Lonely Planet Slovenia by Lonely Planet

Author:Lonely Planet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lonely Planet

WORTH A TRIP

THE ‘MINI-BERLIN WALL’ OF NOVA GORICA

When the town of Gorica was awarded to the Italians under the Treaty of Paris in 1947 and became Gorizia, the Yugoslav government set about building a model town on the eastern side of the border ‘following the principles of Le Corbusier’. Appropriately enough, they called it ‘New Gorica’ and erected a chain-link barrier between the two towns.

This ‘mini-Berlin Wall’ was finally pulled down to great fanfare in 2004 after Slovenia joined the EU, leaving Trg Evrope (or Piazza della Transalpina, as the Italians call it) straddling the now open border right behind Nova Gorica train station.

A couple of other worthwhile sights here include the Kostanjevica Monastery (Samostan Kostanjevica; %05-330 77 50; www.samostan-kostanjevica.si; Škrabčeva ulica 1; tombs €2, library €1; h9am-noon & 3-5pm Mon-Sat, 3-5pm Sun), founded by the Capuchin Franciscans in the early 17th century. It has a library with 10,000 volumes and 30 incunabula. In the crypt of the Church of the Annunciation is the Tomb of the Bourbons, which contains the mortal remains of the last members of the French house of Bourbon. This includes Charles X (1757–1836), who died of cholera while on holiday in Gorizia.

Three kilometres east of the town, the Goriško Museum (Goriški Muzej; %05-333 59 811; www.goriskimuzej.si; Grajska cesta 1, Kromberk; adult/child €2.50/1.25; h9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 1-7pm Sun May-Oct, to 5pm Nov-Apr) resides in the impressive, 17th-century Kromberk Castle. The collection spans rich period furnishings to modern artworks, incorporating religious carvings and details of the Vipava Valley in the Roman era. There’s a lovely restaurant in the castle too, and summertime music events held here.

The tour company Slocally (%041 432 488; www.slocally.com; Ulica Ivana Gradnika 5a, Deskle; guide per hr €25-35), based about 10km north of Nova Gorica in Plave, encourages slow travel and gives curious visitors a range of unique and affordable local experiences (herb-picking, wine or cheese tours, woodcraft, culinary workshops etc).

There are a handful of good places to stay, although most visitors prefer the quieter villages of the Soča or Vipava valleys. There’s also the usual Slovenian portfolio of apartments and homestays on offer.

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