STAGE 5: Marano Lagunare – Aquileia (36.3 km)

The fifth stage of the Friulian Riviera Ciclovia leaves from Marano Lagunare to reach the fascinating Aquileia, a treasure chest of art and history belonging to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Leaving Marano Lagunare, we immediately return to pedaling through the maze of canals that distinguish this area, skirting Bosco Sacile and arriving at the village of Carlino. Some slightly busier roads lead to the outskirts of San Giorgio di Nogaro (Porto Nogaro location, km 10.5). Here we take the bicycle path on Via Marittima and turn left onto Via Giulia crossing the Corno River, which briefly accompanies the ride. A small gravel-bottomed road in good condition branches off to the left, skirting a canal and making its way to Malisana, while it is a bicycle path that then leads to Torviscosa (km 18), a 1930s urban settlement where regime architecture can be seen.

After the underpass, the road runs parallel to the tracks to the first of three traffic circles, after which you reach the characteristic Borgo Fornasir, a Romanesque complex along the Ausa River. Here the road turns white and near Aquileia the asphalt is found again, for the last 7 km to the end of the stage.

The point of arrival is precisely the splendid Basilica of Aquileia, full of solemnity and charm, where one walks on a floor mosaic that is the largest in the Western Christian world and certainly among the most beautiful. The city was among the largest and richest in the Roman Empire and is now home to an archaeological center that has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Length: 36 km
Elevation gain: 177 m
Downhill elevation gain: 174 m
Highest point: 8 m
Lowest point: 0 m
Type of surface: mixed

Municipality of departure: Marano Lagunare
Place of departure: Marano Lagunare
Municipality of arrival: Aquileia
Place of arrival: Aquileia

Recommended period: all year round

The Friulian Riviera is a loop route designed to visit bike-friendly Friuli Venezia Giulia. The bicycle route is about 192 km long and runs between the Adriatic Riviera and the lagoon, also crossing the lowlands. It can be enjoyed by sea lovers and all those who dream of walking in small forests or discovering the fascination of archaeology and history.

With a ride punctuated by lagoon landscapes and the flat, gentle rhythms of the plains, the route is suitable for anyone: it runs along the Upper Adriatic coast, laps the lagoons of Grado and Marano, and reaches the Roman city of Aquileia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Credits: Province of Udine – Land of the Patriarchs