Riserva Naturale delle Falesie di Duino

The products of the Karst region

Besides the wines, among the most curious and tastiest traditions in the Karst region there are products such as olive oil, honey, ham and cheese. These products are home-made or prepared by small farms, this is the reason why they are of extraordinary quality.  

The Osmizze
Crossing the karst villages, by the forks and near some houses, it is possible to observe the well-known ivy bunch, which marks the presence of an "osmica", also called "osmizza": it is a really unique tourist offer. Its origins date back to the age of the empress Maria Theresa, when she allowed the citizens to directly sell the wine and some products (bread, boiled eggs and cured meats) in their houses, cellars or courtyard for 8 days (from the Slovenian word "osem"). If you want to discover the Karst region, you cannot miss visiting an "osmizza" and immerse in the Karst Plateau's life, tasting the local specialties such as the wines Refosco, Terrano, Malvasia and Vitovska, and buying high quality products, such as wine, olive oil, honey and cheese.
The osmizze are open in different periods during the year, ask the tourist information office for information on the opening hours of the osmizze, or follow the ivy bunches along the street!
Further information