by InTrieste
Italian and Slovenian institutions have signed an agreement to develop a European Peace Trail linking sites associated with World War I across Europe, with the aim of preserving the conflict’s historical legacy and promoting cross-border cooperation.
The memorandum was signed Wednesday at the EPICenter in Nova Gorica in the presence of Slovenia’s president, Nataša Pirc Musar. It marks the conclusion of the Gov4Peace project, part of the Interreg Central Europe cooperation program, which seeks to advance the recognition of World War I heritage sites as part of the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes.
Sergio Emidio Bini, Friuli Venezia Giulia’s regional councillor for productive activities and tourism, said the agreement demonstrated the potential for international cooperation at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.
“The signing of today’s memorandum represents an important message of peace,” Mr. Bini said, highlighting the significance of Nova Gorica and neighboring Gorizia, which have become symbols of European integration after decades of division.
The initiative builds on the existing Walk of Peace, or Pot miru, a cross-border hiking route connecting important World War I sites between Slovenia and Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Stretching more than 500 kilometers across approximately 30 stages, the trail begins in Log pod Mangartom, Slovenia, and ends in Trieste. It includes sites associated with battles on the Karst Plateau and the retreat following the Battle of Caporetto in 1917.
Mr. Bini said the cooperation between Italy and Slovenia offered an example of how borders could become opportunities for dialogue, economic development and shared cultural initiatives rather than sources of division.
Nova Gorica and Gorizia, which were separated by the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, have increasingly become a center of cross-border collaboration. In 2025, the two cities jointly held the European Capital of Culture title under the name GO! 2025, the first such initiative shared across the Italian-Slovenian border.
Mr. Bini also recalled remarks by Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella, at the inauguration of GO! 2025, when he said the past should not become the future of younger generations.
Preserving historical memory while fostering dialogue and mutual respect, Mr. Bini said, was a shared responsibility.
The memorandum was signed by a range of institutions and organizations from Italy and other countries participating in the Interreg Central Europe program, including PromoTurismoFVG, the regional tourism promotion agency.
The broader project seeks to connect historical sites across national borders through a shared cultural route, using the memory of World War I to encourage international cooperation and promote the region’s historical heritage.
