by InTrieste
At exactly 10 a.m. on Saturday, a train station in Gorizia will serve as the departure point for a grand procession unlike any in recent memory. A thousand performers, marching bands, and folkloric groups will embark on a symbolic journey that will traverse national borders, uniting two cities, two nations, and two histories. The occasion? The official opening ceremony of Nova Gorica-Gorizia, the European Capital of Culture 2025.
With Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar in attendance, along with dignitaries from across Europe, the event underscores the growing significance of cross-border cultural cooperation in an era when nationalism still simmers on the continent’s political fringes.
A Date Heavy With Meaning
The choice of February 8 for the ceremony is no coincidence. For Slovenia, the date marks the anniversary of the death of the nation’s greatest poet, France Prešeren, in 1849, a moment commemorated annually as Slovenian Culture Day. For Italians, it is the birthdate of another literary titan, Giuseppe Ungaretti, in 1888. In a region long defined by shifting borders and political fractures, the selection of this date reflects a deliberate attempt to bridge past and present through the power of art and memory.
A Celebration of Unity
The day’s events will begin at Gorizia’s railway station, where a cross-border procession of 1,500 artists will wind its way through the city, culminating in Piazza Vittoria. The square will host a series of performances by young talents from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, including Italian pop singers Shari and Tish, alongside dance and music ensembles that will fill the air with the sounds of shared heritage.
One of the most anticipated moments of the day will be the first-ever joint performance by the Italian and Slovenian police bands, an unprecedented collaboration that required months of coordination to select a repertoire that speaks to both nations’ musical traditions. Later, a parade of local mayors will make its way through the historic streets, a symbolic nod to the cities’ shared governance and future ambitions.
Art in Motion
At 1:15 p.m., a striking artistic performance, Walking Sculpture, will take center stage. Featuring athletes, students, and artists, the procession will carry Michelangelo Pistoletto’s iconic Sfera—a mirrored sphere that reflects its surroundings and the people who interact with it—as it moves toward the historic border crossing at San Gabriele.
By the time the ceremony reaches Nova Gorica’s Bevk Square, a staggering 900 artists will have participated in what organizers are calling one of the largest cross-border cultural events in recent history.
An Inauguration With a Message
The official opening ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in Piazza Transalpina, the symbolic heart of the twin cities. Once divided by a Cold War-era border, the square now serves as a shared public space, a living testament to the European project. Recently renovated with funds from the European Union, the square will host speeches by top officials and performances that highlight the region’s evolving identity.
As night falls, the celebration will shift to Nova Gorica’s Edvard Kardelj Square, where director Neda Rusjan Bricwill unveil an artistic showcase previewing the year’s major cultural projects. In Gorizia, the historic castle will be illuminated in a choreographed light display, accompanied by a musical composition from Remo Anzovino and 40 Fingers.
The night will conclude with a high-energy DJ set in Piazza Transalpina, featuring Daddy G of Massive Attack and Andy Smith of Portishead, turning a once-divided space into a vibrant, borderless dance floor.
A Future Without Borders?
While the European Capital of Culture title is traditionally awarded to a single city, Nova Gorica and Gorizia’s joint selection marks a significant departure from precedent, embodying the idea that cultural identity need not be constrained by national lines. For many residents, the event is a powerful reminder of how far the region has come since the dissolution of Yugoslavia and Slovenia’s entry into the European Union.
As the final beats echo through the Transalpina Square and the lights fade on the castle walls, the cities will wake up on Sunday morning the same as they were before—yet perhaps, in some small way, fundamentally changed.
One city. Two nations. And, for a night at least, no borders at all.
Interview: mayor of Gorizia, Ziberna
