Wine & Hills
Colli Orientali wine hills & Castelmonte
Cividale del Friuli · Friuli-Venezia Giulia
QUICK INFORMATION
- CATEGORY
- Wine & Hills
- COUNTRY
- Italy
- REGION
- Cividale del Friuli · Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- DURATION
- 1–2 days
ABOUT THIS ATTRACTION
Cividale’s setting is half the visit: the eastern hills that rise immediately behind the town are the Colli Orientali del Friuli, one of Italy’s most distinguished white-wine zones — Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, the rare Pignolo and Schioppettino — with cantine and osmize scattered along quiet ridge roads among villages barely changed in a century. To the northeast begin the Natisone valleys, Slovene-speaking border country of ravines and chestnut woods, crowned by the sanctuary of Castelmonte, a hilltop pilgrimage church with a 15th-century Madonna and a view across both countries. Hiking and cycling routes link it all, including the borders of the Alpe Adria Trail.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
The story behind it
The wine hills were already prized under the patriarchy of Aquileia and were mapped vineyard-by-vineyard under Venice; the Schioppettino grape survived near-extinction here and was rescued from a single vine in the 1970s. Castelmonte has drawn pilgrims since at least the 13th century, and the Natisone valleys kept their Slovene language and matrimony of customs through every border change of the 20th century.
WHAT TO SEE
What to see here
The ridge-road cantine of the Colli Orientali — tastings by appointment.
The osmize — farm-gate taverns of the wine season.
Castelmonte sanctuary — the hilltop Madonna and the two-country view.
The Natisone valleys’ ravines and chestnut woods.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
This is the other Friuli — vineyards and border valleys within ten minutes of a UNESCO town, with hardly another tourist in the car park.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before you go
MAP & LOCATION
Colli Orientali wine hills & Castelmonte
Colli Orientali wine hills & Castelmonte, Cividale del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
46.0706, 13.4934
MORE ATTRACTIONS
More to see in Cividale del Friuli
FOOD & DRINK
Where to eat nearby
Trattoria under the arcades of Corso Paolino d’Aquileia — Natisone trout and frico
Pasticceria on Piazza del Duomo — the gubana, the town’s own pastry
Osterie of the Natisone valleys — barley soup and smoked pork in bilingual villages
HOTELS & STAYS
Where to stay nearby
Historic-centre B&Bs and rooms in the old town’s palazzi
Agriturismi among the Colli Orientali vineyards — stay at the winery
Udine as the rail-connected base — Cividale is 24 minutes away by train
ITINERARIES
Day-by-day routes
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
Continue the journey
INTERESTS
Explore by what you love
PART OF
Keep exploring
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