by InTrieste
Nova Gorica and Gorizia are set to officially launch their year as the first cross-border European Capital of Culture. The celebrations begin tomorrow at 10 am and are expected to draw thousands.
Earlier in the day, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar will attend an official ceremony in Transalpina Square, marking the start of the event. Mattarella is expected to highlight the significance of cross-border cooperation and reconciliation between Italy and Slovenia.
Preparations are underway in both cities, with the press center ready to host over 300 accredited media professionals. In Gorizia, storefronts display the event’s official logo, while public spaces feature installations by the Crackingart collective—large, colorful animal sculptures commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce.
Vittoria Square will host artistic and musical performances throughout the day, starting with speeches by the mayors of Nova Gorica and Gorizia, preceded by a symbolic cross-border procession from Gorizia’s train station.
Italy’s Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, will officially inaugurate the festivities with a performance featuring Michelangelo Pistoletto’s reflective sphere, a symbol of unity and transformation.
The designation of Nova Gorica and Gorizia as the European Capital of Culture highlights cultural collaboration across borders, kicking off a year of events aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
