RIDING ALONG THE SOČA RIVER AND DISCOVERING WINDY FRESH WILD SPOTS

We run the SR356, first among the woods and secondly among the prestigious vineyards of the Collio area, to reach the twin cities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica. They're just as if it was one unique big city, separated by the historic borderline between Italy and Slovenia, but sharing the same river and a lot more.

Then, we choose to ride the Slovenian road 103, which follows almost entirely the course of the fascinating Soča river (= fiume Isonzo, in Italian language)  and allows to completely soak into the wilderness and beauty of it. 

Lastly, we visit the town of Kobarid, perhaps sadly famous for the events of WWI once, but colourful, new and joyful today. Eventually we re-enter Italy through the deserted and relaxing SS54.

A ROADTRIP OF 217 KM = 134 MILES

North Eastern Italy (FVG Region) bordering Slovenia and West Slovenia.

[Counties of Udine and Gorizia (Italy) +  Goriska (Slovenia)]

09.08.2022

WE START OUR ROADTRIP WITH A JUICY BREAKFAST
AT "DOCTOR COFFEE AND MR. ICE", IN BUJA (WHICH MEANS 'DARK', BTW!)

A BRIEF STOP IN CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI: THIS RENOWNED TOWN
FOUNDED BY CEASAR AS "FORUM JULII" GAVE ITS LATIN NAME
TO OUR ENTIRE REGION, WHICH IS NOWADAYS FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA.

THIS BAR CALLED "LA BORA" IS NAMED AFTER THE STRONG AND PERSISTENT WIND
THAT USUALLY BLOWS OVER THE NORTHERN EASTERN ADRIATIC SEA. 
FORTUNATELY, THE BORA HAS ACCOMPANIED US ALL THE WAY ALONG OUR RIDE
IN THIS HOT SUMMER DAY!

VISITING THE VERY CENTER OF GORIZIA:
THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE THAT DOMINATES THE CITY IS VISIBLE IN THE BACKGROUND

SAINT IGNAZIO CHURCH, IN GORIZIA

              

ROMA STREET AND THE FOUNTAIN OF NEPTUNE IN GORIZIA

DISMISSED CUSTOM HOUSE IN NOVA GORICA IN THE EXACT POINT WHERE FORMER JUGOSLAVIA AND ITALY GEOGRAPHICALLY MET: NOW THE SIGNPOSTS SIMPLY INDICATE THE BORDERLINE BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES, BOTH BELONGING TO THE EUROPE UNION.

THE PICTORESQUE BRIDGE OF KANAL NA SOČI.
HERE'S WHERE THE ROAD 103 CROSSES THE RIVER, 
PASSING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER OF IT.

RELAXING CAMPING ZONE ALONG THE RIVER.
RAFTING IS VERY POPULAR AMONG THE VISITORS AND THE INHABITANTS HERE.

ONE OF OUR STOPS IN THE TOWN MOST NA SOČI: JUST WHEN WE STOPPED THERE,
A TOURISTIC FERRY BOAT PASSED UNDERNEATH THIS BRIDGE!

ENJOY THE VIDEOCLIP HERE:

THE TOWN OF MOST NA SOČI (=BRIDGE ON SOČA) 
IS THE POINT WHERE THE RIVER NATURALLY ENLARGES ITS COURSE
SO MUCH THAT IT APPEARS TO BE RATHER A CALM LAKE!  

PANORAMIC VIEW IN MOST NA SOČI: IN THE DISTANCE, THE MASSIVE MOUNTAIN
"MATAJUR" OR "MONTEMAGGIORE", ANOTHER TERRITORIAL SYMBOL
SHARED BOTH BY ITALY AND SLOVENIA.

AFTER A WARM AND WINDY RIDE, WE GOT TO SEE A 
MOST WILD ASPECT OF THIS VERSATILE RIVER

ENJOYING THE CENTER OF THE NOCE AND CROWDED TOWN OF KOBARID!

EXCELLENT LUNCH AT POLJANA'S, THE VERY LAST RESTAURANT
BEFORE ENTERING ITALY AGAIN,
IN THIS UPPER SECTION OF THE BORDERLINE

NOT FAR FROM THE FINAL GOAL (HOME) DURING OUR WAY BACK TO THE STARTING POINT,
WE STOPPED TO GREET THE CASTLE OF COLLOREDO DI MONTE ALBANO. 

POSTCARD FROM THE MAGIC RIVER! IN THIS POINT, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
WE MET BIKERS FROM SLOVENIA AND CZECH REPUBLIC
WHO WERE RIDING OUR SAME ROADS.