A red rose proudly adorns the municipality’s crest and the flower has a special historical significance for this region: before the First World War it supplied roses to the Emperor’s court in Vienna. Today roses and numerous gardens decorate the town and are a symbol of youth and dynamic development. The mild winters and long hours of sunshine in the Mediterranean-influenced climate give the area a special charm and amiability.

Nova Gorica lies right on the border with Italy and extends the arm of friendship to its neighbours through cultural and economic cooperation. Klagenfurt, with whom Nova Gorica is twinned, lies only 170 km away, and Graz is 317 km distant. The closest airport is Ronchi (Trieste), 22 km away, while Ljubljana’s Brnik airport is 141 km away.

Nova Gorica is a new town, built after the Second World War (1948), and while it does not have an old town centre it has its own soul. Locals and visitors alike enjoy walking in the hills that surround the town, where in an unspoilt environment they can leave behind their everyday worries, admire the local historical monuments, go to a church service, attend a concert or listen to one of a number of choirs.

In its half-century of development Nova Gorica has succeeded in becoming the administrative, cultural and economic centre of western Slovenia. The town boasts a newly built theatre and gallery with all the latest facilities and equipment, the Gorica Museum, the Provincial Archive and a library, and is home to the Science and Environment Faculty and a number of secondary schools.

It is establishing itself as a fair town, hosting the Small Business Trade Fair in June and the Wealth of Nature and Entertainment Fair in October. Economic development in the municipality is focused on restructuring industry and promotion of small businesses, particularly via the introduction of new environment-friendly technology, exploiting the border location and ensuring the flow of capital, and developing trade, tourism and other service activities.

This land of ours is like a palm between the Alps and the sea; in very few places can such a diverse range of attractions be found in such a small area.

Amongst the hustle and bustle, rising 143 m above the border between Slovenia and Italy, lies Kostanjevica Hill, home to the Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady and a 17th-century Franciscan monastery whose treasures from the past are rich indeed. The last members of the Bourbons, the French royal family, are buried in a crypt beneath the church (Charles X himself, and members of his family and entourage). He fled France following the revolution in 1830, finding refuge in Gorica, and eventually eternal peace.

Opposite Kostanjevica Hill, north of the town is Sveta Gora (Holy Mountain), a peak of 682 m that has attracted pilgrims for 450 years. The view from there is exceptional, and on a clear day visitors can see as far as Istria, Venice, the Dolomites, and the Kamnik and Julian Alps. The mountain top is home to a magnificent basilica, where concerts are occasionally held, a Franciscan monastery, a museum to the Isonzo Front and a welcoming inn.

A number of beautiful castles cluster around the town. The Gorica Museum is based in Kromberk Castle, and houses permanent collections covering archaeology, ethnology and history of art.

When dusk departs and the lights are switched on Nova Gorica gets its real night-life image. Entertainment can be found at numerous discos and two well-equipped gaming and entertainment centres. The Hit Park and Hit Perla Vegas-style casino centres attract countless Italian visitors night and day, and have helped spread the name of the town far afield. The Hotel Perla also boasts a modern conference centre with room for 100 people.

Those who prefer the sounds of nature can enjoy the harmony of birdsong at Trnovska Planota, a plateau centred on Lokve, just 25 km away from the town. Every day it becomes more of an oasis of peace, rest, relaxation and recreation. The dense, rich forest hides exceptional sites of outstanding natural beauty and cultural significance, including some of world renown, such as Ledenica, the great ice cave at Paradana.