recommended route
ST35 AAT: Prosecco/Prosek – Lipica
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Triestiner KarstPhoto: Alpe-Adria-Trail
In a region where Miramare Castle is reflected in the sea which is whipped by the bora, you can enjoy a glass of wine Teran with some prosciutto from the Karst, and look forward to seeing the snow white Lipizzan horses. On the way from Prosecco towards Lipica you can visit the Cave Vilenica, which is the oldest tourist cave in Europe. A few kilometres away are the Škocjan caves, the first Slovene attraction enlisted as a part of the UNESCO world natural heritage, which are also a treat for every hiker on the stage from Prosecco to Lipica. In Italy, close to Trieste, there is also the Giant Cave (Grotta Gigante), a Karst cave with the biggest open space in the world, also listed in the Guinnes World Records.
Prosecco , the small karst village in a spectacular position high above the sea with its district of Contovello,is also the name of a wine growing region. The white grape variety “Pucinum” was known in Roman times, when it was grown on the sunny terraces. Recently a strategy has been launched to revive old wine growing traditions which would otherwise probably be lost forever. Precisely beneath Prosecco and right by the sea is Miramare Castle. This imposing residence was constructed by the Habsburg rulers, who were fascinated by the magic of this spot. Somewhat further away, Trieste can be recognised on the foothills of the rough, windy karst. The former port of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria is a special place, a melting pot of languages and cultures. It is a town which in the recent past has consolidated its links with its extended hinterland, which is only a narrow strip of land on the Italian side. Botanists, zoologists, geologists, cavers and nature lovers can always discover something new and interesting right outside the gates of the town. The predominant rock here, both on the surface and underground, is limestone. The landscape here is known as Karst due to the thousands of different-sized hollows which have formed within the limestone. The vegetation of the Karst, which offers nature lovers plenty of surprises and delights at all times of year, provides especially magical moments in autumn with its glowing colours.Not so far, we find the Grotta Gigante, the tourist cave with the largest room in the world, also listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
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Center HotelSafety information
ATTENTION: the path from Gropada to Bassovizza and to the Slovenian Border is not marked yet. Please, pay a lot of attention because there exist some old signs leading from Gropada directly to the border and those are not correct, since they stop at the border.
Tips and hints
TIC Sežana
Partizanska 4
6210 Sežana (Slovenia)
+386 (0)5 7310 128
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From the village of Prosecco we head south towards the district of Contovello. We pass the historic pond which used to serve as a watering hole for cattle, and climb the hill towering behind it. Thanks to the village’s favourable location we repeatedly have wonderful views of the sea in between the houses, which are built close together. We walk past a variety of larger and smaller houses and find ourselves near the church of San Gerolamo. From there we go to the street which runs beneath it and leads back to Prosecco. We cross the street and follow the markings for the CAI 1 trail. Via the residential district of Borgo San Nazario we come to the edge of the karst plateau. Then just outside the settlement we follow the Strada Vicentina or Strada Napoleonica (CAI 1) which runs high above the sea, and repeatedly offers us beautiful views. We follow this easy footpath as far as the obelisk of Opicina, where the urban traffic begins. We cross the SS58, continuing to follow trail no. 1, leave the Obelisco campsite behind us and via a gravel trail through the district of Conconello we come to the Sella di Banne. An asphalt road descends towards Conconello, but we take a different, well tended gravel track which starts just a small distance further downhill. We remain on the slightly sloping road until we come to the first fork. From here a stony mule track (CAI 2) runs uphill, which takes us over a saddle (Valico di Trebiciano) and on the other side down to Trebiciano. In the village we keep to the right and follow the provincial road SP1 for a short while to the main square. We hike through the village and when we are level with the last houses we come to a gravel track, which we follow in a south-easterly direction towards Gropada (second junction on the right). We come to the village (places to stop and eat), walk through it and keep heading south, where we find an asphalt road (SS19) which leads us to Bassovizza.
ATTENTION: the path from Gropada to Bassovizza and to the Slovenian Border is not marked yet. Please, pay a lot of attention because there exist some old signs leading from Gropada directly to the border and those are not correct, since they stop at the border.
From Bassovizza we take the Ressel Path which will take us to the Slovenian border and to Lipica.
However, because of the difficult terrain, you should pay attention when hiking through the karst. On the plateau we can watch the Lipizzan horses from the Lipica stud farm, then we walk around the southern section of the stud farm.
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- 18 Waypoints
- 18 Waypoints
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