Day 4: Udine to Grado | Vineyards, Palmanova, Aquileia and the Adriatic Sea

Date: Wednesday, 17 June 2026 Route: Udine, Italy to Grado, Italy Distance: 57.44 km Elevation gain: 18 m This video is part of my Alps to Adriatic cycling journey from Villach, Austria to Trieste, Italy. The full tour takes us from the Alps toward the Adriatic Sea, across Austria and Italy, through mountain roads, agricultural paths, vineyards, historic towns, and coastal landscapes. Previous day recap: Day 3 took us from Venzone to Udine. It was a hot day through fields, churches, small towns, rough patches, and open countryside. The mountains were slowly giving way to a different Italy. Day 4 was a milestone. We rode from Udine to Grado and reached the Adriatic Sea. On paper, the ride looked easy because it was almost flat. In reality, it was tougher than expected. It was hot, there were gravel stretches, and the final 10 km had strong headwind from the sea. The route passed through vineyards, apple trees, grape farms, wineries, and quiet weekday towns. We also stopped around Palmanova, a remarkable star-shaped fortress town, and Aquileia, known for its Roman history and archaeological remains. The day also had a strong Friuli flavour: grapes, grappa, vineyards, and local craft. By the time we reached Grado, the journey had clearly shifted. We had started in the Alps, and now we were at the sea. Mountains to sea was no longer an idea. It was real. Detailed blog: https://2026cycleamod.substack.com/ For tour planning with Kedar Gogate and Green Earth Adventures: https://www.greenearthadventures.com/ #UdineToGrado #AdriaticSea #Palmanova #Aquileia #CyclingItaly