From gardens to streets the restyling of Gorizia

The victory of Pordenone as Italian Capital of Culture 2027 comes while Friuli Venezia Giulia is still savouring the success of another of its cities: Gorizia, European Capital of Culture for this year, together with its Slovenian neighbour Nova Gorica. This is the first time that two cities from different member states have shared the title, a result also achieved thanks to the many years of experience in cross-border cooperation of the respective municipal administrations, which are engaged in numerous joint projects, cultural and otherwise. And it is a further opportunity for development. It is no coincidence that all the work for this year, they are keen to let Villa Attems, the seat of the Gorizia town hall, know, has been done with an eye to the next ten, twenty years.

Among the main objectives, of course, is to attract more visitors because Gorizia is not among the most popular destinations in the north-east. Perhaps, however, by focusing on its cultural and gastronomic heritage, and the scenic beauty of its surroundings, on both sides of the border, it is succeeding in changing this. And the European Capital of Culture effect is giving further impetus to a tourism that has been growing for some years now (in 2023, for example, it had recorded a 13% increase over the previous year). "The accommodation facilities report an increase of around 20% in admissions in these months, and the summer season will undoubtedly bring further growth," mayor Rodolfo Ziberna told Il Sole 24 Ore NordEst. Who, together with his counterpart in Nova Gorica, Samo Turel, is counting on reaching one million visitors this year.

Many events are planned for spring, a privileged season to visit the European Capitals of Culture also thanks to the blossoming of the famous Bourbon rose collection in the botanical garden of the Franciscan Monastery of Kostanjevica. These include the inauguration on 12 April of the widespread exhibition of Zoran Mušič, a painter and engraver originally from the Gorizia region who documented the horror of Dachau with his drawings. From 23 to 26 April, on the other hand, the Aerowaves Spring Forward international dance festival will be held. There will also be sport, for example thanks to the Giro d'Italia, which will pass through the two cities on 24 May.

Gorizia has refurbished itself for its European Capital of Culture year: resurfacing streets and pavements, redeveloping gardens, public parks and the historic Borgo Castello, renovating street furniture and flowerbeds, replacing public lighting with LEDs to increase brightness by 40 per cent and halve costs, and much more. Ninety per cent of the work planned for the European Capital of Culture year has already been completed, and more will be added for a total cross-border value of more than EUR 200 million.