Compare Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia Cycling Tour by Tourissimo vs Medieval Murder Mysteries and Their Settings by Road Scholar

Day 1: Grado - Aquileia

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Villa Bernt

Terrain: Flat

Ride: 13 mi or 22 km

A private shuttle will take you to our hotel on an island-village on the Adriatic. Grado is Friuli’s lagoon city, a town with 1600 years of history, which can still be experienced by strolling the calli (streets) of the ancient city center. Grado was the first port of entry for ships headed upstream to nearby Aquileia, a powerful Roman city on the river Natisone.

After some lunch and presentations, we ride inland to Aquileia. The colony was founded in 180BC and served as a strategic frontier fortress at the northeast corner of Transpadane (on the far side of the Po river) Italy.

Back at the hotel, you will receive an overview of the tour program followed by dinner.

Day 2: Collio Hills

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: La Subida

Terrain: Rolling

Ride: 30 mi or 48 km

After fine tuning our bikes some more, we ride along the Natisone river and we reach Gorizia for a short visit and some lunch. Once a favorite spot of the Hapsburg nobility, since 1947 Gorizia has been split in two, with Nova Gorica developing on the other side of the Italian–Slovenian border. We are in the dramatic Carso area with its limestone formations, grottoes, and underground rivers. La Subida is a charming country hotel and the hospitality of the Sirk family is legendary. Tonight, we will have dinner at l'Osteria, which is part of the La Subida Estate. La Subida is a place that makes our guests feel at home and relaxed. It's unique.

Day 3: Cividale Loop

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: La Subida

Terrain: Hilly

Ride: 28 mi or 45 km

Today's ride leads us northward to Cividale del Friuli (UNESCO site). We will be pedaling through the Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli wine area for about 30 mls of easy and rolling terrain. Cividale del Friuli will be our lunch stop and then we will head back to La Subida from a different road. Before reaching the hotel, we will stop at a local winery for lunch and wine tasting. The family-owned Grillo winery is in the center of the Schioppettino wine production (very rare and hard to find anywhere else in Italy). Relax back at La Subida before dinner.

Day 4: Bovec

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation:  Hotel Alp

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 46 mi or 74 km (shorter option available)

Today's ride takes us out of Friuli, heading northeast to the border of Slovenia. We will notice the landscape changing as we ride through the lowest mountain pass of the Alps, a long, easy smooth climb that takes us to the former border between Italy and Slovenia. Entering Slovenia we will find ourselves in a lush, green landscape with the typical vegetation of a mountain region, with rivers, waterfalls, and forests. Silence and very few cars make this and the next rides heavenly. Our lunch stop is in Caporetto/Kobarid and we have planned a visit to the WWI museum, a small but very complete and interesting house where the people from Caporetto have collected pictures and objects through which they tell the history of WWI as it was lived by the soldiers and civilians in that valley where we bike during our tour. In the afternoon we cruise to Bovec following the Soča river valley. You'll have time to explore Bovec on your own ant to enjoy a cold beer while watching the sunset behind the high mountains that surround the valley where Bovec is nestled. A short walk to the center of Bovec and we will find our dinner table ready at a local Gostilna, a simple, typical ‘trattoria’ style restaurant where we can enjoy our Slovenian meal.

Day 5: Bovec

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Alp

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 23 mi or 37 km

Bovec is known as the adventure capital of Slovenia, and we have a full day here to rest and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities: kayaking, rafting, canoeing, paragliding, mountain biking, hiking and more. Kayaking in the emerald waters of the Soca River while immersed in the landscape of high peaks, forest and waterfalls is an unforgettable experience not to be missed. For those who like hiking there are some interesting trails with historical traces of WWI and WWII just outside of Bovec, with a war cemetery, two old forts and some bunkers and tunnels dating back to the Napoleon era and WWI. A bike ride will also be available if you want to explore the countryside up to the edge of Triglav National Park, in a remote little valley where only sheep and cows are witnesses to our slow-paced ride through paradise. Dinner is on your own.

Day 6: Fusine Lake to Bled

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Astoria Bled

Terrain: Rolling Hills

Ride: 37 mi or 59 km

Today we’ll go across the Alps to reach Tarvisio, a town on the border where Italy, Austria and Slovenia meet. A bus will shuttle us and our bikes over a mountain pass and down to the enchanting Fusine lakes where an easy and flat bike path starts. We’ll follow the bike path along the valley, once again immersed in a beautiful forest and with mountains all around us. Past the town of Kranjska Gora we’ll leave the main path and enter a secondary valley, now riding on an unpaved (but smooth) bike path.  This valley, the Radovna Valley, is the most beautiful, magical and enchanting place of the whole tour. Streams, small waterfalls, tall trees, water mills, a few old farmhouses and some cows are what we will see during the almost 10km of riding in this heavenly valley. Once we leave the valley we will be very close to Bled and if time and weather permit we can take a detour to admire the Vintgar Gorge, a canyon carved by the Vintgar River. A boardwalk runs along the gorge and from there we can view waterfalls and rapids.

Bled is our final destination today. We’ll bike along the lakeshore to reach Hotel Astoria in the center of Bled. Dinner will be at a castle overlooking Lake Bled. If time allows it, you can visit the interesting museum inside the Bled Castle. 

Day 7: Ljubljana

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Allegro Garni Hotel

Ride:  None

Today we’ll transfer by private bus (about 1 hr) to Ljubljana. Upon arriving, you will have a guided visit of the town center of this UNESCO-recognized gem. You will have some free time in the afternoon to explore on your own and to do some shopping. We will enjoy our final dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town.

Day 8: Ljubljana

Meals: Breakfast

Terrain: Departure

Ride: None

After breakfast, we’ll provide a transfer to the Ljubljana airport.

Day 1
Orientation
Jerome, ID D Monastery of the Ascension
Dinner: After the monks finish vespers, there is a social; hors d'ouevres, soft drinks, wine and beer are served. This is followed by a dinner.

Evening: 7:30 PM Orientation and get-acquainted meeting. The meeting is held in the conference room. There will be introductions, an orientation to the teachers, the amenities and layout of the building and the classes for the week.

Day 2
The Norman Conquest, Bayeux Tapestry, & More
Jerome, ID B,L,D Monastery of the Ascension
Breakfast: 7:30. Opportunity to walk for those who wish exercise and fresh air. 8:00 AM. Breakfast. Hot dish; cereals; fruit; milk and yogirt. bread and condiments, served buffet style, prepared by a professional chef. Wherever practical, she uses local ingredients.

Morning: 9:00 - 11:30: Presentation: William the Conqueror; the Bayeux Tapestry. Mysteries: Howard of Warwick; Alys Clare (Aelf Fen) (Joanne Draper) 11:30 - 11:55 Optional movement exercises.

Lunch: Lunch is served in the dining room at 12:10. Buffet style. Special dietary needs are gladly accommodated.

Afternoon: 1:00-3:45 PM Presentations: William Rufus through end of civil war (ca. 1150): Ellis Peters, Br. Cadfael; Powerpoint on Cadfael-sites (Fr. Hugh)

Dinner: 6:00 PM Dinner is served in the dining room.

Evening: 7:15: A Br. Cadfael movie. The snack bar remains open 24 hours a day.

Day 3
Study Period Mysteries
Jerome, ID B,L,D Monastery of the Ascension
Breakfast: 7:30 opportunity to walk outside and gets some fresh air. Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8:00 - 8:40.

Morning: 9:00-11:30 Presentation: Henry II and His Sons, notably Richard the Lionhearted and John. Mysteries set in the period. (Sara Parkin) 11:30 - 11:55 Movement exercises.

Lunch: 12:10 Lunch is served in the dining room after the monks finish noon prayer.

Afternoon: 1:00-3:45 Presentation: Henry II and his Sons; Sharon Kay Penman; Ariana Franklin; Bernard Knight: Crowner John; Maureen Ash: Templar Knight Mysteries.

Dinner: Dinner is served in the dining room from 6:00-6:40.

Evening: 7:15 Becket Movie

Day 4
Henry III & Edward I, Field Trip & Picnic, Snake River
Jerome, ID B,L,D Monastery of the Ascension
Activity note: The afternoon and evening is a long stretch, but one does not need to walk very far (longest is the walk to the boat which is perhaps 75 yards, mostly flat),

Breakfast: 7:30 optional walk outdoors. 8:00 AM Dining room.

Morning: 9:00-11:30 Henry III: Jason Vail: Ian Morson. Edward I: Paul Doherty, Hugh Corbet (Fr. Hugh)

Lunch: 12:10 Dining room

Afternoon: This afternoon we will have chartered bus to tour the Hagerman Fossil Beds headquarters, Oregon Trail overlooks and other local attractions as time allows. We will have a picnic supper and then go on a boat ride on the Snake River. Of course, those who don't want to join us for this outing are welcome to stay at the monastery or explore the area on their own.

Dinner: 5:45 PM Picnic at Centennial Park in Twin Falls (or dinner at the monastery for those who prefer that).

Evening: 6:30 Optional outing on Snake River - a local outfitter will take our group on an outing in the Snake River Canyon to look at the scenery and listen to stories about local history. The ride is very safe and smooth.

Day 5
Edward II & III, Robb, Swinfen, Star, Doherty, Richard II
Jerome, ID B,L,D Monastery of the Ascension
Breakfast: 7:30 opportunity to walk for those who want fresh air and exercise. 8:00 AM In dining room.

Morning: 9:00-11:30 Presentations: Edward II: Paul Doherty, Mechtilde of Westminster (Hugh) Edward III: 11:30 - 11:55 Movement exercises.

Lunch: 12:10 In dining room.

Afternoon: 1:00 -3:45 Presentations: Candace Robb (Sara). Ann Swinfen (hf). Mel Star (Joanne). Paul Doherty, Sorrowful Mysteries of Br. Athelstan and The Great Revolution (hf).. Richard II (Sara).

Dinner: 6:00 PM In dining room. This meal will feature local foodstuffs: Idaho raised fish, potatoes, etc.

Evening: 7:00 Richard II: BBC production (2012) in the series The Hollow Crown.

Day 6
Henry IV, V, VI, Dame Frevisse, Edward IV
Jerome, ID B,L,D Monastery of the Ascension
Breakfast: 8:30 opportunity to walk for those who would like exercise and fresh air. Breakfast at 9:00 am.

Morning: 10:00-11:30 Presentations: Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI For Henry VI: Dame Frevisse novels (Sara). Movement exercises 11:30-1155.

Lunch: 12:10 In dining room.

Afternoon: 1:00-2:00: Henry VI, cont. 2:15-4:15: Edward IV: Kate Sedley: Roger the Chapman: Paul Doherty: Kathryn Swinbrooke mysteries

Dinner: 5:50 Social; 6:15 Supper. As on the opening night.

Evening: A segment on one of the later medieval kings (Henry IV--Edward IV) from the BBC series The Hollow Crown (2012).

Day 7
Program Concludes
Jerome, ID B
Breakfast: Breakfast available from 6 AM for those who wish to leave early. Breakfast will be served at 7:40 am.