Culture, Gorizia-Nova Gorica Capital 2025 ‘Without borders’

Two cities in one place. A divisive border that transforms and becomes a point of sharing and strength. For the first time the European capital of culture 2025 it is “double and cross -border”: there are two cities, in fact, of Two different countries, Gorizia and Nova Gorica. United, with the aim of overcoming barriers through unique projects that go in the name of connection and collaboration, promoting a common identity as inheritance for future generations, after years of geopolitical divisions and changes that have marked the history of the two city. It is no coincidence that the slogan is’ go! Borderless’, go ‘without borders’.

The two cities have decided to present their candidacy together and now, designated together European capital of culture 2025, they will be the scene of a thousand events, along a year, in the area.

All It will start on February 8, inauguration in Piazza Transalpina With a ceremony to be held along the day and retrace the territories of both cities, with 11 European ministers of culture, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Natasha Pirc Musa.

The program full of activities between music, art and culture, presented at the headquarters of the foreign press in Italy at Palazzo Grazioli, includes important moments, from the concerts of Sting, Robbie Williams and Alanis Morisette, to the exhibition by Andy Warhol up to that of the photographer Steve McCurry, just to make some of the most famous names.

Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, underlined the fact that “a capital of culture is shared between two states and it is the first time it happens – he supported – and will enter history. The choice is already a perennial symbol for The institutions of our continent “.

The official program

The official program winds long Four main themes: war and peace, the creation of the new, smugglers and lots of green. To form these pillars, a billboard of cultural and food and wine events, exhibitions and initiatives.

“These pillars, which I would call windows, overlook several worlds – said Stojan Pelko, director of the ‘Go! 2025’ program – we are convinced that this region can tell Europe and the world how difficult it is to build peace after the war , and how much the only border that concerns us is that for the future, with sustainability in the center. In the acronym GO both cities are recognized, Both the Slovenian city of Nova Gorica and the Italian city of Gorizia. They are two cities in two different states, which are together European capital of culture, first time in the history of the European Union, in a transfrontier way. It is therefore a development engine that also maximizes the message we want to send to the European Union and to Europe: in a territory that had been marked by conflicts and wars, today we speak of peace “.

Romina Kocina, director Gect Go, explained: “The title of European capital has been awarded by the Commission since 1985 – this is the fortieth anniversary – and is always assigned to a city. In 2019 we decided to present the candidacy together, leveraging On the cross -border factor, aiming on the border as a strength and opportunity. The preparatory works have begun since 2020 And today we are at the highlight, everything will start in a few weeks, on February 8th being such a complex partnership, we are facing various challenges and therefore we have more actors involved “.

In particular, the European GECT GO territorial cooperation group has financed 56 cross-border projects through the Interreg Italia-Slovenia program (about 10 million EU funds) and the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia has worked with the institutions of the territory (through the Culture and the Regional Authority for Cultural Heritage) to converge the work of many prominent cultural operators on the subject of the border and financed further strategic initiatives in the cultural field for a value of about 10 million.

Among the exhibitions that have already been inaugurated, there are the exhibitions Ungaretti poet and soldier. The Karst and the soul of the world. Poetry Painting History – at the Santa Chiara Museum – open until May 4th and Andy Warhol.

Beyond Borders, an exposure also open until the same date at Palazzo Certems Petzenstein. In addition, the Borders from Turner to Monet to Hopper will open during the year, the exhibition dedicated to the treasures of Aquileia and the three looks with the photographs of Steve McCurry, Alex Majoli and Meta Krese will open in Gorizia who tell The border. Gorizia will also host the masterclass for young dancers with the étoile Eleonora Abbagnato and the dancers of the Opera di Roma, the Fice days with Palazzo del Cinema, The production of 8 short films with FVG Film Commission Realized ad hoc on the occasion of the European capital of culture and selected by a jury of experts chaired by the director Gabriele Salvatores and the docufilm on the philosopher Carlo Michaelstadter written and directed by the director and actor Massimiliano Finazzer Flory.

Among the appointments also include concerts by world -renowned artists: the Thirty Seconds to Mars (3 July), with the only date of the Italian Northeast, and Massive Attack (June 24), both will animate the Arena di Casa Rossa In Gorizia, a place once used as a stall of heavy vehicles in transit on the border and now redeveloped and made available also to host major events. Also confirmed the traditional Gorizian events such as the Festival èstoria, the award to the Screenplay Sergio Amsai and the food and wine event flavors of frontier, which for the occasion will be declined in a cross -border key.

Collateral events

To support the official program of ‘Go! 2025 ‘, the schedule of’ Go! 2025 & Friends’ is added, A series of events between exhibitions, concerts by international artists and other initiatives involving the whole Friuli Venezia Giulia region with appointments that will host national and international names of caliber.

‘Go! 2025 & Friends’, represents a continuum with the official agenda, in a sort of borderless extension of the capital of culture, with the aim of increasing the participation of the whole region and exploiting the visibility of the initiative to enhance the destination Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Within this review, Steve McCurry have already inaugurated. Looks on the world, dedicated to the great American photographer and open until May 4 at the Salone degli Enanti in Trieste; Wulz photography. Trieste, the family, the Atelier – Photographic journey over a hundred years that tells the stages of the economic, demographic, social and cultural development of Trieste through the privileged filter of the Wulz family, available until April 27 at the warehouse of ideas of the city.

The summer of ‘Go! 2025 & Friends’ will instead come alive with the live of Alanis Morissette, queen of the alternative rock that will enchant the public on 22 June 2025 at Villa Manin in Codroipo (Udine); Sting, who on 9 July will always bring one of the dates of his Sting 3.0 World Tour to Villa Manin; And Robbie Williams, whose live – only scheduled in Italy – is scheduled for July 17, 2025 at the Nereo Rocco stadium in Trieste, promising to give a memorable evening of music, emotion and energy.