Zuc Schiaramont

Today a ride to Forgaria in search of Castello Raimondo (confusingly there is a place by the same name in Le Marche regione, so instead I'll use the Friulano name Zuc Schiaramont).  I tried stopping at Forgaria's municipio, where many of the artifacts excavated at the site are displayed.  Unfortunately it was closed, so I headed up the hill toward San Rocco.  Eventually I reached a marker for the castello at Via Coletti, pointing toward CAI 814 trail.  I decide to ride as much of this paved section as possible on Fedaia, and succeeded until the last 20 meters or so when it got up around 18%:  I don't have the legs for that yet this year.  I walked around and found the trail to the castle, also another trail called Las Gratolatas.  Didn't hike today but I'll come back soon and hike up to the elusive castello. 

Sign on Via Coletti in Italian, Friulano and English

Site map at trailhead

The 18% bit

Photos of artifacts

Details of the site history (dates back to 4th century BC)

Trail to castello

Trail to Las Gratolatas

Primule proclaiming Springtime!

Another shot of Las Gratolatas

The climb

Refrontolo

This is one of the prettiest rides I've ever ridden: the Prosecco hills of Refrontolo.  Paul Kim showed me the route 5 years ago and I keep meaning to go back but don't get around to it.  So today I cruised down to Vittorio Veneto and headed up to San Lorenzo, a stack of switchbacks through the woods filled with singing birds.  After the climb you sail down to Tarzo, take a right on the busy mainstreet briefly, then left at the sign marked Resera.  This heads upward, with beautiful views on your right of Lago Revine, followed shortly by great views of prosecco vineyards.

At Rolle the waterfall was dry.  Not sure if it's dammed  now because of the fatal landslide a few years ago or just lacks rain.  Then up to Refrontolo with great views of the zone.  The looping tornanti below San Pietro di Feletto were wonderful as always.  My ride home was surprisingly difficult because I'm a bit out of condition and I used up too much energy on all those rolling hills.  Didn't bonk but another few kilometers and I'd have been a zombie.  "Piano, piano" like my friend Silvano always says.    

Chiesa di San Lorenzo nestled in an olive grove,
with Monte Pizzoc in background 

Chiesa at Costa di La' above
an amphitheater of presecco vineyards 

Costa di La' vines with
Monte Cesen high above in the distance

My real motive for this ride: to find Villa Spada,
the setting of Andrea Molesini's historical fiction novel
"Non tutti i bastardi sono di Vienna."
This street in Refrontolo is named after
the real-life protagonist Nicolo Spada

This marker promises a trail to Tempietto Spada,
but I rode to the end and it ended in someone's
garden.  Clearly I'll have to return,  

Villa Varda

Villa Varda is a lovely villa down south in Brugnera.  The grounds have been made into a public park with lots of joggers, couples taking walks, etc.  One great feature is the meandering Fiume Livenza, which forms a natural border on the park's west side.

Despite meticulous planning I got lost in Brugnera, as always, wandering around for 7 or 8km.  I nailed the route on the ride home though so it wasn't so bad.  

Villa Varda chiesetta 

These shade trees form a galleria verde
in summer, keeping joggers cool

Beautiful Fiume Livenza 

Rauscedo loop

Nice ride down through Tesis, Rauscedo, Domanins and Cordenons.  Beautiful weather in Giais but foggy down on the pianura.   Good flat workout.

Arba loop

Another 2 weeks of indolence, and now I must start over again regaining fitness.  I gingerly mounted Maxima and soft-pedaled to Tesis.  From there the road begins rising very slightly to Arba, Orgnese and Cavasso Nuovo.  Then easy rolling road to Maniago and home.   Maybe I'll catch back up in a few weeks.

Monte Cavallo Gruppo from Campagna

Monte Raut peeping over Monte Jouf 

Julian Alps toward Slovenia

Orgnese campanile with Monte Raut