Central European atmosphere, between Baroque and Viennese architecture, with Slovenian references. This is Gorizia, an atypical border town. Until 2004 a wall in Piazza Transalpina divided it into two parts: Italian Gorizia and Slovenian Nova Gorica. A city that has always been multilingual. "P.For the Triestines Gorizia is Venezia Giulia, for the Friulians it is Friuli, for the Slovenes simply their stuff. Gorizia, no one knows who it is ". Paolo Rumiz writes in The Legend of the Navigating Mountains.

A view of the Castle of Gorizia
A view of the Castle of Gorizia

Gorizia: a walking tour through the streets of the center up to the castle

In Gorizia you can easily move on foot. From the center you can go up to Castle from the 1660th century: a real ancient village that has stood on top of the Gorizia hill for centuries. You enter through the Leopoldina Gate, built in memory of the seventeenth-century visit of the Emperor Leopold of Habsburg (XNUMX). As you go up, you can admire various civil and religious buildings, which, today, house the Provincial Museums, including the Great War Museum, Fashion Museum, archaeological Museum , picture gallery. A little further up you can visit the beautiful XNUMXth-century late Gothic church of Santo Spirito which contains the coats of arms of the noble Friulian families. From here it is possible to admire a breathtaking view of the Val di Rose and the Rafut hill.

The Church of Sant'Ignazio
The Church of Sant'Ignazio

A city with a green heart

Gorizia is a city of parks and gardens. Known as the Nice Austrian, impresses with the quantity of gardens and parks. To visit the Park of the Castle, the Horn Valley, the parks of the various nineteenth-century villas and the parks that are located along the river Isonzo. Among these are the Piuma-Isonzo park, park of the Campagnuzza. Of particular historical importance is the Basaglia Park, the park of the former provincial psychiatric hospital, where Dr. Basaglia.

The Piuma Park and the Soča River
The Piuma Park and the Soča River

Between Collio and the city: culinary excellence of Gorizia

Sitting at the table in Gorizia is a real pleasure! Do not miss the typical jot, plum dumplings, i blecs, il gulash , gubana. All obviously accompanied by one of the renowned Collio wines. One of the peculiarities of the area is the Rose of Gorizia, the typical radicchio of the area served raw and accompanied by beans, boiled potatoes and hard-boiled eggs in wedges.

La Rosa di Gorizia, one of the culinary peculiarities of the area
La Rosa di Gorizia, one of the culinary peculiarities of the area

Itineraries around Gorizia

In the surroundings of Gorizia it is possible to indulge in naturalistic activities. Among these, a visit to the Mouth of the Isonzo Nature ReserveHere, depending on the season, you can see many different types of birds, from sedentary to migratory, but also amphibians, foxes and the famous Camargue horses that live free. The other tip is a stop at Doberdò Lake, one of the few karst lakes in Europe. Don't miss out on the coast Grade with its Venetian historic center and the lagoon.

These territories were the scene of the clashes of First and Second World War. There are many itineraries and monuments that still testify these events today, such as the The Great War Theme Park, on the hills of Monfalcone, with three different itineraries for the paths of the trenches; the Open-air museum of Monte San Michele and San Martino (how can we forget the poems of Ungaretti?), the Peace Park of Monte Sabotino and the military shrine of Redipuglia.

The Mouth of the Isonzo Isola della Cona Nature Reserve, more simply called 'Isola della Cona'
The Mouth of the Isonzo Nature Reserve called Isola della Cona in the municipality of Staranzano (GO)

Gorizia a destination to discover between Italy and Slovenia last edit: 2018-02-09T09:30:19+01:00 da Lucia Vazzoler

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