From Opicina to Basovizza
The first prominent point on today's hike is - as at the beginning of stage 1 - the Opicina obelisk (waypoint 1). The first three stages of the circular hike have brought us back to the starting point in one big loop - but we still have two beautiful hiking days ahead of us! On stages 4 and 5 we now explore the southern part of the province of Trieste and also make a detour to Slovenia. Today we spend almost completely on the Alpe Adria Trail, only after the Lipica Stud Farm (Italian: Lipizza) we leave it for the purpose of spending the night in Lokev (Slovenia) .
At the obelisk we first enjoy the view of the Gulf of Trieste and the Slovenian/Croatian coast and then cross the relatively busy Opicina-Trieste connecting road with the help of the underpass. We follow the narrow sidewalk for a few meters in the direction of Trieste, until on the left side a staircase leads into the forest. In the woods we walk past a fenced-off campsite until we come to a T-junction just before a tall telecommunications transmission tower, where we walk downhill to the right (waypoint 2). A few meters later, before the settlement of "Conconello", turn left into the woods (waypoint 3).
Here the Alpe-Adria-Trail turns to the left
As soon as the path becomes a bit rougher, we turn left (waypoint 4) and follow the Alpe-Adria-Trail uphill. In the forest we cross the Via Alpina (waypoint 5), but keep straight on, now slightly downhill over a conspicuously furrowed open space.
We cross the highway and reach Trebiciano, a small inconspicuous village. Here we keep to the right (waypoint 6) and turn left just before the small village church. At a small pond, hardly visible in dry weather, we keep to the right and leave the village along an agricultural path. Now we go more or less straight ahead until we reach Gropada reach another small Karst village. There is an opportunity for an early lunch in the Agriturismo Pickowhere products from our own cultivation are served.
After about 4:00 walking time (from Opicina) we reach the entrance to Basovizza (waypoint 7). If you want to continue directly on the Alpe Adria Trail, you can take a shortcut to the left here, otherwise it is worth taking a detour to the small village center of Basovizza (waypoint 8) for a lunch break. There are several restaurants and cafes there. We found on our hike the Trattoria-Pizzeria Al Tiglio very appealing: in the courtyard and under the shade of a large linden tree it is excellent to dine.
Facts about stage 4
Route: 21,5 km
Altitude meters: 375 m ascent / 265 m descent
Duration: 7:30h (without breaks)
See also Elevation profile
GPS route download for stage 4 (GPX format)
Refreshment stops along the way
Supermarket, Bars & Restaurants in Basovizza
Lunch break under the linden tree at the Pizzeria Al Tiglio in Basovizza
From Basovizza to Slovenia
From Basovizza you now head back towards waypoint 7, where the Alpe-Adria-Trail as Sentiero Josef Ressel to the north. At waypoint 9 we pass - almost without noticing it - the Italian-Slovenian border. Since 2004 Slovenia belongs to the EU and already in 2007 Slovenia joined the Schengen Agreement and also the Euro, so we don't even have to change money on our "international" long-distance hike. Shortly after the border we leave the dead straight path to the right (waypoint 10) and approach the Lipica stud farm from behind (see Sights along the route). At the visitors' parking lot (waypoint 11) we turn left) and then directly right again (waypoint 12). From here, unfortunately, we have to walk for a while along the access road to the stud farm, since the entire area belongs to the stud farm and no other way is possible. However, the view of the spacious paddocks with many (mostly still dark) foals and the already older, white Lipizzaners compensates for the disturbing car traffic.
As soon as the white wooden fences of the stud farm end, we leave the Alpe Adria Trail and turn left (waypoint 13) onto Via Alpina. We follow it either continuously in a wide right turn to Lokev or we can turn right already at waypoint 14 and take the direct way to Lokev as a shortcut (from Basovizza approx. 3:30h to Lokev, with detour approx. 20 min more).
Idyllic path with deciduous forest and stone meadows
Lipizzaner in the paddock
Beautiful but unfortunately busy road
