“The Village Known in Slavic as Goriza” - "Villa quae Sclavorum lingua vocatur Goriza"
Gorizia/Gorica is a lively town where the Collio, Isonzo Valley, Vipava Valley, and the Friulian Plain come together each day. For centuries, it served as the main commercial and administrative centre of the Northern Littoral.
The town’s first mention dates back to a document from 1001, referring to it as “Villa quae Sclavorum lingua vocatur Goriza.” Today, Gorizia sits right on the border between Italy and Slovenia, with the modern city of Nova Gorica, established in the 1950s, located nearby. Roads from the Collio, the Isonzo and Vipava Valleys, Trieste, Monfalcone, and the Friulian Plain all converge here. The character of this vibrant urban centre has been shaped by the daily mingling of people from the surrounding areas, who spoke Slovene, German, Friulian, and the Venetian dialect. North of the old town, Via Rastello leads to the expansive Piazza Vittoria (Travnik), a historic site for many important events in Slovene history.
Among the Villas of the Austrian Nice
Overlooking the city is the medieval castle with its fascinating museum collections. The villas and palaces scattered throughout Gorizia bear witness to the lively character of this provincial town on the Isonzo River. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, thanks to its mild climate, Gorizia became known as the “Austrian Nice.”
The city’s rich history is still visible today in the diverse architecture of its buildings, which reflect both Mediterranean and Central European influences. Among them is the Trgovski Dom on Corso Verdi, a site of strong symbolic significance for Slovenes.
A Town on a Human Scale
For centuries, Gorizia has been a centre of trade and a shopping destination for Slovenes. Today, it still serves as a cultural hub, an educational centre, and a university town. Walking through its elegant streets, you can hear a mix of languages and experience the relaxed atmosphere of a town designed on a human scale. The streets and buildings are filled with stories from the past, waiting to be uncovered. Exploring by bike, you can trace the Slovene presence in the city, take in views of the Isonzo River, or venture out to explore the Collio region.
Between the Isonzo River, the Karst, and Monfalcone
Gorizia is also the administrative and cultural center of a larger area that stretches all the way to the Adriatic Sea and Aquileia. Slovenes live there from Sant’Andrea/Štandrež and Savogna d’Isonzo/Sovodnje to Doberdò/Doberdob and are also present in Bisiacheria/Laško, the name given to the plain surrounding Monfalcone. In all these places, Slovenes actively express the rich and diverse creativity of our community.
Da vicino
La domenica delle scope
Travnik o Piazza Vittoria – la piazza dei grandi eventi
