Story
“Nothing in this world is surpassed by this shimmering horizon, which is lost in infinity on the banks of the Tagliamento in a thousand different shades, by the many rivulets that run through the wide gravel bed like a net and turn into quivering silver at sunset, with every little stone and every rippling wave emitting its own light, just as every stone “ignites” its own light in the blue of the night”. (Ippolito Nievo, March 1856)
Many holidaymakers from Austria and other European countries are familiar with a section of the Tagliamento on their way to the seaside resorts on the Adriatic, but only very few have really noticed it. The extensive gravel areas that meander along the highway through the canal valley can change dramatically, from a stony desert with few water-bearing channels to a raging river.
In contrast to other Alpine rivers, almost no regulation measures have been carried out on the Tagliamento to date. It can flow freely through its bed, which is sometimes two kilometers wide. The numerous side arms, shallow water zones and accumulations of dead wood provide an ideal habitat for a unique flora and fauna. In spring, when the snow melts, or during heavy rainfall, the Tagliamento becomes a raging torrent and pushes tons of sand and gravel down the valley. This dynamic shapes its ecosystem. Sediment deposition creates new islands on which many different plant species settle.
Following the “King of Alpine Rivers” is a journey of contrasts. It leads from the mountains of Veneto through Carnia, one of the most beautiful landscapes in northern Italy – to enchanting valleys, criss-crossed by the tributaries of the Tagliamento, to the beaches of the Adriatic. In addition to architectural and natural monuments, the focus is above all on the people who live on and with the river.