by InTrieste
For the second consecutive year, the province of Gorizia has been ranked first in Italy for quality of life among young people, according to Il Sole 24 Ore’s annual “Quality of Life by Generations” report.
The northeastern border province, which shares the title of 2025 European Capital of Culture with its Slovenian twin city, Nova Gorica, was recognized for its strong performance in several key indicators. Among the most notable were high rates of permanent employment contracts and a dense network of cultural event organizers relative to the youth population. Gorizia ranks second nationally—just behind Cagliari—for cultural activity organizers, and fourth for average age at first childbirth, at 31.6 years.
A university city and historical crossroads between cultures, Gorizia continues to leverage its transnational identity, with cross-border initiatives playing a significant role in its appeal to younger generations.
Elsewhere in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Trieste ranked fourth overall in the youth index, followed by Pordenone at 20th and Udine at 44th.
In the parallel ranking for elderly quality of life—also compiled by Il Sole 24 Ore—Bolzano topped the national list. Within Friuli Venezia Giulia, Pordenone was the highest-ranking province for senior well-being at 21st place, followed by Trieste (29th), Gorizia (33rd), and Udine (36th).
The report evaluates Italian provinces across a variety of generational benchmarks, including employment, cultural access, health, and social engagement, offering a comprehensive view of how different territories support both younger and older residents.
