If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Friuli-Venezia Giuli region of northeastern Italy, abbreviated as Fruili, bordering Austria and Slovenia. Depending on your interests, Friuli may be an ideal vacation spot. You usually won’t have to fight crowds to see its tourist attractions. This article explores Fruili, outside of its capital and largest city, Trieste, examined in another article.

Italy’s largest war memorial, the Mussolini-era Redipuglia Military Memorial lies inland from the Gulf of Trieste. Here repose thousands of Italian World War I soldiers. Further west repose fourteen thousand Austro-Hungarian World War I soldiers.

Gorizia is near the Slovenian border. The nearby Military Shrine of Oslavia, is another major burial site for World War I soldiers. The centerpiece of the old city, Borgo Castello, is a medieval castle surrounded by Sixth Century walls. Inside you’ll find a great collection of Venetian art. This town is home to palaces, old churches, and a Sixteenth Century Cathedral.

Julius Caesar founded Cividale del Friuli over two thousand years ago. Its historic town center is dominated by the Cathedral Square with its National Archeological Museum. The Sixteenth Century Palazzo dei Provveditori Veneti lies nearby. Visit the Celtic Hypogeum, an ancient subterranean series of rock-carved halls.

Udine was founded about a thousand years ago. The Fifteenth Century Venetian-style Freedom Square includes a Palazzo del Commune (Town Hall) opposite the Clock Tower. The square boasts a lovely Sixteenth Century fountain, Seventeenth Century columns illustrating the Statue of Justice and the Venetian Lion. Several churches are worth visiting.

Udine’s major attraction is its castle, situated high on a hill. Local legend claims Attila the Hun built it to watch the neighboring Roman city of Aquileia burn. Earthquakes destroyed the castle twice but it now contains a Renaissance palace housing museums and art galleries. Enjoy the view of the Italian mountains and Slovenian plains from the walls near the castle entrance.

Prosciutto di San Daniele ham is the pride of Fruili. It ranks among Italy’s best. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy – Friuli-Venezia Giuli for a sample menu and more information on its wines plus an in-depth examination of local tourist attractions. Ramandolo DOCG is a sweet white wine produced north of Udine from the local Verduzzo grape. The vineyards are high and the slopes are so steep that the grapes must be processed and harvested by hand. This wine is recommended with Prosciutto di San Daniele ham.

Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, prefers drinking fine wine with great food, and hates dieting. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com and his other sites including www.theworldwidewine.com and www.travelitalytravel.com