Tonight we woke to some enormous thunderstorms and heavy rain and I ran to close the window. The wind was blowing very strongly and it took some time to fall asleep again. Otherwise Luciano’s apartment would have been perfectly quiet. 😉 
As the sky was still grey at 6.30 we got up only a little before 7 a.m. and took our time with breakfast and packing before we started to Lipica. Since I so wanted to see the stud farm there we wanted to be at Lipica around 2 p.m.
At first we walked not even 1km on the street through Prosecco before we came to one of the best paths of the whole trail, the awesome Strada Napoleonica (Strada Vicentina)! It’s a coastal path of 5km with next to no ups and downs lined with trees and incredible views to the sea and Trieste. At the beginning of the Strada there were even some rocks for climbing lining the path. It was not even 9 a.m. and there were already other people around, starting their climbing, running, walking… We were so mesmerised that we stopped every few metres to watch the sea and take pictures. This was definitely one of the best moments on the trail!
After this gorgeous Strada we arrived South of Opicina where we just crossed the street and headed upwards again. After a few metres on the street we passed a campsite, and since our breakfast was rather meager today we decided to stop at the small campsite restaurant for coffee and brioche (that’s what Italians call croissants, for whatever reason 😉). We paid Euro 3,6 for two espressi and two brioches filled with vanilla cream, good and very cheap!
Then we walked onto another awesome path through the forest. Here, the Italians have started a reafforestion programme back at around 1870 when some very clever people noticed that the forest is the solution for a healthy environment. This programme even won a very prestigious prize at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900 (why, yes, I do read information signs 😁).
After about 4km of most enjoyable hiking we emerged from this forest area at Trebiciano, crossed a bridge above the highway and hiked along pretty paths lined with trees to Gropada. There we were also once more reminded of the existence of snakes. 😉
In Gropada we found a restaurant and, being around noon, we thought about stopping for lunch. But the waiter totally ignored us when we wanted to ask for a table, smoked his cigarette and talked nonstop to other guests so we simply left. We definitely weren’t that hungry! 😜
From there we walked on the asphalt street for 3-4km to another small village. Actually, there was nearly no traffic, mainly people on their bikes but those few cars that came by had such speed which was beyond sanity for driving on a street with only one lane and potentially oncoming traffic.
After entering Basovizza we were very soon on a most fantastic way again, the Josef Ressel Trail. This way led us again through a gorgeous, vast woodland for 5km before we directly arrived in Lipica. I think not even in Austria have we hiked such a beautiful path through a forest!
In Lipica we went to our hotel Maestoso (the only in the whole surrounding) where we were informed that there was going to be a Show at the stud farm on 3 p.m. It was 2.20 p.m.! So we had a quick shower and sprinted to the stud farm which was just around the corner. We managed it in time and had a great 40 minutes show of marvellous dressage done by these beautiful Lipizzaner stallions! 😍
Then we had a 50 minutes guided tour through the stud farm and were told really fascinating things on Lipica, its history and the horses. It was really great!
Since it was 5 p.m. and we haven’t had anything to eat yet we went over to a canteen-like restaurant next to the casino (which is also rather next to the stud farm and directly next to our hotel 😂) and ate spaghetti, salad and Sachertorte. And since the wind was blowing rather coolly I drank hot chocolate.
Afterwards we went back to the stud farm and watched the hungry Lipizzaner mares and their foals return to the farm for dinner. Lovely to watch!!!
Then, full, happy and tired, we returned to our hotel. 😉
Some figures for today:
- 20,7km
- 466m up
- 360m down
- Hiking time: 4h 15m