Friuli, Tyrol & the Dolomites

09-21 September 2025
DR NICK GORDON

 

*** Preliminary Itinerary ***

Get to know Friuli, South Tyrol and the Dolomites and discover their distinctive history, culture and cuisines, and spectacular alpine scenery

 
 

OVERVIEW

From the majesty of the Dolomites, to hamlets nestled in narrow valleys and rugged forts along the ranges, the Alps in Austria and Italy have long entranced people from the plains below. But there’s more to the region than sheer physical beauty.

Discover the intriguing history and culture of these regions, which straddle the Italian and Germanic worlds on this 13-day tour. Our journey begins in Innsbruck, an elegant former imperial capital and the gateway between Italy and the German-speaking world. From Austria, we cross over the Brenner Pass into Italy, where we encounter a bustling medieval world of castles and chivalric art, including day trips to Trent, Brixen and Meran. After discovering the delights of this region, from prehistoric Ötzi the Iceman to its exceptional wine, we continue into the heart of the Dolomites at Cortina d’Ampezzo, whose stunning natural beauty disguises a complex history as the border between Venice and Austria and then a horrific stage for trench warfare in WWI.

Continuing through the Dolomites, the tour concludes in Udine, where we enjoy magnificent Lombard architecture and decorative arts at Cividale del Friuli, masterpieces by Tiepolo, and the world-renowned gastronomy of Friuli.

 
 

TOUR LEADER

Dr Nick Gordon studied history and ancient history at the University of Sydney, receiving First Class Honours and the University Medal in 2003, and his PhD in 2008. Nick has taught medieval and Renaissance European history at the University of Sydney, architectural history at UNSW, and the history of political thought at WSU. 

Nick is also an artist, working across painting, collage, photography and sculpture. His desire to dedicate more time to these interests led him to pursue a career in cultural travel, where he finds a constant source of inspiration as well as myriad opportunities to communicate more to group members about the cultures and histories they encounter on tour.

His love of travel, art and education led Nick to design art and history-focused tours to Western and Central Europe, East Asia and Australia, as well as to international art events, including the Venice Biennale and Art Basel in Switzerland and Hong Kong. In 2020, he led the Australian travel industry's pivot to online learning and coordinated over 1,500 events by 40 lecturers during the East Coast travel restrictions.

 
 

Highlights

  • Get to know Innsbruck, an imperial capital that has long been a gateway between Italy and the north

  • Discover diverse histories, from the astounding Copper Age Ötzi the Iceman in Bolzano to WWI in the Dolomites

  • Understand the sophisticated world of the Lombards at UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cividale del Friuli

  • Experience the majestic beauty of the region, from the unique landscapes of the Dolomites, to alpine vineyards and the rolling foothills of Friuli

  • Soak up the distinctive architecture, cuisine and languages of the Dolomites and South Tyrol, from pretty Venzone and Cortina d’Ampezzo to German-inflected Bolzano and Brixen

 
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