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.

Search Country Houses 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 prices for these dates

Next weekend

In two weeks

In one month

In two months

No exact matches found, but these alternatives could be just right

Recommended hotels in Gorizia

Hotel Internazionale

Gorizia

David-Joris

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

Urban Homy Gorizia

Gorizia

Ibrahim

SAR 239 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Jan - 9 January 2026

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Gorizia

Randall

SAR 535 total

includes taxes & fees

16 Dec - 17 Dec

Iaio's Home - Design Home, Netflix & Wi-Fi

Gorizia

"This is a great apartment which easily fits 6 people. We had a wonderful stay and enjoyed the spacious apartment a lot. The property manager was super helpful and communication with her was great. It's a bit of a walk to the restaurants but it's totally feasible. A supermarket is also a short walk away. And if course the beautiful Isonzo river which is totally worth going. I totally recommend this place."

Martin

SAR 892 total

includes taxes & fees

6 Jan - 7 January 2026

Best Western Gorizia Palace Hotel

Gorizia

Eric

SAR 367 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Jan - 9 January 2026

Emerald River Apartment

Gorizia

SAR 655 total

includes taxes & fees

5 Jan - 6 January 2026

Byron's Holiday House (Ground Floor)

Gorizia

SAR 559 total

includes taxes & fees

11 Dec - 12 Dec

Feather Apartment

Gorizia

BonBon apartment, historic center with parking

Gorizia

SAR 1,145 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Jan - 9 January 2026

Vrbo Property

Gorizia

SAR 9,927 total

includes taxes & fees

31 Dec - 1 January 2026

Comfort Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Balcony | Balcony

Agriturismo Grillo Iole

Prepotto

Zoltan

Hiša posebne sorte

Komen

Dimitri

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

Roiano-Gretta-Barcola-Cologna-Scorcola

cynthia

SAR 337 total

includes taxes & fees

14 Dec - 15 Dec

Al Vecchio Glicine - Bed & Breakfast

Savogna d'Isonzo

John

Hotel Aurora Duino

Duino-Aurisina

mark

SAR 413 total

includes taxes & fees

10 Dec - 11 Dec

Hotel Sabotin

Nova Gorica

Weifeng

SAR 546 total

includes taxes & fees

14 Dec - 15 Dec

Apartment Honey Bee with Sauna

Kobarid

tommi

SAR 346 total

includes taxes & fees

15 Dec - 16 Dec

HT Hotel Trieste

Gradisca d'Isonzo

William

SAR 459 total

includes taxes & fees

14 Dec - 15 Dec

Hotel Major

Ronchi dei Legionari

Giancarlo

Lokanda Devetak

Savogna d'Isonzo

"This is a hidden gem. A car is essential as the hotel is in a very pretty but rural area with no other facilities. However the hotel is absolutely first class, the rooms are spacious, airy and well appointed. The hotel restaurant is brilliant with a great selection of local dishes and on Saturday and Sunday a quaint small bar at the front of the hotel where you can sit and watch the occasional cyclist or car go by. The owning family are so helpful and made us feel so welcome "

Mark

SAR 639 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Dec - 25 Dec

View all properties

Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in

Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Hotel Excelsior

8/10 Good

"A warm welcome from the gentleman at the front desk. Easy, covered parking. Room was clean. Bed was ok. Breakfast adequate. Good for an overnight."

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!"

Search Country Houses in Gorizia

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check prices for these dates

Recommended hotels in Gorizia

Hotel Internazionale

Urban Homy Gorizia

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo