Trieste to Monte Auremiano / Vremščica cycling route
Route information
- Region / area
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Province / area
- Trieste
- Country
- Italy
- GPX starting point
- Lat. 45.63282, lon. 13.78298
- Track length
- Approximately 75.1 km
Distance and elevation are estimates from the GPX and may differ from GPS-device calculations. The file contains multiple segments: gaps between separate segments are not included in the calculation.
Start: Piazzale delle Puglie, Trieste. Destination: Monte Auremiano, called Vremščica in Slovenian.
The contributor gives 75.2 km return, a maximum elevation of 1,027 m, and about 1,200 m of ascent. The ride is described as straightforward but long to the refuge, then hard towards the summit, with demanding overall effort. Snow is possible in winter. Carry identification for this cross-border itinerary.
Possible alternative starts are San Giuseppe, joining the attractive section of the Val Rosandra cycle route, or Lokev in Slovenia.
From Trieste towards the Karst
Start at Piazzale delle Puglie by the Ponziana football ground. Follow relatively quiet roads, shortcuts and the first climbs to the Val Rosandra cycle route, with its cliffs and views.
At Draga Sant’Elia, turn onto the surfaced road towards Basovizza, then follow gravel tracks towards the Lipica–Basovizza border area. Return to tarmac towards Lokev / Corgnale.
Turn behind the village butcher’s shop towards a ranch with horses and sheep. Turn left there towards Škocjan Caves, crossing a minor railway along the way.
Škocjan and the climb to Vremščica
Beside the cave entrance building, the original notes describe a path with railings and information boards overlooking impressive Karst sinkholes. The caves are where the river known downstream as the Timavo disappears underground.
Leave the caves on a trail towards Gradišče pri Divači and the valley below Vremščica. After another tarmac section and a railway bridge, take the gravel road parallel to the railway towards the zoology facility mentioned in the original notes.
Beyond it, turn uphill to the right towards the refuge and summit. The climb from about 840 m to the top is hard, but rewarding.
Return
Retrace the route, with a small variation through Dolenje Ležeče. At Basovizza, beyond the astronomical observatory, turn towards the Foiba di Basovizza, associated with the tragic events after the war. The San Lorenzo viewpoint offers another panorama before rejoining the cycle route for the return.
Nearby routes
Other routes whose starting points are near this route. This does not imply similar difficulty or terrain.