Gorizia and Nova Gorica as European Capital of Culture 2025

Gorizia, a border city with a complex history tied to the Habsburg Empire, Fascism, and WWII, will share the 2025 European Capital of Culture title with its Slovenian twin Nova Gorica. The city's cultural program will highlight its transformation from a divided territory to a symbol of cross-border cooperation. Several museums and exhibitions are already open, including 'Riflessi. Autoritratti nello specchio della storia' at Palazzo Attems Petzenstein (until early October), part of a four-venue series on portraiture across Gorizia, Gradisca d'Isonzo, and Trieste. Other attractions include the Museo della Grande Guerra with a life-size trench reconstruction, the Museo del Medioevo Goriziano in the castle, the Museo della moda e delle arti applicate, Palazzo Coronini Cronberg with its park, and the Giardino delle Azalee by Luciano Viatori. The Galleria Spazzapan in Gradisca d'Isonzo holds the largest collection of works by Luigi Spazzapan. The Percorso delle Panchine Arancioni, inaugurated in spring 2021, is a wine trail by Ribolla Gialla producers in Oslavia. Notable dining includes Rosenbar in Gorizia, L'Argine a Vencò by chef Antonia Klugmann in Dolegna del Collio, and Pri Lojzetu at Dvorec Zemono in Slovenia's Vipava Valley.