Nova Gorica and Gorizia have no border

Mauro Leban’s family farm in Gorizia, Italy is in the middle of a region steeped in history.

The towns of Nova Gorica and Gorizia on both sides of the Italian-Slovenian border will serve as the European Capital of Culture in 2025.

The neighboring cities program will focus on the theme of overcoming borders, with the slogan: “GO!

But it wasn’t like that.

In 1947, a cow stood with its front legs in what was then Yugoslavia and its hind legs in Italy, crossing the chalk line that marked the new border.

This incident was captured in a photo dated September 17, 1947.

For the Lebanese, this line was not just a border – it was a sign of an upheaval that would redefine their lives.

That route symbolized the launch of the Paris Peace Conference, which divided the city of Gorizia and changed people’s lives overnight.

This decision was adopted by the victors of World War II in February of that year.

Leban remembers that his father and uncles, knowing that changes were imminent, were still shocked by the speed of change.

Their farm found itself divided in two by the new border, with the farmhouse in Italy and the fields in Yugoslavia.

Faced with a painful decision, this family chose to stay in Italy. Fortunately, according to Leban, the authorities agreed to fix the border fence so that the cattle pen could remain on Italian territory.

For the next eight years, the Lebanese were among the few allowed to cross the border to tend their fields, a temporary privilege amid strict controls.

This episode is emblematic of Gorizia’s turbulent history.

After World War I, the town that was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was transferred to Italy after World War I. Even then, Gorizia had many people, because while German was spoken in the offices, coffee was ordered in Italian.

The town faced new turmoil when Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito wanted to unify it after World War II. When he failed, Tito decided to build a new city just across the border – Nova Gorica.

Tito’s first vision was partially fulfilled.

The town, now home to 13,000 residents, is full of energy, bolstered in part by the university founded in 1995.

Nearby, visitors can explore attractions such as the Franciscan Monastery of Kostanjevica or the wonderful Solkan Bridge.

This architectural marvel spans the emerald waters of the Isonzo River (known as Soča in Slovenia) and has the largest stone arch in the world.

Once part of the first cross-road railway in 1906, the bridge symbolically linked Gorizia to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, cementing its historical significance.

Meanwhile, Gorizia, with 35,000 inhabitants, shows its Italian beauty, with historic sites such as the Borgo Castello castle and interesting restaurants from Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

In 2025, the two cities will jointly act as European Capitals of Culture under the slogan “GO!

But back at Mauro Leban’s farm, a tollgate painted with the Italian tricolor serves as a poignant reminder of the division that once defined the region.

Nearby, a small documentary center offers a video recording of contemporary witnesses recounting the painful years when families were separated – some living in the small eastern part of old Gorizia or Nova Gorica.

This evidence also reveals the deep distrust that grew between perceived fascists and communists during the split.

The border, which was sealed after its establishment, remained until 1955, when an agreement allowed relatives to visit with limited rights.

However, even after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the independence of Slovenia, the separation continued for another 16 years.

It was finally dismantled in 2007, when Slovenia joined the Schengen Area, which allows for border-free movement in most European countries, erasing the last traces of division in what was once Europe’s last divided city.

When Nova Gorica was officially named the European Capital of Culture for 2025 a few years ago, it marked a milestone as the first cultural capital to cross the border.

At the time, few could have predicted that the political situation would change dramatically before the festivities began.

The Italian government under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni reintroduced border checks between Italy and Slovenia in October, a reminder that the idea of ​​unity faces ongoing challenges.