by Sara Del Sal
Gorizia has always been a town of different influences through its history and proximity to Slovenia, Austria and Croatia. Gorizia showcases its multicultural charm and openness to other cultures and cuisines, particularly in September when it hosts the biggest enogastonomical event of Triveneto.
Now at its 18th edition, Gusti di Frontiera 2023 is a festival that boasts more than 400 stands and offers authentic food and experiences from more than 50 different nations. Starting on Thursday 21st of September and ending on Sunday 24th, this event is a milestone for Gorizia and the whole region, attracting more than 600,000 people every year (in 2019, 900,000 people participated in the festival!).
Thanks to the municipality of Gorizia, the contributions of the Region, the Chamber of Commerce of Venezia Giulia and the CariGO Foundation, Gusti di Frontiera is one of the most attended events in the North-East of Italy and it is definitely not surprising, considering the cuisines and eateries on offer: delicacies from all over Italy as steaks from Toscany and mozzarellas from Campania and Apulia, specialties from Austria, Holland and all over Europe, traditional edibles from Africa, Asia and Balcan regions, and more specialties from North and South America.Â
Yet not everything is about food: the festival organizes a range of cultural events, traditional dances and various shows all around town. Famous chefs and public figures are invited to present their professions and culinary secrets. Visiting the town of Gorizia is moreover a good excuse to join the event: for the beauty of its buildings, it was called the “Austrian Nice” by the Habsburg aristocracy and it was also the symbol of the political separation between Western and Eastern Europe, signs of the erected walls on the border with the former Yugoslavia are still visible. Today the border with Slovenia is simply a symbol of unity and the wall doesn’t exist anymore, after being demolished in 2004.
Representing the crossroads of Latin, Slavic and Germanic Europe in the past, the coexistence of different cultures has always been a distinctive element of Gorizia. Gusti di Frontiera 2023 embraces this aspect by collecting different realities from all over the world to be showcased and enjoyed by all.
Gorizia is easily reachable by bus and train from all major cities and town in FVG and beyond. During the festival, the municipality offers a free of charge shuttle service that runs every 15 minutes from the main transport hubs, such as the train station and the industrial area of Gorizia and the train station of Nova Gorica in Slovenia.
