A drive through Friuli

Friuli’s rolling vineyards at sunset

To celebrate the launch of The Space Between, which premiered at the 2016 Lavazza Italian Film Festival, festival sponsor Fiat cruised back to their Italian roots, collaborating with the film’s director Ruth Borgobello. The journey saw Fiat visit the historic Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy, the setting of the film. Located just an hour’s drive from Venice, the region boasts a richly diverse landscape that transverses the jagged Giulian Alps, the countryside peppered with vineyards and UNESCO-listed medieval towns Udine and Cividale. 

All photography by Marco Covi.

Fiat driving through Livio Felluga’s vineyards

The gentle hills of Eastern Friuli are home to superb wine country, thanks to being positioned between the Adriatic and the Alps, and their unique soil composition. It is in this region that Livio Felluga established his 155-hectare estate, and is known for being one of the first to revive Friuli as a winemaking destination.

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Al Portonat restaurant, San Daniele

Al Portonat is a 20-year family run proscuitteria in the centre of San Daniele, the home of prosciutto. The osteria takes its name from the ‘Portonat’, or city gate, located nearby. The restaurant’s wood-beamed interior is warm and welcoming, especially when coupled with the home-style service. The restaurant uses all local produce including San Daniele prosciutto, local cheese and San Daniele Regina trout.

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Caffe Tomaso’s interior

Located in the centre of Udine, Caffe Tomaso’s ever-changing menu showcases innovative, modern dishes. With a menu that is recited to you at your table, chef and owner Andrea Zuccolo focuses on using the finest local ingredients.

Cividale’s Devil’s Bridge

Suspended over the Natisone River in Cividale del Friuli, the Devil’s Bridge has suffered many blows since it was constructed in the 15th century, but sits proud today, connecting both sides of the city in spectacular fashion.

MAANJA Chef, Alex Lucchin

MAANJA Lake Suite & Restaurant opened 12 months ago on the banks of Lake Sauris. The restaurant is headed up by local chef Alex Lucchin who has carefully crafted a menu of local produce, coupled with regional wines.

MAANJA Lake Suite & Restaurant’s Restaurant Interior

The restaurant offers a 240 degree view and was designed by Alessia Princic, one of the most famous architects to come out of the Friuli region, known for his use of varying materials and the ability to maximise the surroundings.

Terra & Vini’s Proscuitto & Caciotte cheese

Terra & Vini is a modern interpretation of the older traditional Friulian osterias of the past, while still remaining at the heart of the local community.  

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Terra & Vini’s Zucchini Flan

The kitchen works to reinterpret the traditional menu of an old-school Friulian osteria by incorporating the seasons and the products of the local landscape. Spring months sees omelettes with wild herbs, white asparagus from Cormons and vegetable flans.