Marina Julia Camping Village

Lounge on the sand at Pippo Marina Julia beach (a 10-minute walk) or make your way into Monfalcone (10 minutes’ drive) to roam the Rilke Trail along the cliff-backed coast of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. World War I buffs should swing by the sweeping staircase of the Redipuglia War Memorial while in the area to learn more about Italy’s part in the conflict. Get back to the beach at Grado, a town on a lovely lagoon-covered peninsula (25 minutes) connected to mainland Italy by a causeway. Meander through the medieval centre, then head down to the sand and amble in front of the historic houses and beach huts lining the seaside. If you can’t get enough of attractive architecture, make sure to peruse the Palazzo Lantieri palace (35 minutes) and tour Trieste’s Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Slovenian buildings in the capital of the county (45 minutes). Another beachfront resort worth bounding around is Bibione (an hour), with its health spas and amusement parks, while the world-renowned canals of Venice are an hour and 35 minutes away.