Friuli Venezia Giulia overlooks the Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by high mountains, enclosing many different landscapes. The impressive Carso plateau is formed by windswept rocks, and soil erosion has created a series of caves, hollows and resurgences over time.
The mountain sceneries of the Eastern Dolomites are truly spectacular: the Carnia and the Julian Alps, in addition to the lakes, valleys and protected areas. From its boundary with Veneto up to Monfalcone, the coast is trimmed with lagoons and has long sandy beaches, with several tourist resorts lik famous Lignano Sabbiadoro. The coast is rather rocky from Monfalcone to Trieste.
The great variety of landscapes matches the rich and variegated cultural heritage that has determined by a complex history and by the confluence of different civilizations in this territory. For this reason, Friuli Venezia Giulia looks like a small universe with many different traditions: it is the “land of contrasts”.