Forni Di Sopra: Dolomite Nature, Adventure and Culture

Forni Di Sopra combines impressive mountain scenery with nature experiences, adventure activities and a distinctive local culture. The valley lies in the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane and extends from the valley floor through forests and pastures in the mid-altitude areas to rocky peaks.

Experience nature and choose trails consciously

The Sentiero Truoi dai Sclops passes sheer rock faces, alpine meadows and woodland vegetation. At high elevations, there are habitats for rare or endemic flowers as well as ibex and chamois. The trail is therefore particularly appealing to travellers who want to appreciate not only the landscape but also its flora and fauna while hiking.

At the Area Faunistica Parulana, the grounds cover five hectares in the Parco delle Dolomiti Friulane. Lynxes, foxes, deer and owls can be observed there. Visitors can choose between a leisurely circular walk lasting around 1 hour and 30 minutes and a 2-hour-and-30-minute walk focusing on the biodiversity of the area. You can take these different formats into account when planning your day if members of your travel group have different interests or walking paces.

The Ecomuseo Fornese also combines nature and local history. A water-themed walk leads from the Vico district along the Tagliamento into the natural area of the Dolomiti Friulane, passing streams, cascades and artesian springs. The 400-metre-long Sentiero dei Bambini includes 20 stations where visitors can interact directly with nature.

Adventure, altitude and longer tours

Those seeking active experiences will find 11 suspended courses with Tibetan bridges, walkways and zip lines at the Dolomiti Adventure Park. The park also features the Powerfan, a 15-metre-high free-fall jump. The Ferrata Adventure Climb Varmost is a via ferrata on Clap Varmost. Starting at the chairlift’s upper station in the Som Picol district, it takes three to four hours and includes an initial canyon section as well as a suspended Tibetan bridge.

For a longer mountain tour, the route to Bivacco Marchi-Granzotto starts and ends at the Ponte Giaf car park; it takes six to eight hours. Another option is the Ring of the Malghe di Forni di Sopra: it leads down to the main square of Forni Di Sopra, from where the return to the Varmost chairlift car park takes around 10 minutes. The Forni Di Sopra sports area also includes the Fantasy Park next to the Davost area.

The first section of the Varmost chairlift leads to Som Picol at an altitude of 1,450 metres. From there, the Som Picol alpine hut can be reached; it serves typical cuisine from Forni di Sopra. This allows you to combine the mountain setting with a culinary insight into the local tradition when planning your trip.

Culture, craftsmanship and historic sites

The Ecomuseo Fornese is an open-air museum created through the cooperation of the residents of Forni Di Sopra. It presents the area’s tangible and intangible heritage. Ciasa dai Fornés is also home to the Museo Il Filo dei Ricordi. On display are agricultural tools and products of natural textile processing made from wool, hemp and flax, including plant dyes. The local craft tradition also includes scarpéts: traditional Carnic shoes made of embroidered velvet and crafted exclusively by hand.

Those interested in history can place the ruins of Castello di Sacuidic within the context of the municipality of Forni Di Sopra. They lie near an ancient road and a ford across the Tagliamento River; Castello di Sacuidic is dated to around the end of the 12th century. The Chiesa di San Floriano in the Cella district is a national monument and stands on a rocky spur overlooking the Tagliamento. It contains frescoes by Gianfrancesco da Tolmezzo and an altarpiece by Bellunello. This Bellunello altarpiece is an eight-panel polyptych bearing a signature and dated 1480.

Another spiritual landmark is a votive oratory built in 1515, which is associated with the Santuario Madonna della Salute and became a destination for numerous pilgrims. Forni Di Sopra therefore offers a range extending from wildlife observation and mountain activities to art, craftsmanship and religious history.

Choose the right base for your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Forni Di Sopra, it helps to determine your preferred daily rhythm first. For a nature-focused trip, you can make the Area Faunistica Parulana, the Sentiero Truoi dai Sclops or the trails of the Ecomuseo Fornese the centre of your itinerary. If adventure and longer tours are more important, the Adventure Park, Ferrata Adventure Climb Varmost and the route to Bivacco Marchi-Granzotto are among the defining experiences. Culture enthusiasts will tend to plan around the Ecomuseo, Museo Il Filo dei Ricordi, Castello di Sacuidic and Chiesa di San Floriano. This allows you to choose your accommodation according to your personal holiday pace and the excursions you want, without limiting your trip to just one aspect of the area.

Further places to help with your orientation

For your further search, you can also look at Trivignano Udinese, Artegna, San Vito Al Torre, Pocenia, Sottoselva, Paluzza, Passariano and Nimis.

For the higher-level travel overview: Udine.