Frontline: A route through forts and trenches, from Monte Ercole Fort to the Osoppo Fortress, crossing the Tagliamento Valley.
- The Memory of the Land: A touching journey between Gemona and Venzone to understand the strength of post-earthquake reconstruction. Don't miss the Tiere Motus museum and the exhibition "1976 – Fragments of Memory."
- Info: Routes suitable for e-bikes and gravel bikes.
🇸🇮 Vipava Valley: Fortresses and Epic Climbs
Whether you're after a historical ride or a sporting challenge, you'll find your path here.
Info: Bike paths and secondary roads ideal for exploring the area year-round.
The Castle Route (Easy/Medium): Cycle through vineyards and history. Start from Lanthieri Palace in Vipava, pass by Rihemberk Castle, and reach the Roman walls of Castra (Ajdovščina).
The Vertical Challenge (Hard): Want to test your legs? Climb Monte Sabotin (Peace Park with WWI trenches) or ascend to the Sveta Gora sanctuary for an unforgettable view.
Villages and Castles for the Family
Target: Families, slow tourism lovers, foodies.
A journey through the authentic heart of the region, where time seems to stand still among ancient stones and true local flavors.
🇮🇹 Gemona: A Journey Through Time
Create your own family itinerary through the centuries.
- Fairytale Middle Ages: The castles of Artegna and Gemona will enchant the little ones, while Venzone (one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages) welcomes you with its legendary mummies.
- Spirituality and Silence: Walk the Path of Saint Anthony or discover tiny votive chapels hidden in greenery.
- Experience: Ideal for those who love to move slowly, balancing cultural visits with tasty breaks.
🇸🇮 Vipava Valley: The Garden of the Empire
Discover why Vienna and Trieste once called this valley their "paradise garden".
Mood: Total relaxation, stone architecture, and warm hospitality.
The Medieval Pearl: Vipavski Križ, a small hilltop fortified village, fully pedestrian and beautifully preserved. A gem where history lives and breathes.
Rural Life: Explore stone villages like Tabor or Pedrovo. Here, history is served at the table: stop at a local farm stay to taste native wines and traditional dishes in ancient cellars.
Useful Info
Plan Your Cultural Visit
📍 Accessibility: Most routes can be covered by car, bike or short walks. Historic centers are family-friendly.
🚲 Rentals & Guides: E-bike rentals available locally and expert guides for WWI and earthquake heritage tours.
Vipava Valley Outdoor https://www.vipavskadolina.si/it/
Museo Tiere Motus Venzone: https://www.tieremotus.it/
The GO2FLY project is funded by the European Union under the Small Project Fund GO! 2025 of the Interreg VI-A Italy–Slovenia Programme 2021–2027, managed by the EGTC GO.
