by InTrieste
An exhibition dedicated to American pop art icon Andy Warhol has concluded in Gorizia with nearly 60,000 visitors, making it one of the most attended shows in the history of Palazzo Attems Petzenstein. The strong turnout highlights the growing appeal of Friuli Venezia Giulia as a destination for major cultural events, regional leaders said.
The exhibition, Andy Warhol: Beyond Borders, opened on December 20 as part of the lead-up to GO!2025 — the joint European Capital of Culture initiative between Nova Gorica, Slovenia, and Gorizia, Italy. Featuring 180 works, the show traced Warhol’s evolution from a commercial illustrator to one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.
The final weekend saw a surge in attendance, with more than 4,700 visitors over the last three days and a single-day peak of 1,715.
“With almost 60,000 attendees, the Warhol exhibit confirms the extraordinary draw of high-quality cultural programming,” said Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. “This achievement reinforces Gorizia’s position — and that of the entire region — as a dynamic, cross-border cultural hub, fully aligned with the goals of GO!2025.”
Fedriga praised the efforts of the regional cultural heritage agency and all staff involved in managing the event and accommodating the high volume of visitors.
Sergio Emidio Bini, regional councilor for economic development and tourism, echoed the sentiment, calling the turnout “a testament to Friuli Venezia Giulia’s capacity to host large-scale events — whether cultural, musical, or athletic.”
Bini noted that tourism in the city of Gorizia has doubled over the past five years, crediting both the European Capital of Culture project and a coordinated approach to cultural programming. “This shows that by working together, we can reach ambitious goals,” he said.
The exhibition offered a comprehensive look at Warhol’s work, with a focus on the themes that defined his aesthetic — from consumerism and celebrity to the interplay between commercial art and fine art.
As GO!2025 approaches, regional officials hope this momentum will carry forward into a wider appreciation of the area’s cultural potential — and encourage further growth in tourism and international visibility.
