The town of Gorizia was a true symbol of the Great War on the Isonzo frontline. A Habsburg architectural jewel and holiday destination for aristocrats and upper classes in the late '800, it endured hard battles between the two armies in 1915.
For over a year, the Austro-Hungarians successfully defended it thanks to a number of army posts located on the hills surrounding the town, first of all Mt. Calvario. History has been made here, and today you can discover it also thanks to an interesting car/walking itinerary winding up along the central part and the summit of the mount.
THE THREE CROSSES ON MOUNT CALVARIO IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE GREAT WAR WITH A CLEAR RELIGIOUS MEANING.
The visit starts near the village of Lucinico: drive past Ponte 8 Agosto (August 8th Bridge) and along Viadotto Ragazzi del 99 (Boys of 99) until you see a fork on the right, leading to via Madonnina del Fante and the railway underpass Aurelio Baruzzi, the site of an important action on 07th August 1916. Go back for a few metres and turn right to via delle Grappate, continue straight ahead and cross another underpass. From here, take via delle Chiese Antiche, which, after 750 metres, starts climbing uphill to the summit of Mt. Calvario (240 metres ASL).
The summit was the core of the Austro-Hungarian defensive frontline. While the original military posts are gone, today you can admire three monuments commemorating Italian soldiers: the Obelisk, dedicated to the many divisions that fought here, an esplanade with Three Crosses and a Memorial dedicated to the Julian volunteers. All this is combined with splendid views across the town and the Isonzo River.
From the summit, continue along via delle Chiese Antiche until you cross Strada Giuliano-Trentini Volontari Irridenti on your right. Drive along it for about 250 metres and you will see some cypresses signalling the tomb of Scipio Slataper, one of the few casualties of the Great War whose body was never moved to a memorial or an ossuary.
Continue along the same road, drive gradually downhill until you reach via Ponte del Torrione. The tour here continues into the heart of town, rich of monuments commemorating the Great War and its players. Cross Ponte del Torrione (Torrione Bridge), where you can see the Monument to the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo soon after, then drive along Via XX Settembre to the town centre. Here, you can park your car and take a stroll along the pleasant avenues lined by trees and Mittel-European buildings.
You can discover a number of monuments located inside Memorial Park (Parco della Rimembranza) or Public Gardens (Giardini Pubblici), where secular trees overlook statues dedicated to Enrico Toti, the Infantryman and the bust of Giorgio Bombi. Finally, in Via Gabriele d'Annunzio, you can admire a plaque and a bust dedicated to this renowned Italian poet and soldier.
THE STATUE DEDICATED TO ENRICO TOTI IN THE PUBLIC GARDENS OF GORIZIA.
If you intend to delve into the history of Gorizia and its surroundings during the Great War, you should pay a visit to the Museum of the Great War near the Castle and the Ossuary of Oslavia. The latter is a majestic memorial located in the village of Oslavia, which can be easily reached from Torrione Bridge (Ponte del Torrione) following directions for Piuma and Oslavia.
