Cycling day trip from Udine to Palmanova

Spin south from Udine’s elegant center and roll into the Friulian plain on quiet backroads. It’s an easy, mostly flat ride (about 27 km) with a gentle net downhill, plenty of smooth asphalt and a few short stretches of gravel or farm tracks—nothing tricky, but wider tires feel comfy. Traffic is light and there are bits of cycleway along the way, with fields, canals, and vineyard views keeping you company.

Udine’s worth a pre-ride wander: Piazza della Libertà, the castle hill, and Tiepolo’s frescoes are highlights. At the finish, Palmanova is a showstopper—an impeccably planned, nine-pointed star-fort city built by the Venetians (now part of a UNESCO-listed defense system). Roll in through one of its monumental gates—Porta Udine, Porta Aquileia, or Porta Cividale—and park up on the vast Piazza Grande to admire the perfectly radial streets.

Tip: services cluster in the towns, so top up water before leaving Udine.