It is said that every year you should travel to a place where you’ve never been before. It opens the heart, inspires the soul and leaves you blessed with an inner wealth and a memory that lasts for a lifetime.
So you are planning on doing a trip? Then follow us on a journey to Friuli Venezia Giulia, a beautiful region in the far north-east of Italy offering everything; from hilly mountains, rocky coastal scenery to golden sandy beaches. And the famous grappa of course. Vice magazine starts a new road trip show called One For The Road and the beginning makes the yet unexplored region of Friuli Venezia Giulia that will be showcased online today, as the first series of this three-part portrait. In the very first episode Pia from Berlin is travelling to the private island of fisherman and former nude photographer Witige Gaddi who welcomes her in his charming world.
You know, the best way to know a city and a country is when you talk to and get to know everything about the locals. Like that you can discover many things which otherwise remain forever out of sight. Special places, the best tips either for going out or a great restaurant that only the local gourmet knows about and absorbing the real characteristics of people and country. One of those people we would definitely love to meet to show us around would be the multi-talented Chiara Bardelli Nonino as she certainly has a lot of interesting stories to tell. As the daughter of Nonino, one of the most famous grappa producers in the world, she lives in Trieste and also works as an editor at Vogue Italia. Definitely a fab counterpart when it comes to getting to know more about the traditional and yet modern part of her hometown. Northern Italy is not a place that is flooded by tourists and is really worth a visit. It is also the homeland of grappa, and Friuli Venezia Giulia is worldwide known for having the best quality of this drink that in the old times was used as a painkiller and people also believed that it could cure some illnesses. But only recently the discerning palate of locals and other savourers have re-discovered this ancient drink again and it was no other than Benito and Giannola Nonino who created the first Cru single varietal grappa. It belongs to the Latin family of the “aquavitae” and that in turn means “the water of life”. A product of nature, which gets its typical taste from fermentation. Well, the Italians simply know how to make wonderful beverages and food. And how to enjoy life. And what can be better than sitting together with some good friends, share a divine drink, enjoy some delicious Italian dishes and have those really profound conversations? We will always have a soft spot for the country that is one of the mecca´s for the best food and la dolce vita. So pack your bags – casual clothes, mobile phone and tanning lotion and get ready for your next trip to make this the best and most memorable summer ever.
An old pic of the Nonino factory in Friuli
A view of the well known Piazza dell’Unità in Trieste
A view of the well known Piazza dell’Unità in Trieste
with the friendly assistance of Friuli Venezia Giulia
