We have prepared two itineraries for you: a 3-day and a 4-day package tour, specially designed to make the most of a short time span without missing any of the attractions or emotions. Both itineraries start from Trieste (Trst in Slovenian) and then reach the Carso plateau in its entirety, without territorial divisions, as if anticipating the removal of borders that will take place with Slovenia's accession to the European Union.
3-day package tour
1st dayAnybody interested in the local handicrafts, renowned even outside this region, will treasure our list of recommended addresses to be found on this website. For example, Art Hrovatin and others.
Wherever you go a wide choice of restaurants, inns and pubs will tempt you into the world of Carso food and wine. A unique blend of homemade flavours and innovative recipes. The places we have selected are the best to begin tasting the flavours of the local food and wine culture.
Switching from "profane" to sacred... the visitors of Carso cannot miss the walled church of Monrupino (Repentabor). Situated on the top of a steep hill, in ancient times it was the only refuge for the population fleeing from the Turks. Today it is a pilgrim destination with a magnificent view on the surroundings. Nearby, the quiet and picturesque village of Repen hosts an interesting museum. Its seat is an ancient Carso stonehouse now preserving a rare ethnographic collection. Discover the Carso of times past there. Among the specialities of Carso there is its best known wine: Teran. Let yourself be conquered by the famous local wines along the Teran Wine Route linking eighteen restaurants and inns, where you will find the true and certified DOC Teran.
Of course, Teran is not the only wine you will find here. This territory, though small, is heterogeneous and produces many certified wines from the Carso DOC area. Sauvignon and Malvazija, Merlot and Refosco dal peduncolo rosso (red stem). You can taste them all at the farms scattered throughout the plateau.
Before dinner we suggest a relaxing walk along the steep alleys and the ancient stone houses. Visit the typical villages surrounded by the green vegetation and then enter one of the many rural restaurants offering real home-made food. You will find yourself spoilt for choice about where to stay for the night. Our accommodation list includes only the best!
2nd day
In the morning you should not miss visiting Miramare Castle and its park, one of the most visited destinations of the entire region. Many are the international exhibitions regularly organised in the castle mews. Then, follow the waterfront and reach the city centre. Nestled among neoclassical buildings and churches of different denominations you will find the Libreria Triestina (Tržaška knjigarna), a bookstore combining books, maps and travel guides with traditional handicrafts and thematic exhibitions. Opposite the bookstore is the monumental synagogue of Trieste.
For lunch allow yourself a treat. The places we suggest are simply unmissable!
From Trieste take the road to Val Rosandra (dolina Glinščice). In the traditional village of Caresana (Mačkolje), stop to see the oil mill of the Parovel family and know more about a tradition as ancient as it is precious. The next stop will be the village of Bagnoli della Rosandra (Boljunec), where you can make a unique excursion in the Val Rosandra (Glinščica Valley) natural park. The surrounding villages offer a choice of local traditional products, ranging from the artistic pottery of the Ars Cretaria workshop to the specialities of Ota's bakery (the famous local bread, fine quality chocolate, freshly baked pastries), from the trout of the torrent Rosandra to natural products such as wine, olive oil, honey. We also recommend the local restaurants and inns.
To complete your day, try your luck at the Lipica casino, in Slovenia, just across the border. Whoever chooses Atmospheres and Flavours of Trieste and its surroundings will have free entrance. Of course, you will have a wide choice of accommodation places for the night .
3rd day
The morning can be dedicated to the picturesque castle of Duino (Devin), recently opened to the public, and to a walk along the plateau ridge offering a breathtaking view of the gulf of Trieste and Istria, and as far as Grado and Lignano. Alternatively, you may opt for Sistiana bay (Sesljan), a true jewel framed by the white cliffs of the Carso. Be our guests for lunch: a number of selected restaurants propose their typical menus prepared specially for you. Just choose from this list. After lunch you should pop across the soon-to-disappear border: the Škocjanska jama cave (grotte di S. Canziano), a UNESCO World Heritage site, is not far away, together with the nearby scenic village of Štanjel (S. Daniele del Carso), stone houses and an ancient castle framing the art gallery of the worldwide known painter Lojze Špacal. Have fun!
4-day package tour
The second itinerary will give you one more day to enjoy Trieste and its surroundings.
1st day
Just follow the previous itinerary with an interesting variation: if you manage to visit the fortified church of Monrupino (Repentabor) before lunch, in the afternoon you will have enough time to visit the Carsiana botanical garden, an incredible place rich in colours and typical carsic scents.
2nd day
After a tour of Miramare and a walk in the city centre, just drop into one of the many cafes that have made this city famous. As part of a larger group you will even be allowed to discover the coffee roasting processes and the secrets of making a unique aroma at Cremcaffé. But if you prefer a refreshing cocktail or a glass of the finest wine, we have the right place for you: Gran Malabar, in the central Piazza S. Giovanni (near Piazza Goldoni).
Both the city and its surroundings offer many options for the evening. Among the most appreciated are the numerous theatre performances, ballets, light opera shows and concerts scheduled every evening in the city's many theatres.
3rd day
The third day should be reserved for a visit to the Carso plateau on the Slovenian side of the border. The Postojnska jama is the most visited cave of the whole of Slovenia and one of the largest and most famous in the world. It is here that the incredible Proteus lives, a blind cave salamander not to be found anywhere else. A comfortable underground train will take you around the cave. The nearby Predjamski grad is another place you will never forget: a fascinating castle built into the rock. A wide range of restaurants are available in the area. After lunch, reach the typical Carso village of Štanjel, with its stone-houses, an ancient castle, the art gallery dedicated to the famous Lojze Spacal and many other curiosities. The next stop is the village of Lipica, home of the unique Lipizzaner horses that the Vienna riding school made famous, with their snow-white coat and bold gait. All around there are restaurants, hotels and a bustling casino.
4th day
To conclude your short "taste" of the sea and the Carso, w
e suggest some physical exercise. A relaxing walk up Val Rosandra through scenic villages and a unique vegetation. Many are the possibilities for lunch, after which you should go and meet the local population, who mostly live on handicrafts and agriculture. Not to be missed.
Last but not least, Muggia, a scenic town on the sea. We recommend a walk among the boats and the wharfs followed by an aperitif by the waterfront. Have your best drink at the Bar alla Vela. For a typical dinner with home-made food and a view of the gulf, try the Scheriani farm with restaurant (open from Easter till end of August).
So welcome to Trieste and its surroundings and ... have fun!
