The province of Gorizia extends from the city of Gorizia down to the coastal town of Grado. Because of its location on the Slovenian border, Gorizia has a decidedly Slavic feel. This is apparent, for example, in the city’s many gostilnas (the Slavic counterpart to the Italian osteria) as well as in the distinctive onion domes of the Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio. Towering over the city is the hilltop Castello di Gorizia, from which the powerful counts of Gorizia ruled for four centuries.
A good portion of this province consists of the rolling hills and lush vineyards of wine country, most notably the Collio zone near the town of Cormòns. This town is home to both the Enoteca di Cormòns, a great place to sample regional wines, and the Michelin-starred Trattoria Cacciatore de La Subida.
At the coast is Grado, once the seaport for the important Roman city of Aquileia. A small island in the lagoon that stretches from Venezia to Trieste, Grado has blossomed into a popular resort, its beaches lined with high-rise hotels and seaside promenades.
