Aquileia and Grado, history and tradition.

Check in e cocktail di benvenuto nel quale incontrerai la guida che ti illustrerà a grandi linee l’esperienza che vogliamo farti vivere. Then transfer to the ancient Roman city of Aquileia, one of the main archaeological sites in Northern Italy and identified in the 4th century as the ninth largest city in the world. Aquileia was an important city and the main center for the spread of Christianity in Northern and Eastern Europe. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco for the vastness of its archaeological sites and for the artistic value of its early Christian mosaics. We will visit the two national museums and the extraordinary patriarchal basilica full of priceless mosaics. The visit to the Patriarchal city will last all afternoon. Return to the hotel and after a short relaxation, a fish dinner will certainly be recommended, tasting the various specialties of the Gradese cuisine (for example the boretto).
Overnight

Breakfast
In the early morning, departure for the Cona Island, a natural oasis a few kilometers from Grado. It rises at the mouth of the river sacred to the Isonzo homeland (famous for the 12 bloody battles in the First World War). It is recognized as the best area in Italy for birdwatching, the Reserve is the ideal habitat for many animal species and in particular for birds, both sedentary and migratory. The integrity of the area is guaranteed by constant environmental interventions and is also entrusted to the animals themselves, such as the Camargue horses that live free in the Reserve and help control the development of vegetation. It is possible to practice activities to approach horses in their habitat, or to carry out real excursions on horseback within the Reserve. Inside the Reserve it is also possible to book an evocative canoe trip along the stretches of water accompanied by an expert naturalist guide.
Lunch will be in a nearby restaurant where the friendliness of the owners will go hand in hand with the courses that you will have the pleasure of ordering.
In the afternoon the guide will take you back to Grado, where you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon, for example by visiting the beach with very fine and golden sand. But you can also choose to enter the spa structure and look for the treatment that suits you best.
In the evening you will be guests in another excellent restaurant on the Isola del Sole. A wonderful opportunity to taste high quality local products prepared according to centuries-old traditions, the most famous local dish is the boreto a la graisàna, a traditional local fish soup.
Absolutely unmissable will be the walk after dinner in the alleys of the suggestive historic center of Grado entertained by the guide who will tell you particular stories and anecdotes: get ready to discover some of its hidden treasures.

Breakfast
After the check out you will still be hosted by the guide to let you enjoy the beauties of Grado during the day. A couple of hours tour to learn about the intriguing history of this sea port. The city is often described as a close relative of Venice; it was once the more important of the two cities. Like Venice, Grado was populated by the inhabitants of the Roman settlements on the mainland who fled into the lagoons to escape subsequent invasions. After the fall of the sixth century of the Roman city of Aquileia, Grado became the seat of the Patriarch or Archbishop responsible for the islands of the Adriatic lagoon and Istria. Following the beginning of the 19th century, the Habsburg aristocracy came here to bathe using the excellent marine thermal springs and to heal themselves given the particularly good climate rich in iodine.
At the end it will be our responsibility to transfer to the place of departure.