The multicultural region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia forms the northeast corner of Italy bordering on the Italian region of Veneto, Austria, Slovenia, and the Gulf of Venice. Fruili's capital and largest city, Trieste, was only ceded to Italy in 1954, in a sense ending World War II. Given the fact that this region is so far north, don't be surprised that March is not really springtime here. Take a look at the map and you'll see why almost everywhere in this region is northwest of Trieste.Partly because of the temperature Friuli festivals and events start slowly in March. The village of Forni Avoltri, population 700, situated on the Austrian border some 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Trieste hosts an unusual traditional celebration; the young folk throw circular burning pieces of wood, called lis cidulis, down from the hilltops on March 19. The city of Pordenone, population 50 thousand will hold its annual festival Dedica 2010 from March 13 to March 27 dedicated to the perhaps not so famous to most of us here German writer, Hans Magnus Ezensberger.Who would expect a really big Far East Film Festival in northeastern Italy? The medieval city of Udine, population 100 thousand located some ...
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