Mountain ranges / Karawanks / Soteska Ziljice / Orrido dello Slizza

Soteska Ziljice / Orrido dello Slizza

Country: Italy

Mountain range: Karawanks

Elevation: 675 m / 2215 ft

Lat/Lon: 46.50878°N 13.60353°E

Type:

Weather forecast:

Views: 3,270

Popularity: 36% (2317th place)

Number of pictures: 24

Number of paths: 1

Number of GPS tracks: 0

Description of mountain:
Soteska Ziljice (Orrido dello Slizza) is about 700 meters long scenic gorge (altitude by the river at the lowest point at the northern end is about 675 meters), which the river Ziljica (Italian Slizza, German Gailitz) carved on its path past Trbiž (Italian Tarvisio), more precisely between the area of the former Trbiž main railway station “Tarvisio Centrale” above the left bank and the hamlet Zeleni gozd (Italian Boscoverde) above the right bank. Gorge, where in some parts fishing is also possible and in the summer months swimming, impresses with spectacular vertical walls and the emerald color of Ziljica.

Regarding the Slovenian name, several variants are possible. Instead of “soteska,” the words “kanjon” or “globel” are sometimes used. In some cases, the river is also named Mala Ziljica; we can also find the use of the adjective “ziljski/-a,” e.g., “Ziljska globel” on a trilingual sign by the starting parking lot, but this adjective can mistakenly associate with the river Zilja (German Gail) in Kärnten, into which Ziljica flows at Podklošter.

The gorge would by itself be very hard to access, but along the right bank of the river, a very scenic path was already established in 1874, in some parts carved into the rock, elsewhere running on wooden bridges (similar to Blejski Vintgar). The initiator of this path’s establishment was Count Carl von Arco-Zinneberg, whose monument is found along the path in the gorge; unfortunately, he did not live to see the path’s completion, as he died of cholera the year before. Today, the path is maintained by the carabinieri department for biodiversity, or “Raggruppamento Carabinieri Biodiversità.”.

Above the southern part of the gorge spans a former railway bridge, part of the now-abandoned railway track from Trbiž to Jesenice, and today, along the route of this track and over this bridge runs the popular cycling path “Ciclovia Alpe Adria.”. It is definitely worth stepping onto this bridge to view the gorge from a “bird’s-eye perspective,” though the high fence on both sides of the bridge is somewhat obstructive. From the bridge, it is possible to see a scenic waterfall, with which the stream Rio Molino (German Mühlbach, Slovenian name could be Mlinščica) flows into Ziljica at the southern edge of the gorge. From the path through the gorge, the waterfall unfortunately cannot be seen; it is only possible to reach its top at a certain rest area.

The gorge can be visited via an approximately 1600-meter-long circular path, which starts and ends at a small parking lot on Via Bamberga street, not far from today’s railway station “Tarvisio Boscoverde.”. Since it is not prescribed, the path can be walked in any direction; in various descriptions, suggestions for a counterclockwise direction are most often found, meaning passing the vantage point with the monument to Austrian soldiers from the Napoleonic wars, descending to the northern end of the gorge, and exiting with an ascent that ends next to the previously mentioned bridge. Especially the northern access is very treacherous, running along an almost vertical slope, “slaloming” through numerous zigzags with built-in stairs, but the entire path is at least secured with a fence. The southern access is somewhat easier. Regardless of all the protection, caution is still needed; footwear with appropriate non-slip soles is practically mandatory, and despite numerous protective nets against falling rocks, a helmet is also recommended. In slippery conditions, e.g., in case of snow, ice, or “merely” after rain, visiting can be very dangerous and is therefore discouraged.

In 2024, both parking and entrance to the gorge were still free.