Gorizia

Gorizia

Trace the Gorizia path of the turquoise **Soča** River from the high mountain rapids down to the warm hills of the wine country. The drive along the river is world famous for its emerald color and the historic battlefields of the Great War. As you head south, the mountains give way to the rolling hills of **Goriška Brda**, where the road winds through hilltop villages like Šmartno. This is the fruit basket of the country, where you can climb a lookout tower to see the **Adriatic Sea** and the Alps at the same time. The stone houses have red tile roofs and the balconies are overflowing with flowers, giving the region a distinct Mediterranean feel. The transition from the rocky mountains to the soft sunlit hills is one of the most beautiful drives you can take. The food here is a mix of mountain grit and coastal grace, featuring cherries, apricots and world class white wines. Try the **Kobarid** dumplings, which are sweet treats filled with walnuts and raisins or sample local olive oils produced on the southern slopes. Gorizia is a region of incredible light and sophisticated flavors where the alpine world and the sea finally meet.

Gorizia highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Gorizia

The history of Gorizia is painted in the turquoise of the **Soča** River and the bright colors of the Mediterranean sun. This was a land of constant transition where the Roman Empire built the fortress of **Ad Pirum** to guard the gateway to the Italian peninsula. For centuries the region was a bridge between the high Alps and the Adriatic coast where fruit orchards and vineyards flourished in the mild climate. The most dramatic chapter of the local story took place during the Great War when the river became the front line for twelve brutal battles. The mountains are still scarred with trenches and fortifications that tell a story of incredible hardship and bravery in the face of nature. In the aftermath the people rebuilt their stone villages and returned to the land focusing on the production of world class wines and cherries that made the region famous. The southern part of the region known as Brda underwent a transformation into the **"Slovenian Tuscany"** where every hilltop was crowned with a church or a medieval tower. This area became a symbol of the resilient Mediterranean spirit with family estates passing down the secrets of wine and olive oil for generations. It is a region of light and resilience where the memory of war has been replaced by the beauty of the harvest.
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