Gorizia – In And Out Slovenia

Hello guys,

I am going to show the town of Gorizia (->map).
It is situated in Italy, near the Slovenian border and the city of Nova Gorica (in Slovenia).
Gorizia (Görz in German) is the big sister of Nova Gorica.
The city has about 37.000 inhabitants and there is (still today) a minority of Slovenian speakers.

View of Gorizia from the Castle of Gorizia.

Between 1500 and 1918, the city belonged to the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire and then the Austro-Hungary Empire.
It briefly belonged to the Republic of Venice in between 1508 and 1509 and to the French Empire between 1809 and 1813.
After the end of WWI, Gorizia had been attached to the Kingdom of Italy untill 1945 (with the exception of the 1943-1945 period -> German occupation).

The first landmark of the city is the Castle of Gorizia.
It stands on a hill and it is very visible all around.
We can see it well from the city of Šempeter pri Gorici (in Slovenia).

From the main square named Piazza della Vittoria, if you look up, you’ll see the Castle of Gorizia.
On that same square, you’ll see the Church of Sant’ Ignazio with its 2 green spheres at the top of the church.
We can see the top of that church quite well from the Monastery of Kostanjevica (which is up on a hill in “Nova Gorica”).

**Church of Sant’ Ignazio** on “Piazza della Vittoria”.

View of the castle of Gorizia from “Piazza della Vittoria”.

Not far from “Piazza della Vittoria”, you’ll find the street named Via Guglielmo Oberdan.
On that steet, you’ll find many cool bars and shops.
If you have a sweet tooth, I recommend you to go to Pastticeria Caffeteria Chantilly on the left at the beginning of the street.

**“Via Guglielmo Oberdan”**. Cool street with bars and shops.

Walk along that street and turn left on “Corso Giuseppe Verdi”.
You will find a nice covered market inside an old building.
You’ll be able to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers in a beautiful surroundings.

Covered market on a street named **“Corso Giuseppe Verdi”**.

50 meters away, on that same street, you’ll see a big square with a lot of greenary.
It is the green area where local people like to go sit, talk and relax.
There is a kids’ playground and a lot of trees on that square.
A least once a week, this square is also used has an open air market.

Still on the street **“Corso Giuseppe Verdi”**. The green area is just on the right.

Green area next to the street “Corso Giuseppe Verdi”. Lovely place to walk !

Monument for the infantrymen of WWI (near the green area).

Another nice street is “Via Rastello”.
It starts at “Piazza della Vittoria”.
You’ll finds a lot of shops on that street and a Café.

Beautiful Street named **“Via Rastello”**. We see the top of the **Chruch of Sant’ Ignazio** towards the end of the street.

That street will lead you not far from the Palazzio Lantieri.
I recommend that you go eat or have a drink in the restaurant on the square, under the arcades.
Not far, you’ll also find a nice wine bar called Atmosphere La Stüa where you’ll be able to drink good wine.

“**Palazzo Lantieri”** on the left. Nice bars/restaurants under the arcades.

2 restaurants under the arcades of Palazzo Lantieri. It is nice place to eat and have a drink.

Wine bar **“Atmosphere La Stüa”** near the Palazzo Lantieri.

Now let’s go on higher ground towards the castle.
The castle of Gorizia is really the perfect place to have the best view over the city.
From the castle, you’ll also see the city of Nova Gorica and Šempeter pri Gorica (both in Slovenia).
The price for a ticket to enter the castle is only 3 €.
It is not a very big castle but I think you can spend a good hour inside to see all the rooms and what is exposed inside.
There’s a little house in front of the main entrance of the castle where you’ll be able buy water (0,40 €), soda cans (0,60 €) or a Coffee/Tea (0,45 €).
Inside that house, you will have an excellent view of “Piazza della Vittoria” and the “Church of Sant’ Ignazio”.
If the weather is hot(which is often the case here, during the summer), go inside and sit while having a cold drink or a Capuccino.

View of the fortified walls of the castle near the parking lot.

You can sit in the shade and buy something very cheap to drink inside the little house with the red roof.

Gorizia is just 1 km away from its little sister Nova Gorica (in Slovenia).
If you drive on the street named “Via Saint Gabriele”, you’ll arrive in Nova Gorica on a street named “Erjavceva ulica” in less than 2 minutes.
If you are in Gorizia, another good option is to visit the city of Šempeter pri Gorici (in Slovenia).
Nova Gorica and Šempeter pri Gorici are really worth a little visit if you spend a few days in the region.

My tips for Gorizia:

1/ Go walk on Piazza della Vittoria.
2/ Go walk on the green square next to the street Corso Giuseppe Verdi.
3/ Go inside the covered market on the street “Corso Giuseppe Verdi”.
4/ Go walk on the street Via Guglielmo Orbedan and Via Rastello.
5/ Go have a drink or eat in one of the bars/restaurants under the arcades of Pallazzo Lantieri.
6/ Go visit the Castle of Gorizia.
7/ Go visit Šempeter and Nova Gorica (nearby in Slovenia).
8/ Go visit the Palazzo Coronini Cronberg.