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.

Province of Gorizia Hotels with Spa

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Our top choices for Province of Gorizia hotels with a spa

Lobby

HT Hotel Trieste

Gradisca d'Isonzo

United States

William

RM470 total

includes taxes & fees

9 Jan - 10 Jan 2026

Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; local cuisine

Hotel Europa

Grado

United States

Marjorie

Beach bar

Club Del Sole Tenuta Primero Grado Family Collection

Grado

United States

Lyudmila

Fitness facility

Grand Hotel Astoria

Grado

Canada

Sandra

RM820 total

includes taxes & fees

29 Dec - 30 Dec

Sauna, hot tub, steam room, massages

Riva Palace Hotel

Grado

Canada

Daniel

Couples treatment room(s), sauna, hot tub, steam room

Al Ponte

Gradisca d'Isonzo

United States

Francesca

RM620 total

includes taxes & fees

25 Jan - 26 Jan 2026

Beach

Al Vecchio Glicine - Bed & Breakfast

Savogna d'Isonzo

United Kingdom

John

Tasting room

Al pompiere wine and rooms

Capriva del Friuli

Italy

Valentina

RM439 total

includes taxes & fees

8 Jan - 9 Jan 2026

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Top Province of Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Savoia Excelsior Palace Trieste – Starhotels Collezione

Savoia Excelsior Palace Trieste – Starhotels Collezione

10/10 Excellent

"Location is great. Many good restaurants are nearby. The room was large, comfortable and fairly priced."

Urban Hotel Design

Urban Hotel Design

10/10 Excellent

"Would stay here again. The staff is excellent—professional and helpful, especially Filippini at the front desk, and Tommy “the King of breakfast.” Breakfast buffet was outstanding and well worth the price. Bed was extremely comfortable. Room and facility was b very clean and well-maintained. Room had a few quirks like poorly distributed outlets, but overall our stay was outstanding. We are traveling all over Italy and Paris and this was a great value for the price. "

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