Holiday in Tarvisio with a Dog, Italy

It's been almost 4 weeks since we let Archie cross the rainbow bridge, and a short break is just what I need to clear my head. I had been wanting to go back to Italy for a long time, and so my favourite person found a wonderful place to stay in Tarvisio, where we enjoy a few wonderful days over the Whitsun weekend with Frenchie Murphy.

Our accommodation: la LUNA delle MONTAGNE

A charming holiday home in a secluded spot by the river, fully fenced. What more could you wish for? Nothing. Well, maybe a whirlpool bath under a starlit ceiling. And that, too, I find in the chalet, which is about 500 m from the first restaurants in Tarvisio — an easy walk.

Wooden chalet with a stone base and a red bicycle as decoration on a fence.

Wooden fence post decorated with a dog face made from natural materials and a colourful hat.

Red bicycle with a flower basket leaning against a wooden fence as garden decoration.

Fabric fox used as a door stopper on the floor in front of a wooden door.

Garden area with a wooden terrace, sun loungers and a garden shed; a fire bowl in the foreground.

Fenced lawn on the riverbank with a view of forest and sky.

Exterior view of the chalet la LUNA delle MONTAGNE in Tarvisio with a stone and wood façade.

Marina and Maurizio are the warm-hearted hosts of this authentic Italian stone house and they welcome dog owners too. We are asked to keep Murphy out of the upper floor and the bathroom. Apart from that, the golden boy is free to romp around to his heart's content — which he absolutely does.

Murphy looking in from outside through a barred window of the accommodation.

Murphy sitting on a log on the wooden terrace, looking to one side.

Murphy lying stretched out on the lawn in the garden, with a turquoise river in the background.

Murphy lying on a sunny wooden terrace next to a pair of fluffy slippers.

Murphy sleeping on a blanket in the garden, with sun loungers and trees in the background.

Marina welcomes us on arrival with a lovely Italian sweet treat and an open bottle of Prosecco. If you prefer to self-cater, that's absolutely no problem — the kitchen is fully equipped. Coffee, milk, spices and more are all provided.

Attic bedroom with wood-panelled walls, a double bed and a sofa.

Small bathroom with shower, washbasin and bidet, and colourful LED lighting.

Attic bedroom with a green bedspread and wood-panelled walls.

Bathroom with double washbasin and a large backlit mirror in warm red light.

Bathroom with a whirlpool bath and steam shower, colourful light projections on the ceiling and walls.

Living room with two sofas and a wooden beam ceiling in la LUNA delle MONTAGNE.

The house is decorated with love and a great eye for detail. There is also a fireplace in the living room that makes my heart leap. Since it pours with rain on the first evening, we light it and listen to the crackling of the fire.

Turquoise river with a weir and wooded slopes near la LUNA delle MONTAGNE.

Morning atmosphere with a view of misty forested mountains from the property.

Built-in fireplace with a burning fire set in a stone surround.

Marina had already sent us a few tips for the area beforehand, and she also helps us on the spot, sharing her experience of when and where it tends to be less busy. That means we can truly enjoy the whole long weekend without being overwhelmed by crowds.

The weather also plays along nicely — it rains on arrival and again on departure, but in between we have blue skies, sunshine, a few clouds and pleasant temperatures for our outings.

Clear mountain river with a gravel bank right next to la LUNA delle MONTAGNE.

A woodpecker perched on a feeding station on a tree trunk in the forest.

Small stone pyramid on a boulder at the gravel bank of a mountain river.

Bear Trail and Osteria Hladik in Tarvisio

On the evening of arrival (Friday), the three of us are keen to stretch our legs after the journey. We find the Bear Trail right next to the Parco Cervi, in the northern part of Tarvisio.

Two information boards about the Bear Trail with brown bear photos in the forest near Tarvisio.

Waterfall cascading over old wooden timber structures on the Bear Trail in Tarvisio.

Murphy gazing attentively into the undergrowth on the Bear Trail in Tarvisio.

Murphy walking on a lead along a forest path with deadwood and leaves.

View of Tarvisio with a church tower and a mountain peak in the background.

Tranquillity, lush greenery and information signs accompany us on our short tour. We finish up hungry and stop in at the wonderfully Italian Osteria Hladik. I love this kind of restaurant — ones that are clearly run with charm and heart.

A pink vintage bicycle adorned with plants, leaning against a lamp post in Tarvisio.

Menu of Osteria Hladik on a set table with glasses and cutlery.

Framed historic picture postcard of Tarvis railway station from 1917 with trains at the platform.

Laghi di Fusine – Nature's Turquoise Gem

On Saturday I give my two gentlemen a little nudge to get us out of our lovely chalet. My instinct is spot on. Just 15 minutes' drive from Tarvisio, we arrive at the Fusine Lakes. Since we're there "relatively" early, it's not yet too busy and we can soak up the breathtaking panorama to our hearts' content.

Hiking map of the Laghi di Fusine showing the lower and upper lake with marked walking routes.

Wooden signpost pointing to the lower lake of the Laghi di Fusine in the forest.

Yellow notice sign on a tree trunk reading "Dogs on leads" in three languages.

Clear water with a small dam at the Laghi di Fusine, mountain panorama in the background.

Turquoise Lago di Fusine Inferiore with mountain reflections and a lakeside path in spring.

Turquoise mountain lake with conifer forest and snow-capped peaks in the background.

Turquoise mountain lake with conifer forest and snowy mountains, yellow flowers in the foreground.

The landscape with its deep green and imposing mountain peaks is as dreamy as the turquoise-glittering, crystal-clear water. The path around the Laghi di Fusine is mostly wonderful forest trail, with short gravelly sections. All in all there isn't much elevation gain, so I'd describe it as an easy hike.

Turquoise mountain lake with forest and snow-capped mountains, framed by leafy branches.

Small rocky islet with reeds in a turquoise mountain lake against a backdrop of forested mountains.

Turquoise-blue mountain lake seen from the rocky shore, forest and mountains reflected in the water.

Weathered tree stump with a carved face and outstretched branches in a summery forest.

Calm mountain lake with forest reflections and wooden cabins on the opposite shore.

Murphy stands on a lead on a pebbly shore, gazing out over the turquoise lake.

We took roughly 75 minutes for the loop around the lower lake, a snack break at the upper lake, and a few photo and appreciation stops along the way.

A woman eating on a rock at the lakeshore, a French Bulldog sitting beside her.

Murphy stands on a rock at the upper Lago di Fusine with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Turquoise-green mountain lake at the Laghi di Fusine, surrounded by conifer forest and rocky peaks.

Turquoise-blue mountain lake at the Laghi di Fusine with snow-covered peaks in the background.

Babsi and Murphy on the shore of a turquoise mountain lake with snowy mountains in the background.

Val Saisera

On Sunday, Marina gets in touch and tips us off to drive to Val Saisera and visit the Trattoria Jof di Montasio di Martinz Barbara. Just 20 minutes from Tarvisio, another impressive mountain panorama greets us.

Steep rock face with patches of snow above trees in Val Saisera under a blue sky.

Two rocky peaks with snow above trees in Val Saisera under a cloudy sky.

Green mixed forest in the foreground, several rocky mountain summits in Val Saisera behind.

A person walking along a gravel path in Val Saisera towards snow-covered rocky peaks.

Whether the photos can truly capture how we felt there, I honestly doubt. Even so, I'm sure you can imagine that these majestic "colossi" leave you speechless and make a lasting impression.

Gravel path through Val Saisera lined with trees and shrubs, mighty rock faces behind.

Stony, dry riverbed in Val Saisera with a mountain panorama and cloudy sky behind.

A stone cairn on a gravel bed in Val Saisera, mountain walls and forest in the background.

After our meal at the Trattoria, my favourite person, Murphy and I hiked a stretch along the Saisera Wild Track and through the riverbed, letting the surroundings sink in.