Gorizia, Italy: places to visit and the castle in Gorizia

Visit Gorizia

Gorizia is a town located at the eastern edge of the Veneto-Friuli region, on the border with Slovenia.

The town was divided in two as part of the settlement separating Italy and Yugoslavia at the end of WWII, although with Slovenia joining the EU the division has now become much less formal or restrictive - Nova Gorica is the name of the town on the Slovenian side of the border.

Explore Gorizia

The town has an attractive old centre with pretty, colourful houses lining the streets, arcades below, and shops that attract Italians and Slovenians in equal measure.

Remember that many of the houses, and also the cathedral, have been substantially renovated during the last 50 years following extensive damage in the town during the second World War.

Gorizia cathedral dates originally from the 14th century, although it was rebuilt in the baroque style in the 17th century (and rebuilt again with the identical baroque design in the 20th century, after damage in WWI).

A more recent building which provides quite a radical contrast to the older buildings is the Post Office, a good example of the architecture employed by the fascists in the 1930s.

The castle, standing on a hill above the town and dominating views of gorizia, is mostly worth visiting for the views it provides from the castle walls, across the town and surrounding countryside.

Dating from the 13th century onwards, the castle comprises several different parts, with small palaces, some remains of early fortifications, a chapel and a museum.

The nearby cemetery at Sacrario di Oslavia is a poignant reminder of the role the town and region played in the First World War, while the cemetery at Redipuglia dates from the Second World War.

Note: main photo shows Gorizia, Italy from the seen from the Coronini-Cronberg park

You can find more local travel ideas in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia guide.