Festival of Friendship of the 3 borders

Sunday 13 September

Tarvisio–Monte Forno

Between Italy, Austria and Slovenia, a full day of folklore and gastronomy at the exact point where the three borders meet

Tarvisio
Tarvisiois located on the edge of the homonymous forest, 30 km away from Pontebba, on the border with Austria and is an excellent destination for a half-day or full-day trip In addition to the lively city full of shops, bars and restaurants, you can find ski slopes for the whole family. The ski area includes 33 km of blue, red and black classified slopes with artificial snow and it is possible to sky by night on the “Di Prampero” slope (which descends from Mount Lussari). There are many circuits for everybody with varying degrees of difficulty. Even lovers of Nordic skiing will be satisfied, there are 60 km of trails, including the Arena dedicated to the Olympic champion Gabriella Paruzzi, used for international competitions. In Tarvisio, in addition to typically winter sports, you can enjoy trekking, walking in nature but it is also possible to Golf, as the “Golf Club Senza Confini” hosts a well-kept 18-hole course framed by the Millennial Forest. You will be surranded by the stunning Alpin flora and fauna.
The Krampus
The Krampus are today linked to the tradition of San Nicolò, which is traditionally celebrated on the evening of December 5th. The ritual, typical of several countries in the Alps (Sudtirol, Friuli, Austria, Switzerland but also Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic), is centered on the parade through the streets of the town ofSan Nicolò. In Friuli, the tradition is widespread in the Val Canale: in the area of Tarvisiano, Ugovizza, Malborghetto and Pontebba. San Nicolò, with a thick white beard, accompanied by angels, distributes sweets to the little ones and the good ones. Angry devils follow him: the krampus in search of evil children. As soon as the sun sets, San Nicolò disappears leaving the population at the mercy of the devils, who chasing people everywhere. he Krampus have scary masks; their clothes are worn and dirty. As they wander through the night they make grim noises, made by cowbells or horns. There are also “female” Krampus (the Krampas) also, however, personified by men. There are several rules to be followed in order to become part of a “Krampus Group”, among the main ones, that of never taking off your mask in public. The Krampus have scary masks; their clothes are tattered and dirty. While wandering in the night, they make gloomy noises from cowbells or horns. There are also ‘female’ Krampus (the Krampa) who are also, however, impersonated by men. There are several rules for joining a ‘Krampus group’, one of the main ones being never to take off your mask in public. There are several legends about the birth of this tradition. One of these recounts that in times of famine, boys from mountain villages, having disguised themselves and made themselves unrecognisable by using animal skins and horns, terrorised the inhabitants of neighbouring villages, robbing them of the supplies they needed for the winter. Soon, however, the boys realised that there was an impostor among them: it was the devil himself, who, taking advantage of his terrifying face, had introduced himself into the group, remaining recognisable only by his goat’s hoof-shaped feet. A bishop, Nicholas, was then called in to exorcise the terrible presence. From then on, having defeated the devil, the boys masked as devils continued to travel to neighbouring villages, no longer to plunder but to bring gifts accompanied by the figure of the bishop, the one who had defeated evil. The Friuli rite takes place on the first Sunday of December after the 5th in Tarvisio.
Monte Lussari
The easternmost peaks of the Alps have been the natural border between the Latin, German and Slav worlds since time immemorial. Today, in a time of peace, they still speak the languages of these peoples and their valleys are places of friendship and cooperation. Attracting pilgrimsfrom three lands, the shrine of Monte Lussari, in the northeastern corner of Italy, is truly European and a symbol of this peaceful coexistence. According to ancient folklore, the sanctuary has its origins in 1360following a series of miraculous events: a shepherd found sheep from his flock kneeling around a bush. With amazement, he realised that a statuette of the Virgin and Child was at the centre of the bush. The shepherd gave it to the priest of Camporosso, but the following morning, the statue was found on Lussari with the kneeling sheep surrounding it again. The event repeated itself a third time. Having been informed, the Patriarch of Aquileia ordered that a chapel be built on the spot. There is no trace left of the original chapel; the current building is the result of the restoration and extension of a 16th Century building. The sanctuary is accessible by foot via the picturesque Sentiero del Pellegrino (Pilgrim’s Path) that winds through the forest of Tarvisio, or with the cable car from Camporosso. Mount Lussari is also famous among ski lovers for its exciting Di Prampero ski run that offers one of themost exciting descents in the region, while the Sentiero del Pellegrino is highly appreciated by trekking lovers. Ogni anno a marzo si svolge sulla pista il Lussarissimo: gara che allo sci alpino (slalom gigante parallelo più lungo del mondo) abbina anche le ciaspole (Ciaspolissima) e lo scialpinismo, con la gara vertical notturna Down Up.
Forest Sound Track
The precious wood of the local picea abies (spruce) is especially fit for manufacturing stringed instruments. The precious wood of the local picea abies (spruce) is especially fit for manufacturing stringed instruments. This is 5.5 km trail (and the same for the way back) that leads to the slopes of Mount Nabois Piccolo, in a wonderful spruce wood. The trail has several access points. To walk it all, you have to start from the heart of Valbruna, near the Saisera Hotel. For a shorter trip, you can start from Saisera Hütte (where you will also find a parking place), Agriturismo Prati Oitzinger or Locanda Montasio. The trail is accurately signposted, including panels that describe the peculiar resonance properties of spruce wood and the complex art of making stringed instruments. Ideal for half day excursions.
Theme park and museum of the First World War
The association “Quello che le Montagne Restituiscono” manages the homonymous museum of the First World War at the municipal headquarters in Piazza Garibaldi. Whiere thousands of artifacts found in the mountains of Friuli are exposed. The museum of the First World War of Pontebba is constantly updated and houses very important military items of daily life of the soldiers at the front. The association is responsible for organizing guided tours for tourists and takes care of the “Bombaschgraben” theme park of the Great War. The route highlights what remains of the outpost line and the first defensive line built by the Austro-Hungarian troops during the First World War.