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.

Apartments in Province of Gorizia

Compare and save

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check prices for these dates

In two weeks

In two months

In three months

In four months

Our top choices for Province of Gorizia apartments

Le Terrazze

Trieste City Centre

Michael

Urbanauts Studios Minelli

Trieste City Centre

RAYMOND

Deluxe Condo | Living room | 43-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels, TV

Residence Garibaldi

Barriera Vecchia-San Giacomo

Ignacio

Summertime Family Resort

Bibione Lido del Sole

Anna

City Room | Private kitchen | Fridge, oven, stovetop, coffee/tea maker

Ghiberti - Studio in the City Center

Trieste City Centre

"Arrived unable to access apartment due to construction going on which we were unaware of. The area in front of the access door was completely blocked by contractors vehicles with wire fence and orange tape. After making enquires it was ascertained this was the access to apartment, on entering with our bags we had to make our way through dust construction debris and 8-10 workman carrying bucket loads of construction material which they were emptying on their truck parked outside the apartment...

June

Apartment, 3 Bedrooms, Air conditioning | Living area

Trieste - Spiridione

Trieste City Centre

Andrea

Rp2.604.401 total

includes taxes & fees

11 Jan - 12 Jan 2026

Comfort Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Garden View, Beachside | Hypo-allergenic bedding, pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Forgotten Garden Apartments and Rooms

Piran

Thomas

Rp1.807.661 total

includes taxes & fees

6 Jan - 7 Jan 2026

Apartment (1. V) | 1 bedroom, desk, iron/ironing board, cots/infant beds

Apartments Bella Tara

Piran

Charlene

Apartment (One bedroom 1) | Private kitchen | Fridge, oven, stovetop, toaster

Apartments Pri Mari

Piran

Walter

Appartamenti Saturno

San Michele al Tagliamento

Piotr

Villaggio Girasoli

Bibione Lido del Sole

Sofia

Superior Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, Courtyard View | Private kitchen | Electric kettle, toaster

The Rose Garden Apartments

Piran

Patrick

Apartment, 2 Bedrooms (13) | Living area | LCD TV

Appartamenti Boschetto

San Michele al Tagliamento

Matthias

Cozy Trieste Historic Hideaway

Trieste City Centre

Rp1.889.274 total

includes taxes & fees

11 Jan - 12 Jan 2026

Superior Apartment, 2 Bedrooms, City View | Terrace/patio

Apartments Elleon Piran

Piran

Apartment (1 Bedroom) | Private kitchen | Microwave, electric kettle, toaster, dining tables

Italianway - Aquileia 53

Udine

Emmanuelle

Villaggio Lido del Sole 1

Bibione Lido del Sole

Maj

Residence Castello

Bibione Lido del Sole

Alex

Appartamenti Biloba

Bibione Lido dei Pini

Apartment, 1 Bedroom, Terrace, Garden View | Beach

Cozy Flat Perfect for Families Next to the Beach

San Michele al Tagliamento

View all properties

Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in

Top Province of Gorizia Hotel Reviews

Savoia Excelsior Palace Trieste – Starhotels Collezione

10/10 Excellent

"Lovely hotel perfect for some downtime and relaxation located perfectly central. Staff were friendly and helpful especially on reception and room upgrade team. "

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. "