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

Tomorrow

This weekend

Next weekend

Top Gorizia Hotel with a Concierge

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Gorizia

Randall

SAR 531 total

includes taxes & fees

4 Dec - 5 Dec

Hotel Internazionale

Gorizia

David-Joris

Best Western Gorizia Palace Hotel

Gorizia

Eric

SAR 366 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Dec - 9 Dec

Hotel Antares

Grado

Rudolf

SAR 338 total

includes taxes & fees

10 Dec - 11 Dec

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

Roiano-Gretta-Barcola-Cologna-Scorcola

cynthia

SAR 383 total

includes taxes & fees

10 Dec - 11 Dec

San Giorgio Hotel

San Giorgio di Nogaro

"Appena arrivati la persona alla reception è stata molto gentile. Appena arrivati sul piano della camera c'era un cattivo odore, forse dipende dal lavaggio o pulizia della moquette. Entrando in camera entro nella doccia e vedo che il soffione è altissimo e non si poteva regolare, poi la porta della doccia chiudendola se ne cadeva. La mattina seguente a colazione appena scesi non c'era un tavolo disponibile ed abbiamo dovuto attendere circa 15 minuti prima di sederci, la cosa più brutta e vedere...

Gennaro

SAR 470 total

includes taxes & fees

10 Dec - 11 Dec

Couples treatment rooms, sauna, body treatments, body scrubs, facials

Hotel Riviera & Maximilians

Roiano-Gretta-Barcola-Cologna-Scorcola

Mary

SAR 661 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Dec - 9 Dec

Executive Suite | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, soundproofing

Maximilian Suites

Roiano-Gretta-Barcola-Cologna-Scorcola

Hermann

View all properties

Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Astoria Hotel Italia

10/10 Excellent

"Great location, great staff, easy parking, good breakfast!"

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!"

Find Hotel with a Concierge in Gorizia

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check availability on Gorizia Hotel with a Concierge

Top Gorizia Hotel with a Concierge

Grand Hotel Entourage Palazzo Strassoldo

Hotel Internazionale

Best Western Gorizia Palace Hotel

Hotel Antares

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

San Giorgio Hotel

Hotel Riviera & Maximilians

Maximilian Suites

Hotel Aurora Duino

Tivoli Portopiccolo Sistiana Wellness Resort & Spa

White Friday Sale

Top Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Astoria Hotel Italia

Hotel Miramare - Adults Only

Tivoli Portopiccolo Sistiana Wellness Resort & Spa

Hotel Major

Best Western Gorizia Palace Hotel

Hotel Là di Moret

Hotel Friuli

Hotel Excelsior

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

Explore more hotels