GORICA-GORIZIA A SYMBOL OF EU UNITY

Once rigidly separated, the border town of Nova Gorica in Slovenia has joined forces with Gorizia in Italy, its “other half”, to promote its new prestigious status as “European Capital of Culture 2025 under the promotional banner of “Go!2025”.

The choice is highly symbolic. The town was split down the middle on the demarcation line drawn up at the end of WWII and throughout the entire Cold War period movement between the two sides was rigidly controlled. Although things gradually relaxed and the frontier fully opened in 2004 with Slovenia's entry into the EU, the city still preserves two distinct characters.

The nomination of Nova Gorica has been hailed as the first “Borderless EU Capital of Culture”. Although the title of EU Capital of Culture 2025 is held officially by the Slovenian township together with Chemnitz in Germany, its Italian half is participating fully in the year-long cultural programme packed with events and exhibitions, making this a “first” involving two separate countries.

M. STENHOUSE

Info: www.go2025.eu

Infopoint Promo Turismo FVG, Gorizia - Tel. +39.0481.535764