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.

Find Hotel with a Concierge in Gorizia

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check availability on Gorizia Hotel with a Concierge

Tonight

17 Nov - 18 Nov

Tomorrow

18 Nov - 19 Nov

This weekend

21 Nov - 23 Nov

Next weekend

28 Nov - 30 Nov

Top Gorizia Hotel with a Concierge

Porch

Hotel Internazionale

Gorizia

Canada

Jody

Winery

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Gorizia

United States

Randall

AED 505 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Nov - 25 Nov

Lobby

Best Western Gorizia Palace Hotel

Gorizia

United States

Eric

AED 359 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Dec - 9 Dec

Front of property - evening/night

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

Roiano-Gretta-Barcola-Cologna-Scorcola

United States

cynthia

AED 330 total

includes taxes & fees

30 Nov - 1 Dec

Exterior

Hotel Aurora Duino

Duino-Aurisina

Denmark

Tom

AED 404 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Nov - 23 Nov

Property entrance

Villa Dragoni

Buttrio

United States

William

Daily buffet breakfast for a fee

Hotel Major

Ronchi dei Legionari

Canada

Richard

Garden

Clocchiatti

Udine

United States

DG

AED 545 total

includes taxes & fees

18 Nov - 19 Nov

View all properties

Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

10/10 Excellent

"Yes and yes, very courteous. "

Hotel Là di Moret

Hotel Là di Moret

10/10 Excellent

"Totally accessible hotel. Plus it is chic and convenient. Rooms were great and fully equipped. We had dinner there and it was amazing. Cocktails come with snacks -delicious. Best of all the hotel has a small friendly and well behaved dog! I didn’t use the pool but it looked nice. Apparently “footballers” use this place-I can see why they have a nice gym and spa-can you say massage! Last we were here to see family and it was easy to get on the highways from here. Friendliest staff!"

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

More Hotel Options in Gorizia

More Accommodation Types in Gorizia

Hotels near popular Gorizia Attractions

Gorizia Hotels by Star Rating

b8f768fb-a6c8-47cc-99ce-a600b0eebb5140544b70-6c51-42de-8766-79e09e37170c