On top of the hill

Couldn't resist forking out 3 Euros to see inside the castle as it has much contemporary furniture from the old days as well as an exhibition of musical instruments re-created from old documents.
When Gorizia was first mentioned in 1001, (a document by which Emperor Otto III granted half the village of Gorizia to the Patriarch of Aquileia,) a tower in stone / wood /earth was present on the hill of Salcano. This became the castle and seat of the Mainardis who ruled over much of central Europe until the 15thC as Counts of Gorizia and Tyrol. The present structure attempts rather well to re-create their environment as much was revealed when the place was shelled during WWI.
Here's a flavour, starting with the kitchen and dining room. The 'Hall of the Provincial States' contains many of the musical instruments which on rare occasions actually get played. That would be quite something in this room which must have been used for town council meetings as it is ringed by stalls beautifully made from inlaid walnut and burl by Bottega Veneta in 18th C.Read more