GORIZIA and surrounding places of interest

The Collio region

This geographically attractive location makes Gorizia a wonderful starting point for numerous history, country, sporting and gastronomic excursions. A short distance from the city one can set off on the Collio "wine route", a hilly area famous for its production of excellent quality wines (D.O.C.). The Collio region is full of tourist attractions: the friendly, hospitable trattorias, where one can appreciate the delicious food of different ethnic traditions, the characteristic "private" - private houses that for a short period or time, mostly in spring, open their doors to the public thus giving the visitors an opportunity to taste their new home produced wine and enjoy their mature one, and the many village festivals called "sagre", which spread their music across this gentle landscape fron May to September.

The village of San Floriano, which snuggles beneath the castle of the same name, offers as well as beautiful views the possibility of visiting an interesting Wine Museum. The castle itself was built in the 12th century and is now the home of a notable wine producing firm, and a gastronomic centre . Cormons is a small, delightful pre-Roman town. It is close to the park Bosco Plessiva, with its inviting wine cellars and agro-tourism (farm holidays). It offers the possibility of practising various sports and of going on long horse rides across a beautiful landscape reminiscent of the charming hills of Tuscany. Following the twisting road, one reaches, set among the chestnut forests, vineyards and the orchards of the Collio, other villages such as Dolegna, Capriva, and Gradiscutta. Here is a perfect opportunity for a well earned rest in front of a plate of delicious cold meats, in particular prosciutto crudo (San Daniele ham) and salami, and a glass of good wine.

Gradisca

Gradisca dates back to prehistoric times and was probably the centre of a castelliere. It was the Venetian fortress, built on the river Isonzo towards the end of the 15th century, that made it so important. The fortress was built to ward off Turkish raids and to resist the Gorizian counts seeking to advance on their domain. Work on its continual extension and reinforcement owed much to Leonardo da Vinci, who had been consulted by Serenissima on ways of improving methods of its defences. But Venice used the fortress for a short period only because in 1511 the Hapsburg army captured it and in spite of the bloody "Gradiscan wars" the Serenissima was not able to reconquer it. Elevated in 1647 to the capital of the county belonging to the Eddenbergs, Gradisca was reincorporated into the county of Gorizia when there was no surviving member of the Eddenberg family left.

From 1797 to 1813 Gradisca was forced to recognise alternate Austrian and French domination, and then the return of the Hapsburg rule in 1815. It finally became Italian in 1921. Today, the many beautiful monuments are a permanent reminder of its history. Of the old castle walls only the south, east and north sides ramain. The west side was demolished in the 1800s to make way for the development of the city centre and the laying out of a park, planted with horse-chestnut trees, which today is such a delightful feature of the town. Gradisca is still dominated by the huge impressive castle with its defence walls, strengthened by corner towers. A century ago the castle was used by the Austrian government as a prison. It is at the moment being restored. The town, with its historic centre, has been able to retain the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere that makes a walk so enjoyable. While taking a stroll one can admire the cathedral with its splendid 18th century facade, the Loggia dei Mercanti with its Lapidario (stone inscriptions), or visit the numerous old buildings. Particularly worthy of a visit is the Palazzo Torriani, now the Regional Art Gallery dedicated to Luigi Spazzapan, with the most complete public collection of his works of art and those of other famous artists of the region. Also not to be missed is the Casa dei Provveditori Veneti, which in its 15th century halls houses the Enoteca Regionale Permanente. Here it is possible to taste some of the best quality wines (D.O.C.) of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.