For the first time, the Town Hall Park will host Contea. Scents of European Culture , the event promoted by the Municipality of Gorizia to celebrate the city's birthday. Although the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was the site of Roman settlements, Gorizia is first officially mentioned on April 28, 1001, in a document in which Emperor Otto III donates the Castle of Solkan and the "villa that in the Slavic language is called Gorica," half to the Patriarch of Aquileia and the other to Count Guariento of Friuli. From Friday, April 28, to Sunday, April 30, the splendid town garden will host conferences, performances, and food and wine events, in a packed program of events developed in collaboration with many local organizations to retrace history while looking to the future. The subtitle of the 2023 edition of the event is, not surprisingly, " Terra di Mezzo ": the meetings, concerts, and various events that will punctuate the three-day event will be themed precisely along these lines, rich in food for thought and references, starting with the city's unique history as a place of encounter and discussion. Contea thus aims to be an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary moment Gorizia is experiencing today, in turmoil as it awaits GO! 2025.

The detailed program was presented by Mayor Rodolfo Ziberna and Councilors Luca Cagliari, for Productive Activities and Tourism Promotion; Chiara Gatta, Deputy Mayor and Youth Policies; and Fabrizio Oreti, for Culture. Representatives of the participating associations also attended the presentation, including Vanni Feresin, President of the Center for the Preservation and Promotion of Popular Traditions of Borgo San Rocco; and Giorgio Lorenzoni, President of the Pro Loco Gorizia.

Culture in all its facets will be the focus: a tent will be set up in the Town Hall Park to host meetings, as well as two other facilities for local food and wine products, including wine and more, from coffee to beer to liqueurs. The inauguration will be at 6:00 PM on Friday the 28th, with a medieval-themed show, followed at 6:30 PM by a discussion between Vanni Feresin and Antonella Gallarotti, " Gorizia in the Time of Leonardo: Between Legend, History and the Tales of Giovanni Maria Marusig ." Until Sunday, there will be in-depth discussions on various curious and little-known aspects of Gorizia's history, such as violets, literary salons featuring young writers who have dedicated their works to the city, and guided tours to learn more about some of the city's many treasures. There will also be live music performances that will add to the evocative atmosphere, along with food and wine, with the opportunity to toast with local wines and enjoy a genuine medieval banquet. The event's grand finale will be a speech by Vittorio Sgarbi, at 5 pm on Sunday, April 30 : the art critic will provide an overview of the Antica Contea up to Go! 2025.

Gorizia Pro Loco and the Borgo San Rocco Center for the Preservation and Promotion of Popular Traditions are collaborating with the Municipality to organize the event . Other organizations involved in the program include the Via Rastello Association, the Danzar Gioioso Association of Lavariano, Damatrà, Editeventi, Dramsam (Giulian Center for Ancient Music), the Jaufrè Radel Academy of Medieval Studies of Gradisca d'Isonzo, the Maria Theresia Lions Club of Gorizia, the Gorizia UNESCO Club, and the Gorizia a Tavola association. The Coronini Foundation, the Carigo Foundation with Smart Space, and Erpac FVG with the city's museums will complete the three-day event by guaranteeing reduced-price tickets and extended opening hours. Promoturismo, the Gect, and Confcommercio will also contribute to promoting the area through its members. Mitteldream photographers will contribute with an exhibition of photographs of Gorizia.

Young people will also have their say, thanks to the Youth Center of the Municipality of Gorizia, which will be an integral part of Contea with Let's Go Gamers . On Saturday the 29th, the headquarters on Via Morelli and the nearby Sala Dora Bassi on Via Garibaldi will offer insights into the world of video games, new technologies, and film production. There will also be the opportunity to try your hand at role-playing games, some of which explore the history of Gorizia. Let's Go Gamers will continue on Sunday, May 7th, including a film walk.

April 28

• 18th inauguration with medieval show
• 6.30pm “ Gorizia at the time of Leonardo: between legend, history and the tales of Giovanni Maria Marusig ”: Antonella Gallarotti and Vanni Feresin
• 7.15pm The Gorizia recipe book , speech by Michela Fabbro , president of Gorizia at the table
• 7.45pm medieval entertainment show
• In Vino Veritas concert organized by Editeventi

Saturday, April 29, 2023

• 10.30am Count's breakfast
• 11.30am “ Cooking in the Middle Ages ”: Ancient recipes among counts and patriarchs, with Roberto Zottar
• 12.30 County aperitifs
• 15 Guided tourist tour “ The history of the twentieth century in Gorizia ” with a visit to the small Rafut museum. Leave/Prepustnica organised by Promoturismo
• 3:30 p.m. " Between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The Story of Leonardo and Paola ," a historical walk and visit to the cenotaph of the last Count of Gorizia, organized by the Via Rastello Association
• 4.30pm Literary Salon “ Churches, monasteries, brotherhoods, squares and streets in the Gorizia of the Counts ”: speakers: Adriano Chinni, Attilia Colombo, Andrea Nicolausig
• 5.15pm Children's show " Towers and dragons: two children named Arthur and Merlin ", by Damatrà
• 5:30 p.m. Guided tour of Palazzo Attems S. Croce to discover the area's major contemporary artists, led by Emanuela Uccello, " Art and Treasures in the Municipality. The "Gorizia School ."
• 18 " The Violets of the Gorizia Area. Between History, Cultivation, Trade, and Curiosities ," stories and images by Liubina Debeni Soravito
• 6.45pm Literary Salon “ Between novel and history of Gorizia, ancient essences and great battles ”, with speakers Pier Luca Settomini, Ivan Bianchi, Liubina Debeni Soravito
• 8:30 PM concert with the Arthuan Rebis duo organized by Editeventi

April 30

• 10.30 Breakfast with the Count
• 11.30am “ Cooking in historic Friulian homes ”, Carlo del Torre and Roberto Zottar
• 12:30 Recipes and music from the late Middle Ages (13th – 15th centuries). Tasting and musical entertainment by Dramsam , the Julian Center for Ancient Music , and the Jaufré Rudel Academy of Medieval Studies .
• 15 “ The Symbols of the Empire ”, a historical walk organized by the Borgo San Rocco Center for Traditions

At the end of the event:

17 Meeting with VITTORIO SGARBI

“From the Ancient County to the European Capital of Culture”

Furthermore, on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, the park of Palazzo Santa Croce will be enlivened by the presence of the Danzar Gioioso Association of Lavariano, which will present 15th-century dances.

They will be open with specific reductions:

CORONINI FOUNDATION

Palazzo Coronini offers a reduced admission price. Visitors will pay just €5 during all three days of the event.

Opening hours:

Friday from 10am to 1pm.

Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm.

Tours begin on the hour. The last morning tour is at 12:00 PM and the last afternoon tour is at 5:00 PM. Tours last one hour and are always guided.

Entrance from Via Coronini 1.

CARIGO FOUNDATION

The Smart Space set up at the Foundation's headquarters on Via Carducci will be open to the public with free guided tours during the following hours:

• first visit at 10am
• second visit at 11.30
• third visit at 4pm
• fourth and final visit at 5.30 pm

Reservations required: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-smart-space-viaggio-immersivo-nella-storia-di-gorizia-481489446897

ERPAC

Reduced admission with paid guided tours.

Small Rafut Museum PASS /PRE-REPUBLICAN and Goriski Muzej MUSEUM OF SMUGGLING

Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Free entry without reservation.