Gorizia, with over 37,000 inhabitants, is situated at the confluence of the two natural communication routes between east and west, the Isonzo and Vipacco valleys. The Isonzo River flows through the city, pouring into the plain surrounded by the gentle Collio hills, known for vine cultivation and excellent wines. The city lies in a basin at the foot of the Julian Prealps, open to the west where it joins the Friulian plain, framed by the heights of Sabotino, Montesanto, St. Gabriel, Calvary, and Oslavia Hill, St. Marco, and the Karst. These names recall the bloody battles of World War I, which saw Gorizia reunited with Italy in 1918. The castle, a symbol of the city, stands within the walls of the ancient village. The cathedral of SS. Ilario and Tiziano contains baroque altars and notable paintings. The most famous church is St. Ignatius, built by the Jesuits in the second half of the 17th century, located in Piazza della Vittoria where the Neptune fountain is also placed. Prestigious is Palazzo Attemps Petzenstein, home to the art gallery. For strolls, the picturesque Piuma-Isonzo park offers particularly pleasant views of the river crossing the city. Being a cosmopolitan city, Gorizia has been a meeting point for Italian, Slavic, and Germanic cultures over the centuries.
