Mountains and Plains in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

To the far north-east of the country, the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia borders the Veneto, Slovenia and Austria. The regional capital is Trieste, which lies in the far southern corner of the region on the Adriatic coast. Behind the Gulf of Trieste, erosion of the rocky mountains by wind and rain has created fascinating gorges, caves and underground rivers. In northern Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the mountains rise towards the higher Alps, with precipitous passes leading into Austria and Slovenia. These high passes formed a major trading route from northern Europe to the Adriatic for hundreds of years. The region’s economy is largely based on agriculture in the lower plains, with the main crops being maize, sugar beet, wheat and soy beans, as well as grapes for some wonderful, world-renowned wines. There are also many medium-and small-sized industries, making chemicals, textiles, paper and furniture.