The Municipality of Nova Gorica with the city of Nova Gorica is the economic, administrative and cultural centre of the Northern Primorska region (see also detailed description of the municipality in the SYCP Municipality Info). Located in the Western part of Slovenia 100km from the capital city of Ljubljana, the city is positioned on the Northern edge of the Mediterranean geographic region, next to the state border and the other part of the twin-city; the city of Gorizia in Italy.
Nova Gorica is open towards the West and Southwest and lays only roughly 20km from the Northern Adriatic, from where strong influence of the Mediterranean climate comes. This is also the reason why vegetation period here lasts more than a month longer than in the elevated places just a few kilometres North in the Alpine geographic region.
The city is well connected with modern transport infrastructures - railways (Ljubljana – Sežana – N.Gorica or Ljubljana – Jesenice – N.Gorica, and also to Italy – N.Gorica – Gorizia – Triest), highways (to Ljubljana) and airports (Ljubljana Airport and Triest Airport) as well as with modern information technology infrastructures.
Lying on an axis from Skalnica - Sveta Gora to the Kostanjevica Monastery at the junction of the Soča River and Vipava valley, this young city and its suburbs spread to the adjacent settlements of Solkan and Šempeter.
History
Nova Gorica is rather a modern city, built only after 1947, when the border drawn after the World War-II by the Western allays placed the city Gorizia to Italy, however the adjacent settlements date back many centuries. According to the archaeological finds, dating back from the Early Stone Age to the metal ages, the Roman era and the Early Middle Ages, the nearby settlement of Solkan is considered to be one of the oldest settlements in the Soča River valley. It was first mentioned as castle or as settlement with castle together with Gorica / Gorizia already in the Emperor's document dated 28 April 1001.
Cultural Heritage
The city and its surroundings with many Renaissance castles, manors, churches and monasteries (Kromberg Castle, Kostanjevica near N.Gorica, Dobrovo Castle and Vogrsko Manor, Solkan and Šempeter) are rich with cultural heritage and many cultural events.
The Gorica Museum is placed in the Kromberk Castle. The castle museum houses permanent exhibition of collection of works of artists from the Primorska region from the 20th century, the paintings and antique furniture from 18th and 19th century as well as archaeological excavations from the antique settlements in the surroundings and from the village Most na Soči. A branch of the museum is placed also in the nearby settlement of Solkan.
Gorica Regional Museum in the Kromberk Castle
Grajska c.1, Grad Kromberg, SI-5000 Nova Gorica
Phone: +386 5 335 98 11
E-mail: goriski.muzej@siol.net
Gorica Museum nearby Solkan
Pod vinogradi 2
Phone: +386 5 330 30 70
Nova Gorica’s adjacent twin city of today's Italian Gorizia is the birthplace of the Slovene classicist painter France Kavčič (1755-1828), who studied in Vienna and was a professor at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1798. From 1820 until his death, he was also its director. Kavčič is known mainly for his monumental mythological paintings such as “Fokion with his Wife” and “the Rich Ionian Woman” to be seen at the National Gallery in Ljubljana, also holding many of his original drawings. In Kavčič's painting, the elaboration and lively colours of the Baroque were replaced by cold quiet Classic composition and quiet colours.
Entertainment
Season Ticket Concert Series
Throughout the year, the Cultural Centre Nova Gorica organizes the outstanding season ticket Concert Series (“Glasbeni abonma”) taking place in the centre's large auditorium. The concerts are also frequently held in the Basilica on Sveta Gora and in the church of the nearby Kostanjevica Monastery.
Music from the Gardens of St. Frances
Organized by the Cultural Centre of Nova Gorica, the cycle of concerts entitled Music from the Gardens of St. Francis (Sv. Frančišek) takes place in the church of the Kostanjevica Monastery.
Cultural Centre of Nova Gorica
Phone: +386 5 335 40 10
Fax: +386 5 335 40 13
E-mail: direktor@kulturnidom-ng.si
Web Page: http://www.kulturnidom-ng.si
Additional Info
Tourist Information Centre TIC Nova Gorica
Bevkov trg 4, SI-5000 Nova Gorica
Phone: +386 5 330 46 00
Fax: +386 5 330 46 06
E-mail: tzticng@siol.net
Web Page: www.novagorica-turizem.com