Since the early 19th century, Gorizia has been renowned among travellers for the beauty of its landscape and its temperate climate.

After 1860, the construction of the new railway station , far from the old historic center, necessitated the opening of a new road axis, a wide and spacious avenue, which guided the subsequent development of the urban fabric and along which gracious villas surrounded by greenery . In the same years, a series of contingent circumstances, such as the closure of the border with Italy in 1866, favored the promotion of Gorizia as a welcoming health resort for the Austrian nobility and upper middle class. The inauguration of the public garden in 1863 and the creation or expansion of numerous private parks and gardens in the latter part of the century contributed to making Gorizia a city immersed in greenery, aptly defined by the apt definition of "Austrian Nice," coined in 1873 by Baron Carl von Czoernig , an illustrious imperial pensioner. Despite the transformations following the destruction of the First World War, Gorizia still preserves many of its historic green areas intact, to which new parks and recreational areas have been added in recent years.

On 29 and 30 September 1900, Emperor Franz Joseph visited Gorizia to take part in the celebrations for the four hundredth anniversary of the acquisition of the County of Gorizia and Gradisca by the House of Habsburg.

Retracing the route taken by the sovereign, along streets decorated with triumphal arches and imperial insignia, the itinerary leads to the discovery of Habsburg Gorizia , the city for which Baron Carl von Czoernig , an illustrious imperial pensioner won over by the beauty of the landscape and the climate, had coined the apt nickname of “Austrian Nice” These were the years in which Gorizia sought to establish itself as a new destination for aristocratic tourism, promoting the creation of parks, hotels, cafés and shops, in a Central European and multi-ethnic atmosphere, swept away by the destruction of the First World War .

The itinerary, proposed by the “Max Fabiani” Art High School, presents the most significant examples of rationalist architecture in Gorizia.

Over the hundred years of the Short Twentieth Century , Gorizia and its surrounding area have witnessed countless changes . These are also recognizable through the city's architecture. Palaces, churches, and villas mark the Central European period, with the influences of Otto Wagner's school (Max Fabiani, Antonio Lasciac, and Silvano Barich); then the post-war period and the twenty-year period , during which Rationalism and Novecentism interacted with the need for Reconstruction (Umberto Cuzzi and Angiolo Mazzoni); and finally the late twentieth century , in which the influences of international culture are evident.

Starting from the Castle and its village, the route leads to the heart of Gorizia's historic center, discovering squares, churches, museums, and stately homes that in past centuries were a meeting point for different ethnic groups and cultures.

From the time of the Counts of Gorizia , who governed its fortunes until 1550, when, by virtue of hereditary passages, it became a dominion of the Habsburgs , passing through the reigns of Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph , the city has preserved its Central European charm intact, in which medieval, baroque and nineteenth-century testimonies coexist harmoniously.

People make the difference. Oslavia can testify to this. A devastated, lunar landscape has been transformed into a garden of vines and life.

Grapes grow in vineyards, producing fine wines renowned throughout the world . The "Oslavia Vineyards" trail is a journey through history, with four historic landmarks (Oslavia Ossuary, Abruzzi Brigade Memorial, Obelisk of the Four Generals, and Granatieri di Sardegna Memorial) dedicated to the Great War. It's also a journey through winemaking excellence, with seven local wineries (Dario Princic, La Castellada, Primosic, Fiegl, Gravner, Radikon, and Il Carpino). Today, it seems strange to stroll through Oslavia—a world of countryside and vineyards—and come across such bizarre toponyms: Ossuary, Dosso del bosniaco, Quota 188, Lenzuolo Bianco, Tre Buchi… Oslavia is a testament to the profound value of the word "respect."

“That a mountain can die is evident here, not without emotion. The war has been killing men for two years now, we are accustomed to this, but the murder of mountains is something so monstrous that the nerves can barely bear it. Everyone knows the Oslavia knoll, the dead mountain…” Thus wrote Alice Schalek , an Austrian, one of the first female war reporters, in 1916.

Gorizia is the ideal place for a pleasant and rewarding run. Surrounded by greenery, it features parks, gardens, and scenic corners, enhanced by a pedestrian center that is a "Central European living room."

It is a very quiet city, there is no traffic and it does not experience a frenetic pace even during rush hour.

It therefore offers the opportunity to enjoy, at any time of the day, a running experience unique to a city center, because it allows you to pass through the city's most significant and historic sites (parks and tree-lined avenues, buildings, monuments, shopping streets, squares) without the worries of traffic or the discomfort of smog, a phenomenon almost unknown here.

The route winds almost entirely along pedestrian streets, cycle paths, and avenues with wide, comfortable sidewalks, in a loop of approximately 8 km, with the option of taking a few alternative routes that can lengthen it as desired.

We start from the Parco della Rimembranza, an area where you can easily prepare with some warm-up exercises. We then take Corso Italia, the beating heart of the city, heading toward the center, following the wide cycle paths that run alongside the buildings and shops.

We walk through the city center for about 700 meters until we reach the Teatro Verdi. Here, we turn right onto Via Garibaldi, thus accessing the city's pedestrian system. Opposite the City Hall, we take Via Mazzini on the left and continue along Gorizia's most characteristic and evocative pedestrian streets: Via delle Monache, and then, keeping left, Via Rastello, finally reaching Piazza Vittoria, once known as "Piazza Grande," the nerve center of the city's social fabric.

We cross the square diagonally and take Via Mameli to the right of the characteristic Church of Sant'Ignazio, whose onion-shaped domes are one of the most recognizable symbols of Gorizia.

Continuing, cross Corso Verdi and, keeping to the left sidewalk, take a long 1 km straight stretch that descends slightly along Viale XX Settembre, in the shade of the horse chestnut trees.

To the right of the avenue, you can see the historic Palazzo Coronini Cronberg. It's worth making a short detour into the palace grounds for a quick glimpse of this noble setting, before returning to Viale XX Settembre.

At the end of the avenue you come into view of the Isonzo River.

Here we have the first opportunity for those who want to extend the route, with a very pleasant alternative immersed in nature.

(VARIANT 1)

After crossing the bridge over the Isonzo River, which is unfortunately quite busy, follow the main road for a few meters on the left and then take a small uphill road on the right that leads to the gravel parking lot that provides access to Piuma Park. A loop of about 1 km , through the woods and then alongside a cool stream, which can be cycled around as desired. The trail is unpaved but easily walkable with standard running shoes.

At the end of the alternative route, you return to the main route by crossing the small bridge over the Isonzo River. Here, you take Via Don Bosco, a pleasant tree-lined avenue that, with its gentle climb, leads you back to the city center.

Continue running until the road turns left.

We will instead descend to the right along the steep descent towards Riva Piazzutta, another suggestive view, finally emerging at the crossroads with Via Italico Brass.

We cross the road (with a quick glance to the right we glimpse the “Kulturni Dom” auditorium, or “House of Slovenian Culture”) and continue up a short climb, at the end of which, turning right, we enter Corso Verdi, walking for a stretch through the most commercial center of the city.

We continue along the Corso, keeping to the right sidewalk and paying attention to some pedestrian crossings. The run allows us to admire several points of interest: the statuesque Post Office Building at the intersection on the left, the covered market immediately after on the right, always buzzing with authentic city life, and further ahead, on the right, the Public Gardens, home to several centuries-old trees.

Immediately after the gardens, we turn left onto Via Crispi and continue straight, passing a couple of pedestrian crossings, until we reach Piazzetta Cavour. We're back in the historic center.

Here, in front of the Police Headquarters, we can keep right and reach Piazza Sant'Antonio with its shady arcades, one of the most evocative places in the city.

 

(VARIANT 2)

We have the option of adding another loop to the route, this time a little more challenging. From Piazza Cavour, on the left, you can take the steep climb towards Gorizia Castle. You'll skirt the ancient walls and enter Borgo Castello, the medieval heart of the city, through the stone gate (Porta Leopoldina). You continue climbing to the park in front of the castle, then follow the road on the left to the Church of Santo Spirito, the oldest in the city. Then you start descending again, passing the War Museum on your right. Rejoining the road you've already taken, you descend again to Piazza Cavour and from there to Piazza Sant'Antonio. This alternative route adds a total of 1 km to the itinerary.

Returning to the main route, at the end of Piazza Sant'Antonio, we come to a fork in the road. The left road leads to Via Alviano and the University campus. We continue, keeping right, slightly downhill.

We pass the Baiamonti Stadium and then, on the left, the church of San Rocco, whose hamlet is one of the most characteristic in the city. At the intersection with the wide Via Vittorio Veneto, we turn right and continue back toward the center.

We continue on the right sidewalk for about 500 meters, cross the pedestrian crossing on the left at the traffic light and take Via Duca d'Aosta. Straight on for another 500 meters, we reach Parco della Rimembranza again. Crossing it, we return to the starting point.

The itinerary retraces the places that marked the history of the Jewish community of Gorizia, intertwined with the events of the philosopher Carlo Michelstaedter and his family.

Documented as early as the Middle Ages, the Jewish presence in Gorizia consolidated from the 16th century onwards, when, despite restrictions and expulsion edicts, Jews began to play an increasingly important economic role. On March 24, 1684, by order of Emperor Leopold I, a "ghetto" was established in the "contrada di San Giovanni" (district of San Giovanni). Here, Gorizia's Jews continued to carry out their activities, particularly silk and wax production, money lending at interest, and trade. Beginning in the late 18th century, with the "patent of tolerance" issued by Joseph II, which abolished all discrimination based on religious grounds, Jews were granted the opportunity to attend university and pursue any profession. However, it was only at the beginning of the 19th century, during the brief French rule, that they obtained full civil rights and the abolition of the ghetto. These rights were later confirmed after the return of the Austrians. In the 19th century, the Jews of Gorizia became fully involved in the city's civil and economic life, expanding their activities towards the commercial area, then located in Via Rastello and Via dei Signori (today's Via Carducci), and settling in the new "residential areas" of Via Giardino and Corso Francesco Giuseppe (now Corso Verdi and Corso Italia).

Until a few decades ago, Gorizia was characterized by the discreet and constant presence of many ancient clocks that, if one wished to follow the itinerary they indicated, allowed one to travel throughout the city center, unravelling a stroll through the city streets among many of the places that still constitute, each one, a small pearl in the necklace of our beloved Nice of Austria.

Today, some of them are no longer there, others have been moved, but it is still possible to find them along a sort of Path of Time, which we can ideally start…

Ancient chronicles tell that in the 19th century in Gorizia there were around 1200 traders of various kinds, with as many as 400 “pizzicagnoli” and over 100 inns. Furthermore, since the Middle Ages, as many as 4 city fairs had been held, the most important of which was dedicated to the patron saints Hilary and Tatian.

Unfortunately, much has been lost today, but here and there there are still traces of the city's ancient commercial vocation.