Friendship Without Borders March

Half a century of friendship between two peoples

The Friendship Without Borders March is much more than a walk: it is a symbol. Founded in 1976, when crossing the border between Italy and Slovenia meant filling out forms and showing documents, the march allowed Italians and Slovenians to walk together, beyond the frontier, in the name of friendship. Today, in a united Gorizia and Nova Gorica without borders, that same march continues to celebrate the spirit of brotherhood between the two peoples, starting and finishing in the symbolic Piazza Transalpina/Trg Evrope, the place that more than any other tells the story of this border.

Two routes for everyone

The event is a non-competitive walk, open to everyone: families, children, the elderly, sports groups. Participants can choose between two routes, one shorter of about 6 km and one more challenging of about 12 km, which wind through the cross-border urban area of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, passing through symbolic places in both cities. Afterwards, stands in the square welcome the walkers with traditional pasta and refreshments.

A community celebration

Organized by the association Marciatori Gorizia together with the Institute for Sport of Nova Gorica, the march attracts thousands of participants from both sides of the border each year. More than a race, it is a great popular celebration, accompanied by a rich collateral program and greetings from the mayors of the two cities, who start the walk.

Walk where history has changed

Participating in the Friendship March means taking your steps right where for decades there was a dividing border. In a European city that has made coexistence its identity, the march is the simplest and most beautiful way to experience the spirit of Gorizia and Nova Gorica: two cities, one community.