A MUSICAL CASTLE
We’d checked the distance and the castle seemed achievable from our hotel. Well, Lorraine thought she could walk it, though I had my doubts if she’d survive the climb. Along the flats in the middle of town it was easy but then there came the hill and a statue of Carlo Michelstaedter, a radical Italian philosopher of Jewish extraction whose one and only work was conceived as an undergraduate thesis, but he never saw it in print because he committed suicide in 1910, aged 23.
We troll past a shop with exotic foodstuffs and can’t help but notice some bottled Buderim ginger featured in the window. Just below it was another sign on some wrapped lollies “senza zucchero zenzero AUSTRALIA”, which meant I could buy my sugar free dried ginger right here. It’s a small world.
It was slow and overly warm getting up from there but we took it easy and Castello di Gorizia came into view. Dating back to the 11th century it’s clearly the highest point for miles around.
The chapel-sized Church of Santo Spirito seems like a ticket office on the way to the main attraction. In a park on the opposite side of the road there’s a bust of Gabrielle D’Annunzio, a famous and prolific Italian writer and WWI hero who was hugely influential in the Fascist movement, inspiring Mussolini. He was noted for self-promotion.
From the 11th century Gorizia was an independent county until Austria took over in 1500 and it became a major cultural centre. It was only after the fallout from WWI, when it suffered badly, that it came to be in Italian hands. This once castle-of-the-counts has now been done up as a tourist attraction but it holds a surprise, at least for those of us who hadn’t done their homework properly.
The solid walls are much covered in plant life these days and the parapets are quite impressive from below and when you enter through the gateways the cobblestone walkways add an air of authenticity as you climb their steep angle. Only the base is original though. It went through many rebuilds from the 13th to 16th century and was bombed during WWI before being restored for the final time. The restoration is evident in the variance of the colours in the stonework.

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Top Gorizia Family Hotels

Hotel Internazionale

Gorizia

Breakfast included
Pet friendly
Parking included
Free WiFi
Restaurant
Air conditioning

Family Apartment, 1 Bedroom | Living area | Flat-screen TV

Urban Homy Gorizia

Gorizia

Pet friendly
Parking included
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Microwave

AED 284 total

includes taxes & fees

11 Dec - 12 Dec

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Gorizia

Breakfast included
Pet friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Business services
Bar

AED 512 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Nov - 1 Dec

Comfort Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Balcony | Balcony

Agriturismo Grillo Iole

Prepotto

Pet friendly
Parking included
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Breakfast available
Toys/Games

Al Vecchio Glicine - Bed & Breakfast

Savogna d'Isonzo

Hot Tub
Breakfast included
Parking included
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Housekeeping

Hotel Major

Ronchi dei Legionari

Cribs/infant beds provided

Casale in Collina

Capriva del Friuli

Cribs/infant beds

Hotel Valeria

Altipiano Est

Cribs/infant beds provided

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Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

10/10 Excellent

"Yes and yes, very courteous. "

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Frequently asked questions

What's Gorizia like for family-friendly vacations?

You might want to consider the budget-friendly destination of Gorizia if you've been thinking about a trip for the whole family. The castle and coffee shops are just a few things that make this the ideal place for a family vacation. Fly into Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport (TRS), which is located 10.6 mi (17 km) from the city center.

When's the best time to book a family-friendly vacation in Gorizia?

The hottest months are usually July and August with an average temp of 70°F, while the coldest months are January and February with an average of 40°F. The rainiest months in Gorizia are November, October, September, and May, with each month seeing an average of 8 inches of rainfall.

What's there to see and do with your family in Gorizia?

While you are visiting Gorizia, you might want to round up the kiddos and make time to see interesting attractions such as Weinkeller Goriska Brda and Lorenzo d'Osvaldo - Prosciutto di Cormons. Make sure you have lots of time for activities like Tiare Shopping and National Archaeological Museum of Cividale del Friuli.

What's the best way for us to get around Gorizia?

To see more of the larger area, hop aboard a train at Gorizia Centrale Station. Gorizia might not have very many public transportation choices so consider a car rental to maximize your time.

Find Family Hotels in Gorizia

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Check availability on Gorizia Family Hotels

Top Gorizia Family Hotels

Hotel Internazionale

Urban Homy Gorizia

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Agriturismo Grillo Iole

Al Vecchio Glicine - Bed & Breakfast

Hotel Major

Casale in Collina

Hotel Valeria

Lokanda Devetak

Tenuta Della Casa

Black Friday Sale

Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

Hotel Major

B&B Hotel Udine

Hotel Riviera & Maximilians

Hotel Friuli

Best Western Hotel Continental

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Frequently asked questions