Introduction to the bike route “FVG3”
By the beautiful hills of Buttrio /Buri, you can admire in all its extension the pre-Alps dorsal of Friuli Venezia Giulia, where stand out Mount Sabotino, the Collio hills, the massif of Canin, the Musi dorsal until Monte Cavallo. At the foot of these peaks lies the cycle route FVG3, of the foothills and Collio, which follows part of the route n. 12 Bicitalia FIAB, which runs from Turin to Trieste through the foothills of all the Alps arch. The route from Gorizia /Gurize /Gorica to Budoia /Budoia is 164 kilometers long, of medium difficulty if it is accomplished in two or three stages, and it is part of ReCIR, route network cycling of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The cycle ways of ReCIR are cycle routes of priority regional interest that combine the most important tourist, historical, artistic, cultural and natural centres with the cycling networks planned by the Region and its neighbours. In general, the term “cycle lane” means a long-distance cycle route that ensures the safety and comfort of the rider, and this route can take place either on dedicated paths (bicycle paths and pedestrian), both on existing secondary roads with low car traffic.
The route runs mainly on low-traffic roads, some stretches of protected lane and some stretch of dirt road and is signposted at the moment from the Collio hills to Cividale del Friuli /Cividât and from Pinzano al Tagliamento /Pinçan to Budoia /Budoia with FVG3 tables or with IPP signs in Pordenone province (Itinerary of the foothills of Pordenone). The foothill arch is full of fresco painted churches, castles, medieval villages, where you can taste local food and wine. Starting from Gorizia /Gurize /Gorica you reach suddenly the Collio hills, where vineyards reigns. There are lots of cellars up to the Tarcento /Tarcint area, crossing various types of wines, from whites to reds and where you can always stop for a taste. Cross the beautiful Lombard UNESCO heritage town of Cividale del Friuli /Cividât, with the medieval village, the Devil’s Bridge, and the Lombard Temple.
Exceeded Gemona del Friuli /Glemone, where it intersects the other cycle path Alpe Adria FVG1, the landscape changes again. Now you will cycle in the presence of steep slopes that rise quickly to form a buttress with a fine example in the Mount Cavallo massif. You must stop at the Natural Reserve of the Cornino lake, with its turquoise waters and griffins. From Pinzano al Tagliamento /Pinçan forward we find numerous small churches decorated by the “Pordenone”, like those of Pinzano al Tagliamento /Pinçan and Valeriano /Valerian, Friuli’s beautiful examples of XV century art. Passing through Maniago /Manià and its cutlery, Montereale /Montreâl with the entrance of Valcellina /Valcelina valley, slightly downhill you arrive to Budoia /Budoia, where the FVG3 ends. From here you can return to Pordenone /Pordenon to reach the railway line, or continue up to Polcenigo /Polcenic, Caneva /Cjaniva and Villa of Villa where you enter in Veneto. The FVG7 of Livenza would be a natural continuation of this bike lane to Sacile, unfortunately still on paper.
(Promotions in the Sacile/Sacil-Gemona del Friuli/Glemone line available! – See below)
As sometimes happens, the cycle path F-VG3 is closed to a railway (the Sacile/Sacil-Gemona del Friuli/Glemone line). The possibilities of take the train and then move with bicycle are really exciting experiences.
This railway is an important link for this cycle path: in Gemona del Friuli/Glemone you can find the intersection with the CAAR (Ciclovia Alpe Adria Radweg) and the cross-border rail connection Mi.Co.Tra., in Budoja/Budoia the F-VG3 ends and other bike paths begin in direction to Veneto, in Sacile/Sacil you can find the important railway junction Venezia – Pordenone/Pordenon – Udine/Udin and the Bike path of river Livenza.
For enjoy the train transport for person and bicycle, you just need to connect to the official site trenitalia.it and follow a procedure for buy a ticket. About the bicycle transport, there’re different situations**:
- all the folding bikes can be loaded for free, without create any passage problem;
- the bikes that are disassembled and put inside a bicycle bag (max dimensions 80x110x40 cm) can be loaded for free, without create any passage problem;
- the normal bikes (not disassembled) can be loaded paying another ticket of the same class and route of the bike owner, or in other case paying a daily bike-ticket (3,50 euro, also payable at the site trenitalia.it) (see “Promotions”)
The tickets can be bought directly from italian railway´s website trenitalia.com or App Trenitalia until 5 min before the train departure. Otherwise, you can buy the ticket in any travel agency present in the municipalities of the railway line. If there aren’t ticket machine at the railway station, you can buy a ticket on the train without any surcharge.
The timetables can be consulted at the moment of the online purchase, or at the showcases of the railway stations.
The replacement busses don’t allow the bike transport. The trains have 7 bike seats (5 hooks and 2 horizontal).
Promotions:
- Weekend F-VG: every weekend in the whole region F-VG there’s a discount of the 20% for all ordenary tickets (not combinable)
- **In the section Sacile/Sacil-Maniago/Manià it’s possible to travel with a special discount of the 50% for a single ticket. Ask for (or select) a children tariff. (not combinable with Weekend F-VG) – Caution! For the purchase of tickets via internet with Trenitalia App and “Cartafreccia”, there may be problems to obtain the discount.
- The transport of bikes along the route Sacile/Sacil-Maniago/Manià is for free.
“Public transports vor bike tourists”:
https://www.turismofvg.it/Bike-friendly-public-transport
Reaching Venice from FVG1 Alpe Adria and FGV3
Are you travelling along the Alpe Adria Cycle Path and would you arrive to Venice by bike? We suggest this route:
- Starting from Gemona del Friuli/Glemone, go to Pinzano al Tagliamento/Pinçan following the new bike path signs
- From Pinzano al Tagliamento/Pinçan follow the normal signs of F-VG3 till Budoja Polcenigo’s/Budoia Polcenîc’s railway station.
- From Budoja Polcenigo/Budoia Polcenîc starts the Cycle Path of river Livenza (F-VG7), which unluckly has no signs. Follow the indications to Caneva/Cjaneva till Fiaschetti/Fiaschets. At this point turn toward Nave and then to the Sacile’s/Sacil’s railway station. From here, pass over the rails on the SP 15 and turn to Via della Guardia street, Place Sant’Odorico, Strada Geromina. Once out from the city of Sacile/Sacil, continue to Case Padernelli, Case De Marco, San Giovanni di Livenza, Brugnera, Basse, San Cassiano di Livenza, Rovere, Talmasson, Portobuffolè (Veneto).
- After the end of the F-VG7 take the underpass of SP35 (Portobuffolè), Margherita Road (Portobuffolè), Tremeacque, Case Corella-Due Rose, Meduna di Livenza, (protected cycle path), Motta di Livenza, Via Riviera Antonio Scarpa (bridge over Livenza, Motta di Livenza), Lorenzaga, Corbolone, San Stino di Livenza, Via Stazione (San Stino di Livenza), Prataviera, Biverone, Sant’Alò, La Salute di Livenza.
- Here we meet the Via del Mare (Sea’s Way), which connect all the region Veneto’s coast with cycle ways, from Bibione to Rovigo. You just have to follow the route in the official site http://www.veneto.eu/itinerari-dettaglio?uuid=7a58296f-24b6-47eb-a4e0-dc2559a83a2f&lang=it in the part La Salute di Livenza – Caorle (13.5), Caorle – Eraclea – Jesolo (13.4), Jesolo – Venezia (13.3)
It’s possible to take the train to Venice in any station along the F-VG3, in Sacile/Sacil, in Motta di Livenza and in San Stino di Livenza. Infos on website www.trenitalia.com (available in english).
Links:
- Venice public transports -Ferry boat http://actv.avmspa.it/en/content/actv-ferry-boat (english)
- Venice public transports – Map of the ferries which allow the bike transport http://avm.avmspa.it/en/content/servizi-di-mobilita-venezia-Bicicletta (italian)
- Official Website of Municipality Venice https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/e-commerce/services (english)
- Webseite of Region Veneto – Section of bike paths http://www.veneto.eu/itinerari-dettaglio?path=/Itinerari/Sportivi/Cicloturismo&lang=us (english)