Inaccessible places, mysterious ancient castles, never-before-seen palaces... Get ready for a weekend of pleasant discoveries with Castelli Aperti FVG – Open Castles FVG 2021, the traditional event which help disclosure private and public mansions and parks that are usually closed to the public: 15 of them will be open to visitors on October 2nd and 3rd all around Friuli Venezia Giulia.
It's the 36th edition of the event, organized by the Consortium for the Protection of Castles – Consorzio per la Salvaguardia dei Castelli Storici del Friuli Venezia Giulia. Tour guides will delight the audience by detailing all infos about the art, architecture and history of each place, plus a series of secret stories handed down through the centuries by their owners' ancestors. 

For safety reasons, only small groups will be admitted and visits must be booked in advance by contacting the following telephone numbers and emails: (+39) 0432.288588 or (+39) 3286693865, visite@consorziocastelli.it. The entrance ticket for a single castle is 7 euro for adults, 3.5 euro for children aged 7-12. All adults will be asked to show a Covid-19 Green Pass to access any structure.

Where to go: the castles' full list
In Pordenone, Palazzo Panigai Ovio and Castello di Cordovado will be welcoming visitors, as well as the Rocca di Monfalcone near Gorizia. 
Out of the 15 mansions that'll open on Saturday and Sunday, 12 of them are located in and around Udine: 

• Castello di Aiello
• Castello di Ahrensperg (Pulfero)
• Castello di San Pietro di Ragogna
• Castello di Strassoldo di Sopra
• Castello di Strassoldo di Sotto
• Castello di Villalta (Fagagna)
• Casaforte la Brunelde (Fagagna)
• Rocca Bernarda (Premariacco)
• Palazzo Steffaneo Roncato (Crauglio di S. Vito al Torre)
• Castello Savorgnan di Brazzà (UD)
• Palazzo Romano (Manzano)
• Castello di Flambruzzo (Rivignano Teor)

Cover photo: Rocca Bernarda
All photos courtesy of Castelli Aperti's Press Office

Sails are up for the biggest regatta in the world! Barcolana53 presented by Generali opened on October 1st and up to the 10th there will be an overall of 54 events in Trieste. The traditional sailing race of Friuli Venezia Giulia organized by Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, which takes place in the Adriatic Sea in the port of Trieste, for its 2021 edition debuted several new events, both at sea and on land: RoundItaly, Barcolana Sea Summit, Trofeo Generali - Women in Sailing and many others. Registration is free and still open up to October 9th: up to now, the boats participating in the big sailing race, taking place on October 10th, are about 1,400.

The great sea celebration of Trieste, and a feast for all Friuli, was presented by the Chairman of Generali, Gabriele Galateri di Genola, and the Chairman of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, Mitja Gialuz. “This year we are exploring many new routes with the aim of innovating the event – commented the Chairman of SVBG Mitja Gialuz – but at the centre of our attention remain the sailing people, those who are already navigating, who are organizing their trip to Trieste so as to be the protagonists of this great celebration”. “Returning all together to the sea, practising the sport and exchanging views on subjects such as the environment, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, makes this experience all the more meaningful – said Generali's Chairman Gabriele Galateri di Genola – we are living in a time of profound change, with opportunities for growth and improvement that must be grasped”. 

ROUNDITALY: the regatta starting from Genova on September 16th and ended up in Trieste, was the first and biggest novelty introduced by the 53th edition of Barcolana, organized along with Yacht Club Italiano – Italian Yacht Club. On the route around Italy, the winner was the maxi Pendragon with an astonishing timing: 6 days, 18hours, 03 minutes and 57seconds. Just one day after, among the Class40 Stefano Raspadori's Karnak with Alberto Bona and Andrea Caracci came first, followed by Cristiano Verardo's Kika Green Challenge with Cecilia Zorzi and Pietro Luciani and by Ernesto Moresino's Ediliziacrobatica with Francesco Farci and Lorenzo Meroni. Last but not least, Luciano Manfredi's First 44.7 Argo di Luciano Manfredi. "They were very determined and gave us deep emotions – said Mitja Galuz – I'd like to congratulate and thank all the participants”. E-Rounditaly, its virtual twin race, was also very successful, with over 30,000 participants from all around the world: the winner was the French virtual sailor Tipapacheri BSP MCES. 

AT SEA: it was up to the youngsters to start off the calendar of sea events with the Barcolana Young, scheduled for the 2nd and 3rd of October: Lisa Vucetti of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano won in the Juniores category, while Cristian Castellan (Circolo della Vela Muggia) won the Cadetti category. At the same time also the competitors of the Melges 24 class kicked off their race. The long awaited swimming race “Barcolana Nuota” made its comeback in style, with the participation of 300 athletes in the Bacino San Giusto on Sunday 3rd October. Regardless of the bad weather and the cold waters, they all made it to the end after the one-kilometre route: among male participants, Marco Urbani came first, while Marzia Di Giovanni won among women.
The “Barcolana per il Sociale” regatta will take place on Tuesday October 5th, while for the entire period of the Barcolana, between the 2nd and 8th of October, the super-fast kitesurfs and wasps will take over – two energy categories – in the tenth year of the Barcolana FUN Siram Veolia. Instead, on Friday October 8th the Star class will compete for the Lega Navale Italiana and the Fine Art Sails trophies. On the eve before the Barcolana, we shall see the monotypes of the Barcolana By Night Snam Cup, the Barcolana Classic by SIAD boats (this year also open to the IOR class boats) and the monotype boats in the One design regatta.  

TROFEO GENERALI – WOMEN IN SAILING: this brand new trophy will be awarded to the first helmswoman of a mixed crew that will cross the Barcolana’s finishing line. But the story will go way beyond this with stories belonging to the women present at the event: from the Olympic gold medallist in Tokio, sailor Caterina Banti, to the scientists who study the sea, protagonists of the Barcolana Sea Summit, to the many sailors that have been protagonists of the Barcolana for many years now and who, with their spirit of women of the sea, can contribute to inspire other women to be protagonists in their own fields, and to make their role and contribution more visible. 

NEW ROUTES: During the days leading up to the Barcolana, Trieste will also see the arrival of the boats participating in the Adriatic connecting regattas: the Go to Barcolana from Slovenia, which is returning after having been put on hold last year, and the Go to Barcolana da Ravenna Trofeo Hera.

BARCOLANA SEA SUMMIT: (6th-9th October) an event dedicated to sustainability. Science, companies, institutions and associations together for the health of the Mediterranean Sea.

ON LAND: most of the 54 events are located in Porto Vecchio, Magazzino 26 and the Auditorium Generali of the Trieste Convention Center. There will be “Barcolana – Un mare di racconti”, the literary festival dedicated to the themes of the sea, and an ample series of fervently anticipated appointments: Barcolana Job organized by Friuli Venezia Giulia's regional government, the exhibitions held in the Magazzino26, the outreach activities of the Immaginario Scientifico, and the conferences of Barcolana Digitale organized by the State Police. Among the main events on land is the meeting organized by the Federazione Italiana Vela, with the sailors Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti, the Olympic gold crew in Tokio, scheduled for Friday October 8th, and the presence of Luna Rossa during the weekend of the Barcolana. 
There will also be the Villaggio Barcolana: Piazza Unità will host the institutions and the Gold Sponsors of Barcolana, and along the Rive there will be – in addition to the area dedicated to RAI and to the live broadcasting of Linea Blu scheduled for Saturday October 9th at 2pm – temporary stores and spaces dedicated to the crews. Access to the Villaggio will be regulated according to Covid rules and regulations as regards safety and prevention, therefore it will be necessary to have a Green Pass. Over 500 boats will be able to moor along the Rive thanks to the digitalization of the spaces performed last year: those coming from outside Trieste who requested a mooring space when registering online, will find free mooring (subject to availability) thanks to the efforts of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano.

​Cover photo: RoundItaly by Studio Borlenghi
All photos courtesy of Barcolana's Press Office

Visiting Friuli Venezia Giulia when autumn is just about to begin, with the grape harvest still going on and all those gorgeous woods with leaves dyeing slowly into reds and oranges, is surely something really worth it. And what a better occasion to go now, when Movimento Turismo del Vino FVG (Wine Tourism Organisation FVG) keeps on organizing Vigneti Aperti 2021 – Open Vineyards 2021 along with local winemakers!

Many winemaking facilities are open every weekend, and this weekend in particular – on September 25th and 26th – there will be a special theme for wine and food tastings: “I profumi della vendemmia”, that is grape harvest's flavours. Visitors will be allowed not only to see vineyards, cantine (wine cellars) and winemaking processes, but will be also offered wine tastings directly by the producers. 

Depending on the different locations, this weekend there'll be concerts, open air tastings, harvest-themed menus to taste local delicacies too. As all events must comply with safety and health rules, booking is mandatory: some events are for free, while for other (like menus) there's an entry to pay. 
Here's a full list of the Friulian winemakers opening their gates to visitors for this weekend: check out their websites to contact them and book your visit.

Vigne del Malina – remanzacco, fraz. Orzano (Udine)
http://www.vignedelmalina.com

De Claricini – Moimacco, fraz. Bottenicco (UD)
http://www.declaricini.it

Cantina Puntin – Aquileia (UD)
http://www.vinipuntiaquileia.com

Ferrin Paolo – Camino al Tagliamento (UD)
http://www.ferrin.it

Le Due Torri – Corno di Rosazzo, fraz. Visinale (UD)
http://www.le2torri.com

Spolert Winery – Prepotto (UD)
http://www.spolert.it

Tarlao Vignis – Aquileia (UD)
http://www.tarlao.eu

Villa Vitas – Cervignano del Friuli, fraz. Strassoldo (UD)
http://www.vitas.it

Elio Vini – Cividale del Fruli fraz Grupignano (UD)
http://www.eliovini.it

Cantina Ballaminut – Terzo d'Aquileia (UD)
http://www.ballaminut.com

Tenuta Villanova – Farra d'Isonzo (Gorizia)
http://www.tenutavillanova.com

Vidussi Vini – Capriva del Friuli (GO)
http://www.vinividussi.it

​
Cover photo: one of Cantina Produttori Cormons vineyards

A pact for sustainability in viticulture. An agreement was signed this week between the regional network Città del Vino Friuli Venezia Giulia (Cities of Wine FVG), represented by Buttrio's municipality, and the University of Udine, for a research project aiming to define a “Intercity Guidelines for Rural Police – GRAPE FVG 2030” (Regolamento Intercomunale di Polizia rurale – VITE FVG 2030) that would be applied in the future in the territories of the regional network's cities by its associates. 26 cities belong to the network, representing 11% of the regional population and all the existing Friulian DOC – Denomination of Controlled Origin for wines. 

The guidelines are part of the wider project “Città del Vino FVG: obiettivo Agenda 2030” and share the same purposes, the main one being sustainability, especially when it comes to the use of phytosanitary products in viticulture, which will be strictly regulated and standardised for all the associates adhering to the Città del Vino FVG network. The research project also aims at improving competitiveness on a regional, national and continental basis, and it'll last 18 months. Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government and the bank Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Gorizia will support the project, which will be coordinated by University of Udine's Department for Agricultural and Food Farming Sciences. «Our wine growing territories have a great value as to wines' quality, landscapes' beauty and for their impact on local economy – said Roberto Pinton, University of Udine's chancellor – But the environmental impact of viticulture must be taken into consideration, considering the European Green Deal which vows to reduce by 50% the use of pesticides in agriculture by 2030. That's why this agreement is very positive».

Eliano Bassi, Buttrio's mayor, thanked the University of Udine for adhering to the project: «They showed that they share our same vision which no longer separate viticulture production from a constant commitment to sustainability. It's a fundamental step for the future development of the wine world here in Friuli Venezia Giulia». Tiziano Venturini, regional coordinator for Città del Vino FVG said: «This project is ground-breaking and will have a positive feedback for those territories who comply with it, and their promotion. Wine lovers and tourists ask more and more for values such as environmental, economical and social sustainability when it comes to choose a place to visit or a product to buy».

The University of Udine will involve local winemakers and institutions to draft the guidelines, and will also cooperate with Città del Vino in the near Veneto region and in Campania, where they already started similar projects. 
Here are the 26 cities adhering to Città del Vino Friuli Venezia Giulia: Aquileia, Bertiolo, Buttrio, Camino al Tagliamento, Capriva del Friuli, Casarsa della Delizia, Chiopris Viscone, Cividale del Friuli, Cormons, Corno di Rosazzo, Dolegna dl Collio, Duino Aurisina, Gorizia, Gradisca D’Isonzo, Latisana, Manzano, Moraro, Nimis, Palazzolo dello Stella, Povoletto, Premariacco, Prepotto, San Giorgio della Richinvelda, Sequals, Trivignano Udinese, Torreano.

Cover Photo: Roberto Pinton and Eliano Bssi dsigning the agreement. 
Photo taken form Città del Vino FVG official website 

Cultural events, art, hiking in the nature, educational workshops. They're the features that make Ikarus a unique festival, meant to enhance the so called Green Belt areas, those territories in Friuli Venezia Giulia stretching along the border with Slovenia: the Alps, the Torre Valleys, the Natisone Valleys and the Collio, renowned for its excellent wines. 

It opens on September 7th with a concert by the BGKO - Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra at Rifugio “Guglielmo e Giovanni Pelizzo” on Mount Matajur. On September 10th will also start the hikings with qualified mountain guides through the valleys, and the “Concerti del gusto” - “Concerts with taste”: a string of concerts, organized together with Piccolo Opera Festival, matching live music with local food and wines.
On September 11th will open the “theatre on a seat” by Kamishi-bike: inspired by Japanese theatre, the CTA Gorizia will bring live shows into the small valleys' hamlets by bike.

Ikarus will also be a showcase for ancient local crafts, such as “Affiliamo!” with Valley of Resia's traditional knife grinders. Events will go on up to October 17th and will promote local traditions, activities and beauty. The festival is coordinated by Stregna municipality and brings together 50 more partners, among them other municipalities in the area, ONG, local brands and associations. All events are free, but reservation is mandatory and they all will comply with Covid-19 safety rules.

PROGRAMME September 7th to 12th

7th – Concert BGKO - Barcelona Gipsy balKan Orchestra 
At Rifugio Pelizzo (Savogna)


10th – Hiking “Il sentiero dei cervi” (The path of the deers)
At Località Zore (Taipana)

Concerti del Gusto – Rojal FVG Brass Band
At Azienda Agricola Zore (Taipana)


11th – Hiking “Ta lipa pot - la bella strada” (The good road)
At Stolvizza (Resia)

Kamishi-bike – Theatre on the bike
At Osteria alla Speranza di San Giorgio (Resia)

Kamishi-bike – “Il Mostro dei cespugli” (The Monster of the Bushes)
At Fronte Centro visite Parco (Prato di Resia)

Kamishi-bike – “Forte in discesa” (Good at descent) 
At Museo dell’Arrotino, Stolvizza (Resia)

Affiliamo! - Let's grind” With traditional knife grinders
At Museo dell’Arrotino, Stolvizza (Resia)

Il mare nel bosco “Chiudo gli occhi e vedo” (I close my eyes and see)
Live performance of stories with music
At Stolvizza (Resia)


12th – Hiking at Fontanone di Goriuda
At Trattoria al Fontanone di Goriuda (Chiusaforte)

Concerti del gusto – Concert, an hommage to Italian songs
At Agriturismo Malga Montasio (Chiusaforte)

Kamishi-bike - “Forte in discesa” (Good at descent) 
At Trattoria al Fontanone di Goriuda (Chiusaforte)

Hiking – Phitosaurus of the Julian Alps 
At Museo del territorio (Dogna)

Kamishi-bike
At Arco sotto la Chiesa (Chiusaforte)

Kamishi-bike – “Il Mostro dei cespugli” (The Monster of the Bushes)
At Piazzetta infopoint (Dogna)​

“Le bontà di una terra, la bellezza di una città”. The motto for Friuli DOC 2021 goes “the goodies of a land, the beauty of a city” and it perfectly summarise the event that will take place in Udine from the 9th to the 12th of September. Open air tastings of local wines and food in the stunning squares and streets of the centre, strictly complying with Covid-19 safety rules: an occasion not to be missed, which will also coincide with the 798th anniversary of Udine's foundation, an historic celebration. 
The 27th edition of Friuli DOC will focus even more on wine&food and on Friuli Venezia Giulia excellences in these areas, which are the most determining motivations for tourists when it comes to choose a destination, be it for a weekend or for a fortnight. The goal is to attract a quality audience among wine and food lovers both from other Italian regions as well as from neighbouring countries such as Austria and Slovenia. 

Not only drinking and eating: Udine will offer to visitors a vast range of cultural events, museums, and a showcase by local artisans. "Friuli Doc is a traditional appointment which goes beyond wine&food, giving a wider vision of Friuli's and Udine's cultural heritage and identity. It'll be the setting for celebrating the Patrie del Friuli (Friuli Homeland) and the city's 798th birthday – said Pietro Fontanini, Udine's mayor – We aim at enhancing our history's and traditions' richness and to make Friuli DOC the perfect display for Udine, giving it the prestige it deserves”. 
“We're sending the message that this city, right because it complies with all prevention and safety rules, is ready to turn the page and give some leisure time to all its visitors. We want to become more and more a point of reference for people who appreciate high quality wine&food, while being aware that we can offer some alluring options also as to architecture, theatre, art and shows”, said Maurizio Franz, Udine's Council member for Tourism. 

Click down here for the map of the events: