Home » Discover Italy » Friuli Venezia Giulia » Gorizia
Gorizia - Castello Marco Salateo
The province of Gorizia is located in the south-east of Friuli Venezia Giulia, bordering with Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea. This small area embraces a wide variety of environments and landscapes, as well as many historic and artistic remains that show cultural German, Slavonic and Latin influences.
The coastline is dominated by the wonderful Grado lagoon, an internationally renowned tourist destination with golden beaches and a picturesque set of canals between islands and islets.
In this uncontaminated environment there are two wildlife areas, a perfect habitat for a wide variety of bird species, namely the Riserva Naturale of Valle Cavanata and the Riserva Naturale of Foce dell’Isonzo, where Camargue horses live wild. The rich Isonzo valley is renowned for the production of excellent wines and offers a vast line of vineyards, picturesque small towns and outstanding views.
One of the most peculiar landscapes of the province and the region is offered by the Karst plateau, with calcareous rock and rocky land covered with a rich and colourful Mediterranean vegetation. The Karst is an area of remarkable naturalistic value. It was the scene of ferocious battles during the First World War, and there are some unforgettable signs of that period such as trenches, communication tunnels and fortified areas.
Another peculiar landscape is the Collio, land of outstanding Friuli wines: it is a series of hills covered by vines, dotted with small villages like Oslavia, Dolegna del Collio and Cormons. The characteristics of this area are evidence of an uneasy past and the coexistence of different cultures. It is a unique land which is worth getting to know. It combines and embraces many different aspects like a mosaic.
Gorizia is the first stop on a route to discover the area. It is a “border town” and meeting point for different ethnic groups, preserving in its elegant architecture traces of the Habsburg history and their long dominion.
This town's rich and diversified artistic heritage can be seen in Medieval Castle with its charming small village, the Cathedral and the Musei Provinciali - which enhance many aspects of the local culture. There is also a First World War Museum. The modern Piazza Europa - an urban space in common between Gorizia and Nova Gorica - has a symbolic value, representing the coexistence of two cities and the overcoming of conflicts.
Grado is the ideal destination for beach holidays. It is known as the “golden island” for its clean water and the beauty of its lagoon. It has a unique landscape, dotted by the typical fishermen’s barns, mostly in disuse nowadays. The old city centre of Grado is truly fascinating, with large and small squares in Venetian style. It has wonderful early Christian churches, full of decorations.
Monfalcone is renowned for its shipyards and trading port. Moreover, it has many surprises for tourists: the fortress, located on the hillside of the city and the Gulf of Panzano where the pretty Bagni di Panzano and Marina Julia face the sea.
Gradisca d’Isonzo is also well worth a visit. It is an ancient fortified city with strong Venetian and Austrian influences. Some some of the ancient walls are preserved along with valuable religious buildings and elegant baroque palaces.
From the Karst one may follow archaeological routes leading to prehistoric ruins such as the “castellieri” - ancient urban centres located on the hillsides enclosed by walls that nowadays are practically destroyed - visible from different areas like Ronchi dei Legionari, Monfalcone and the lake of Doberdò.
In the Karst area there are plenty of traces of the First World War: trenches in Monte San Michele and war memorials like Redipuglia, where one hundred thousand of the fallen are buried.
In the heart of Collio, Cormons is well worth a visit. It is an ancient Habsburg town with a beautiful 18th century cathedral and other interesting monuments.
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Barbana is also an important religious destination, located on a wonderful small island in the Grado lagoon.
The variety of the landscape in the area of Gorizia allows for the practise of many activities such as hiking, going on cycling trips, riding on the Isonzo valley and on the hills of the Collio, in vineyards and small villages.
In Grado and on the coast it is possible to relax on the beach, go sailing and practise aquatic sports, play golf or tennis. It is also possible to choose a spa treatment at the Terme Marine of Grado, with sea water and sand-baths.
The Wildlife Reserves of the lagoon area are a heaven for birdwatching lovers, while the caves and the depressions of the Karst in the area of Gorizia offer interesting speleology routes.
Gourmand people can follow the Strada del Vino and Ciliegie, a wine and food route in the area of Collio, in orchards and vineyards, with stopovers in farms and wineries, in order to taste wines and specialities.
The province offers a lot of traditional events: one of the most spectacular feasts is the ceremony of “Perdon di Barbana”, an old and fascinating parade of boats from Grado to the island with the Sanctuary of Barbana, scheduled at the beginning of the summer. The “sèime” - of Celtic origin - are epiphany bonfires made almost everywhere in the Isonzo area. From the bonfires, old people aspire for a good omen for the new year.
As far as other events, there is the international folklore concert and parade in Gorizia (in August), the Espomego commodity exhibition in Gorizia (in April-May) and a canoe race in Grado (in April).
There are many feasts on specialities, like the grape festival in Cormons (in September) and the regional sparkling wines exhibition and contest in Gradisca d’Isonzo.
Traditional dishes of the Gorizia area are based on seafood and mid-European tradition.
A typical Grado dish is the exquisite boreto alla graisana, a fish broth. Going inland flavours are stronger, thanks to the Slav and Austrian wine and food influence. Here are some typical courses: bread dumplings with speck ham, liver or semolina dumplings with broth, kaiserfleish (smoked pork loin with sauerkraut), goulash, game, potatoes “in tecia” (sauté with onions) and brovada - prepared with thin sliced turnips, macerated and then cooked.
A typical course in Gradisca is the Jota, a soup made with beans, potatoes, pork rind, smoked pork ribs and sauerkraut.
Typical desserts are gubana goriziana, putizza, pinza (traditional flat bread and palatschinken (apricot jam and chocolate omelettes).
Some of the DOC wines produced in the Collio and Isonzo area are Cabernet, Merlot, Refosco (full-bodied) and the excellent Pinot (white wine) are unmissable.
The province of Pordenone is located in the western area of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, bordering Veneto. It is situated between the Carnic Alps and the wide valley bounded by the rivers Tagliamento and Livenza. It crosses valleys, hills and flat lands, offering a wide variety of landscapes and ...
Trentino Alto Adige is situated in the very north of Italy bordering Austria and Switzerland and is the best known for the beauty of its peaks. Its territory stretches from the Adamello-Brenta range and the peaks of Ortles and Cevedale to the most striking mountains in Europe: the Dolomites ...
The Province of Trento is situated to the south of the Province of Bolzano, in the geographic-historical region called Trentino. The territory is mainly formed by mountains and valleys and it has amazing landscapes of rare beauty such as the Alps, which in this particular region are known as the ...
Abruzzo is located in central Italy and stretches from the heart of the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea, on a mainly mountainous and wild land. In the mountains, tourist resorts and well-equipped facilities for skiing and winter sports rise among unpolluted peaks and rocky walls, like ...
Italy, a land of art and history Italy is a synonym for culture, art, and history. Artistic wonders can be found everywhere, and every corner of the country holds countless and wonderful surprises. Our artistic and cultural heritage is one of the most valuable in the world. Italy has more ...
Italy, a land of sport and adventure Italy offers endless and amazing opportunities for those seeking a vacation dedicated to sports and physical activity - for those who want to be in close contact with nature both during the summer and the winter, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and unique ...
Dopo un autunno, passato tra degustazioni di vino, feste tradizionali e caldi piatti tipici a base di castagne, con i Mercatini di Natale e l'apertura dei comprensori sciistici inizia una nuova stagione invernale, ricca di novità e piacevoli conferme. Merano è la seconda città dell'Alto Adige e, trovandosi tra splendide ...
Torna Forma e poesia nel jazz, il festival dedicato al jazz italiano arrivato alla sua tredicesima edizione. Novità assoluta saranno i momenti di lettura e incontri musicali che si effettueranno nella deliziosa terrazza del Teatro Massimo dopo l’esibizioni di musica. Il calendario è molto ricco, in cartellone ci saranno ...
A city marked by history, Frosinone is considered the capital of the Ciociara, the heart of Lazio. The historical town centre, located on the hill, offers picturesque glimpses of the hilly landscape.
The beaches of Bibione are unusual because they are so vast, they are well-equipped and have a pinewood that stretches for kilometres and makes the seaside resort more welcoming.
Descending from Dorgali we pass through the typical landscape of inland Sardinia: rugged mountains and rocky hills covered in tenacious vegetation. In the woods we can see holm-oaks and yews. The juniper, capable of growing on the limestone rocks, forms the largest forests of the Mediterranean. ...
On an island, between the lagoon and the sea, stands the ancient town of Grado, a little Venice with narrow calli, campielli and canals. In the early Middle Ages it was the residence of the patriarchs of Aquileia, and it has representative monuments from that period, like the ancient cathedral.
