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 Winery Hotels in Gorizia

Upfront pricing
Our total price for your stay includes taxes and fees
Treat yourself
Save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide with Member Prices
Learn about One Key
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check availability on Gorizia Winery Hotels

Tonight

Tomorrow

This weekend

Next weekend

Dec 12 - Dec 14

Top Gorizia Winery Hotels

Comfort Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Balcony | Balcony

Agriturismo Grillo Iole

Prepotto

United Kingdom

Zoltan

$87 nightly

Dec 9 - Dec 10

Total with taxes and fees

Bar (on property)

Casale in Collina

Capriva del Friuli

United States

Karl

Exterior

Scacciapensieri

Buttrio

Canada

Oliver

$112 nightly

Dec 12 - Dec 13

Total with taxes and fees

Seasonal outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, sun loungers

Il Roncal Wine Resort

Cividale del Friuli

United States

Katherine

Luxury Studio Suite | City view

Apartments Hlapi with SPA

Kobarid

United States

Igal

$101 nightly

Dec 9 - Dec 10

Total with taxes and fees

Comfort Apartment, Balcony, Courtyard View | Soundproofing, free WiFi

Wellba Homestead Planina

Ajdovšcina

Germany

Sarah

$100 nightly

Dec 11 - Dec 12

Total with taxes and fees

Lunch and dinner served, garden views

Elliot Osteria e Dormire in Collina

Manzano

Italy

Antonio

$169 nightly

Dec 13 - Dec 14

Total with taxes and fees

Seasonal outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, sun loungers

Agriturismo Colutta

Manzano

Italy

Luca

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

Things to do in Ronchi dei Legionari

Book Winery Hotels in Gorizia on Expedia.it

f8372ad6-3272-487a-bf8d-eefc2a52434acb3e3b76-ed19-4513-9696-06efe82865a8