Rijeka - Fiume

Rijeka (IT: Fiume. HU: Szentvit. DE: Sankt Veit am Flaum) is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. With a population of about 144,000 (2001) it is Croatia's third-largest city. Rijeka is the country's principal seaport and is the administrative seat of the Primorsko-goranska županija (Primorje-Gorski Kotar county) that includes the Kvarner Bay and the surrounding Northern Croatian seacoast, and the mountainous region of Gorski Kotar.

Though traces of Neolithic settlements can be found in the region, the earliest settlements on the site were Celtic Tarsatica (modern Trsat, now part of Rijeka) on a hill and the tribe of mariners, the Liburni in the natural harbor below. The municipium founded by the Romans was named Flumen (Latin for 'river'), which became the origin of the city's name in Croatian (Rijeka, or Reka in Ekavian dialects) and Italian (Fiume), which both also simply mean 'river'. After the 4th century the city was rededicated as Flumen Sancti Viti, the city's patron saint. This name survived in the Hungarian name, Szentvid, and the German version used until the 19th century, Sankt Veit am Flaum. From the 5th century onwards, the town came under successive Frankish, Croatian and Magyar rule before coming under the control of the Austrian Habsburgs in 1466. Created a free port in 1723, Fiume was passed during the 18th and 19th centuries among the Habsburgs' Austrian, Croatian, and Hungarian possessions until its attachment to the latter kingdom for the third and last time in 1870. Although Croatia had a constitutional autonomy within Hungary, the city of Fiume was independent, governed directly from Budapest by an appointed governor, as Hungary's only international port. There was competition between Austria's port of Trieste and Hungary's Port of Fiume.

Habsburg-ruled Austria-Hungary's defeat and disintegration in the closing weeks of World War I led to the establishment of rival Italian and Croatian administrations in the city as both Italy and the founders of the new Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) claimed sovereignty based on their ethnic populations. After a brief Italian occupation, an international force of French, British and United States troops occupied the city in November 1918 while its future was discussed at the Paris Peace Conference during the course of 1919. Negotiations were interrupted by the city's seizure on September 12, 1919 by a force of Italian nationalist irregulars led by the writer Gabriele d'Annunzio, who eventually established a state the Italian Regency of Carnaro. On November 12, Italy and Yugoslavia concluded the Treaty of Rapallo, under which Fiume/Rijeka was to be an independent state, the Free State of Fiume/Rijeka, under a regime acceptable to both. A period of diplomatic acrimony closed with the Treaty of Rome (January 27, 1924), which assigned Fiume to Italy and Sušak (today part of Rijeka) to Yugoslavia, with joint port administration. Formal Italian annexation (March 16, 1924) inaugurated twenty years of Fascist rule and a policy of forced Italianization of the Croatian population, followed by twenty months of German military occupation during World War II. The German occupation was ended by Yugoslav troops which advanced as far west as Trieste. Fiume finally became the Croatian (and until June 1991, Yugoslav) city of Rijeka, a situation formalised by the Paris peace treaty (1947) between Italy and the wartime allies. Once the change in sovereignty was formalised, most of the Italian-speaking part of the population fled Tito's communist regime and went into exile. Today, the city's economy largely depends on sea transport, shipbuilding and tourism.

The Baroque city tower (gradski toranj; Italian: torre civica) depicted on the top picture on glass no.2145 stands atop the arched gateway which links the Korzo to the inner city and already had been part of the medieval fortifications. A clock had already been installed in the 17th century. In 1750, Rijeka was struck by a disastrous earthquake. Maria Theresia of Austria and Queen of Hungary allocated funds for the town's reconstruction and she also approved the general urban plan for a new town (civitas nova), but under the condition that the Old Town would remain untouched. A new set of four clocks was installed in 1784. These clocks were operational until 1873, after which date they were replaced by clockwork that had been exhibited in Vienna during an international exhibition. The clock is still running today. In 1890, architect Filbert Bazarig added a touch of Historicism to the tower and covered it with its characteristic dome.

The bottom picture on glass no.2145 shows a view of the nearby spa town Opatija.

Opatija - Abbazia

The history of Opatija goes back to 1453, when Benedictine monks founded a small monastery where today stands the church of St. James (Sveti Jakov). This monastery is the origin of the name of the town: both the Croatian name Opatija and the Italian name Abbazia mean 'abbey'. It took until the time of the French occupation under Napoleon (1809–1813) before a village developed around the monastery. In 1844, the wealthy tradesman Iginio Scarpa from Rijeka built a villa in this quiet village and named it Villa Angiolina after his wife.

When Empress Maria Anna, wife of the Austrian ex-emperor Ferdinand I of Austria, came to Opatija on medical advice in 1860, the place developed quickly into a fashionable sea resort.

The most famous guests were Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and the German Emperor Wilhelm II who met here in 1894. The popularity of Opatija during that time was comparable to that of Nizza or Monaco. The two World Wars brought an end to the popularity of Opatija and it took until 1957 for a new beginning of the spa tradition. 

Another view of Opatija (Abbazia) is also depicted on glass from Rijeka (Fiume) shown above.

Lovran - Laurana

Lovran (Italian: Laurana) was first mentioned in the 6th century as Lauriana. The name is derived from the Latin name for laurel, 'laurus'. Between the 9th and the 10th century it belonged to the Croatian kingdom. Later it was ruled by the patriarchs of Aquilea and the Counts of Pazin. In the14th century it became part of the Habsburg countries. The development of Lovran as a summer resort began in the19th century together with the growing popularity of Opatija. 

The centre of the old town is marked by the parish church of Sveti Juraj (St. George) [right glass], built in the 14th century. The church was enlarged several times in the 16th and 17th century. The vaulting from the late Gothic period is decorated with important frescos from the15th century showing scenes from the life and passion of Christ. The campanile (bell-tower) is older than the church itself, it dates from the 12th century.

Krk - Veglia

Krk (Italian: Veglia) is the largest island of the Adriatic Sea (406 km2). Numerous settlements from prehistoric times have been found at archeological excavations. The Romans replaced the tribe of the Liburnians in the 2nd/1st century B.C. The fortified Roman town of Curicum (today the town Krk) soon became the centre of the island. From the 7th century onward, Slav settlers came onto the island which at that time was part of the Byzantine empire. The Venetians conquered Krk first in 1001 and then again in 1118. From then on, Krk was part of the Republic of Venice, but the local government remained in the hands of the local Frankopan family. From 1797 Krk was part of the Austrian Monarchy until 1918 except for the Napoleonic occupation between 1809 and 1813.

After World War I the island came to Italy for two years, and then was part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. During World War II, Krk was occupied by Italian troops 1941–1943 and by German troops until 1945. In 1980, the island was connected to the mainland by a bridge. With its eastern span of 390 m the bridge was the worlds largest concrete arch bridge until 1997; the western span has a width of 244 m. The airport of Krk also serves the city of Rijeka on the mainland. 

Archeological finds in the caves on the steep western coasts of the islands of Lošinj (in Italian: Lussino) and Cres (Cherso) show that the islands were already inhabited in the early Stone Age. More than 50 settlements of the Bronze and Iron Ages document the dense population during that time. The Romans founded a fortified settlement at the small sea canal which separates the two islands. This town remained the cultural and administrative centre of both islands for a long time. During the Middle Ages the islands were alternately ruled by Croats and Venetians.

When Lošinj became part of the Austrian Monarchy in 1815, a period of economical prosperity began. New shipyards were built to make ships for the Austrian fleet. Emperor Franz Joseph I visited Lošinj in 1875 on the occasion of the launching of the 'Imperatrice Elisabetta' (Empress Elisabeth). However, the old sailing-ships were soon replaced by steam boats and many shipyards of Lošinj soon had to close. From about 1880, tourism became the most important economical factor for the island.

The villages of Veli Lošinj (Lussingrande) and especially Mali Lošinj (Italian: Lussinpiccolo) developed into health resorts due to the extraordinarily mild climate. After World War I, Lošinj became part of Italy according to the Treaty of Rapallo in 1920. After 1945 the island became part of Yugoslavia. Today, Lošinj is famous as a centre for water sports.

Veli Lošinj - Lussingrande

Veli Lošinj (Italian: Lussingrande) is situated at a narrow bay on the southeastern side of the island of Lošinj (Lussino), at the foot of the St. Ivan hill. Since the 18th century, shipyards operated here and in nearby Mali Lošinj. After Mali and Veli Lošinj became part of the Austrian Empire in 1815, both villages became famous climatic resorts due to their mild climate, mediterranian vegetation and beaches. Today Mali ('Small') Lošinj is much larger than Veli ('Grand') Lošinj, but with near 1000 inhabitants Veli Lošinj is still the third-largest settlement of this group of islands.  

The parish church of St. Anthony the Hermit [left] goes back to a chapel built around 1480, which had been enlarged in the 17th century. Today's impressive Baroque church dates from 1774. It contains the largest collection of artistic paintings in the Kvarner bay, donated to the church by generous seafarers.

Piran - Pirano

The oldest mention of Piran (Italian: Pirano) as a Byzantine settlement date back to the 7th century. Between 1283 and 1797 the town was in possession of the Republic of Venice. Especially during the Middle Ages, Piran was an important trading place for oil, wheat, wood, wine and salt. From 1797 the town belonged to the Austrian Empire almost without interruption up until 1918. After World War I Piran became part of Italy according to the Treaty of Rapallo. After World War II it became part of Yugoslavia. With the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991 it is now part of Slovenia. 

The most famous native of Piran is certainly the composer and violin virtuoso Giuseppe Tartini (1692–1770).

Portorož is situated on the Adriatic coast right next to Piran. The earliest written reports about curative uses of sea water, brine and salt pan mud at Portorož date from the 13th century. Portorož belonged to Venice until 1797 when it came under Austrian rule. It remained with Austria, with the exception of the French occupation between 1806 and 1813, until the end of World War I in 1918. After World War I Portorož became part of Italy. After World War II, it became part of Yugoslavia. Today, Portorož is one of the most popular health and sea-side resorts of Slovenia.

Pula - Pola

Pula (Italian: Pola; Slovenian: Pulj) is maybe the town with the longest history on the eastern Adriatic coast. Archeological finds in the vicinity of Pula prove that the area was inhabited already at about 40,000 B.C. During the 5th century B.C. the Histrian tribe set up a fortified settlement here. The Histri settlements were conquered by the Romans in 177 B.C. who founded a colony called Colonia Iulia Pollentia Herculanea. Under the rule of Emperor Augustus (from 30 B.C. until 14 A.D.) Pula (Pietas Iulia) was the main administrative centre of Istria and already counted 30,000 inhabitants. After the division of the old Roman Empire in the 4th century, the town was ruled in succession by Ostrogoths (493–538), Byzantium (538–788) and Frankonians. From 1331 on, Pula was ruled by the Republic of Venice. The following centuries brought a period of decline for the town; in the 17th century, there were only a few hundred inhabitants left. After the war with Napoleon, Austria obtained most of the Venetian Republic according to the Treaty of Campo Formio (today Campoformido) in 1797. From then, Pula remained part of the Austrian Monarchy until 1918 (only interrupted by Napoleonic rule between 1805 and 1814/15). After 1848, the year of the Revolution, Austria moved its military port from Venice to Pula. This marked the beginning of a most prosperous period of the town. However, as about one quarter of the population consisted of soldiers, the town had the questionable reputation of an 'intellectual Siberia'. In 1918, after the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Pula became part of Italy. At the end of World War II Pula was occupied by Yugoslav partisan troops in 1945. However, it officially became part of Yugoslavia only in 1947. Since the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991, Pula is part of the Republic of Croatia. 

Brijuni - Brioni Islands

The Brijuni (Italian: Brioni) islands are an archipelago off the west coast of Istria near Pula. The 14 small islands were still part of the main land about 10,000 years ago. Archeological finds prove that the islands were already inhabited in prehistoric times. Like Pula, the Brijuni islands became part of the Roman Empire in 177 A.D.

The popularity of the Brijuni islands in modern times started when the Austrian factory owner Paul Kupelwieser bought the islands in 1893 for 75,000 guilders and initiated the development to a sea resort. Hotels were built, grapes were planted, much of the land was remodelled by gardners, and water and electricity supplies were set up. The German bacteriologist Robert Koch was called into Brijuni to drain the swamps in order to eradicate Malaria. By this, the resort became famous throughout Europe. Probably the most well-known guests from this era were the german Emperor Wilhelm II and the Austrian successor to the throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand who met here in 1912. After World War II, the Yugoslav president Tito made the islands his personal summer residence. During that time, no public access was possible. Today, the main island of Veli Brijun is open to the public. 

  Rovinj - Rovigno

Rovinj is one of the most popular tourist places on the coast of the Istrian peninsula. Traces of human inhabitation goe back for abuot 3,000 years. The town seems to have originated some time between the 3rd and 5th century, and was first mentioned in a document from the 7th century as 'castrum Rubini'. The Romans were followed by Byzantine rulers, the Langobards, and Franconians. Around the 10th/11th century, central Istria came under the rule of german feudal families, such as the counts of Andechs who ruled the area as dukes of Meranien since 1180. In 1283 Rovinj came under Venetian rule. When central Istria, which then had been ruled by the counts of Görz (Gorizia) became part of the Austrian countries in 1374, Rovinj's importance as a Venetian port increased further. During the 16th century the town was fortified to defend itself against the Turks. When the influence of the Ottoman empire had declined, the town grew further. The small natural channel between Rovinj and the main land was filled in 1763, the island now became a peninsula. During the 17th and 18th centuries Rovinj was the strongest shipbuilding, fishing and maritime centre of Istria. Its importance, however, declined when Austria declared Fiume (Rijeka) and Trieste free ports. The Venetian rule ended in 1797 and for a few years Rovinj enjoyed self-government until it came under Austrian rule in 1805. Between 1809 and 1813 Rovinj belonged to France as part of the Illyrian Provinces. When Rovinj became Austrian again in 1813 it began to grow again as an important industrial, cultural and marine centre in Istria. After World War I Rovinj (Rovigno) belonged to Italy. During World War II Rovinj was occupied by Germany in 1943. After the Treaty of Paris in 1947 Rovinj became part of Yugoslavia (Republic of Croatia).

Jules Verne, the father of science fiction, chose Rovinj as setting for some of the chapters of his book "Mathias Sandorf" (1885).

  Trieste - Trst

Trieste (DE: Triest) is located at the Gulf of Trieste of the Adriatic Sea in northeastern Italy. By 177 BC the territory had come under control of the Roman Empire and obtained the status of a colony under Julius Caesar. Caesar also reported its name as Tergeste in his commentarii di bello gallico in 51 BC. In the 6th century Trieste became the seat of bishops, who later also were sovereign rulers of the territory between 948 and 1216. In 1382 the town voluntarily put itself under the rule of the Habsburg Duke Leopold III of Austria because it was threatened to be overwhelmed by the Republic of Venice. Except for a period of French rule in 1809–1814, Trieste remained with Austria. In 1867 it became the capital of the Austrian crown land Küstenland (Littoral), which also included the Duchy of Istria and the County of Görz (Gorizia) and Gradisca (see also map of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy). Since 1719 Trieste had been a Free Port and had become the major sea port of Austria. After World War I it formally became part of Italy in 1921. After World War II Trieste was claimed by Yugoslavia because the population included a large number of Slovene-speaking people. The town and the surrounding territory was then declared the Free Territory of Trieste in 1947. Although formally independent, the northern part (zone A) was administered by British and US forces, while the southern part (zone B) remained under control of the Yugoslav army. After the Treaty of Osimo in 1954 the free territory was dissolved; zone A with Trieste became part of Italy, while zone B became part of Yugoslavia. Today, Trieste is the largest sea port in the Adriatic Sea and is the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. Its population is about 230,000 still including a considerable Slovene minority. 

The Piazza della Borsa [left] is named for the Palazzo della Borsa Vecchia, the Old Stock Exchange [far right building]. The building was created in 1802–1806. In 1844 it became the seat of the Chamber of Commere of Trieste, while the stock exchange moved to the neighboring Palazzo del Tergesteo [centre building]. In 1928 the stock exchange finally moved to a location, a former brewery and restaurant complex, on the other side of the old stock exchange (not shown on the picture on the glass).

The centre of the Piazza della Borsa is marked by the Colonna di Leopoldo I (Column of Emperor Leopold I) [foreground].

One of the most important tourist attractions of Trieste is the Castello Miramare. The romantic castle was built in 1856–1860 on a rock promontory in the Bay of Grignano for the Austrian Archduke (Ferdinand) Maximilian, the eldest brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I. It is surrounded by an Italian-style Garden with flora (including rare species) from all over the world.

Maximilian was trained for the navy and became instrumental for the creation of the naval port of Trieste. From 1857 until the loss of Lombardy in 1859 he was regent in Milan. After that he retired to private life and mostly lived at Miramare castle. Although he resisted at first, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico with the backing of Napoleon III of France on the 10th of April 1864. During the Maxican Revolution, Maximilian was imprisoned by the Mexican Republican forces and was executed at Querétaro on the 19th of June 1867. 

Between 1931 and 1936 the castle was the home of Amedeo of Savoy, the 3rd Duke of Aosta. Amedeo became viceroy of Ethiopia in 1937 but was imprisoned by the British in 1941 and died during his imprisonment in 1942.

Since 1950 Miramare castle is open to the public as a museum.

Villa Opcina - Opčina

Villa Opicina is situated at an altitude of 329 m on the karstic plateau above the city of Trieste. The village was first mentioned in a document of 1308 (Optchena).

The church San Bartolomeo [left] is located in the centre of the town.

The obelisk [right] was erected in 1830 to commemorate the inauguration of the new road from Trieste to the Austrian hinterland.

A well-known tourist attraction is the famous tram line no.2, connecting Trieste (Piazza Oberdan) with Villa Opicina. The line was built in 1902 and included a rack section, which, however, proved to be too slow and too expensive for the traffic. In 1928, the rack section was replaced by a funicular section between Piazza Scorcola and Vetta Scorcola. The total length of the line is 5,175 m, the maximum gradient is 8%. The highest point (343 m) is the station Obelisco.

Grado - Gradež

Grado is situated on an island off the northern shore of the Adriatic Sea. The Romans used Grado (Gradus) as a port for their garrison at Aquilea. When the Huns, led by Attila, invaded the area in 452 AD, the archbishop and the population of Aquilea took refuge on the island. During the following centuries, Aquilea and Grado became rival towns. Between 727 and 827 AD, the patriarchade of Grado was officially recognized by the Roman church. In 1545, a papal decision transferred the seat of the diocese to Castello, which became the seat of the archbishops and patriarchs of Venice. After that, Grado lost its importance and remained a small fishing village. After the end of the Venetian Republic and a short period of French rule, Grado became part of Austria following the Treaty of Campoformido in 1797. At the end of the 19th century, the medical use of the sand made Grado a fashionable summer resort of the Austrian Monarchy's upper and middle class. In 1918, Grado became part of Italy. Today, Grado is again one of the most popular sea-side resorts of the northern Adriatic.

The Basilica Sant' Eufemia [background right] was consecrated in 579 AD Treasures of the church are the ancient floor mosaics of the 6th century and the pulpit, supported by six slender columns. The church was thoroughly renovated between 1939 and 1951, restoring the original ancient features of the church.

Venezia

Venice (DE: Venedig) is certainly one of the most fascinating places in Europe. It is located in the centre of the Laguna Véneta, the largest of the northern Italian lagoons. The waters on average are only 50 cm deep and are riddled with numberless islands and sandbanks. The lagoon was formed during tens of thousands of years by the rivers Sile, Brenta and Piave. Their sediments formed the extended streches of land closing the lagoon towards the Gulf of Venice. Only three openings, called 'porti', allow the exchange of water with the open sea. The historical centre of Venice developed on numerous islands in the centre of the lagoon. During the 13th century the people of Venice started to replace their wooden buildings by stone edifices. In order to build their magnificent palaces uncountable numbers of oak trees were felled at the Dalmatian coast (which since that time is largely bare of vegetation). The trees were cut into poles that were driven into the underwater ground to support the wood, brick and marble layers that served as foundations. The historic centre of Venice is composed of about 10,000 buildings, separated by 150 canals, which are spanned by 411 bridges. Venice and its lagoon were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

The early period of of the history of Venice began with Attila's Hun invasion of the mainland in 452 AD, which caused the population of the countryside to take refuge on the islands of the lagoon and augment the local population of fishermen. The first council of 12 townships in the lagoon was formed in 466. The mainland settlements were abandoned in 568 during Alboin's Lombard invasion. The election of the first Doge in 727 AD finally marks the foundation of the Republic of Venice. The settlement at Rivo Alto (Ri'Alto), the location of modern Venice, was consolidated in 810 during the invasion of king Pippin of Italy. After the turn of the first millenium, the period of expansion of the Venetian empire began. Dalmatia was conquered in 1000, follwed by the capture in 1204 of Constantinople by Venice and the 4th Crusaders, which again increased the territory of Venice in the eastern Adriatic. The period between 1255 and 1380 was marked by four wars with the rivalling republic of Genova (Genoa). During the 14th and 15th century Venice mainly expanded on the mainland (Treviso in 1339/1388, Padua, Vicenza and Verona in 1404, Aquilea and Friuli in 1418/1421, Brescia and Bergamo in 1428, Rovigo and Polesine in 1484). Constantinople was lost in to the Ottomans in 1453, but Cyprus was conquered in 1489. The discovery of America by Columbus for Spain in 1492 and the discovery of the Cape route to the East for Portugal by da Gama in 1497 marked the beginning of the period of decline of the Venetian power. The Leage of Cambrai, a confederation of the Papal States, France, Spain, Hungary and others, which was formed in 1508, inflicted a decisive defeat upon Venice in 1509. The Ottoman empire finally reconquered Cyprus in 1571, Crete in 1669, and Morea in 1716. The invasion of the French army under Napoleon in 1797 and the surrender of the Great Council of Venice on the 12th of May of that year ended the existence of the Republic of Venice after 1,070 years. Between 1815 and 1866 Venice, together with the rest of Venetia and Friuli, was part of the Austrian Kingdom of Lombardy and Venetia, which in 1859/1866 became part of Italy (see also the map of the Austrian possessions in Italy 1815–1866).

The Basilica di San Marco [left] is certainly one of the most famous landmarks of Venice. The original church on this spot was begun in 829 and was consecrated in 832 in order to enshrine the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist, which had been brought to Venice from Alexandria in Egypt. (Thereupon St. Mark replaced St. Theodore as the patron saint of the city and his attribute, the winged lion, became the official symbol of the republic.) The first basilica was destroyed during a popular revolt in 976, but was subsequently replaced by the present church, which was completed in 1071. The relisc of St. Mark had been lost in the fire of 976 but had miraculously "reappeared when the new church was consecrated in 1094". The edifice was built in Byzantine style on a ground plan of a Greek Cross surmounted by five domes. Throughout the following centuries the church was enriched by numerous artworks. The famous four bronze horses on the west façade were brought to Venice from Constantinople in 1204 during the 4th Crusade. They were originally placed in the Arsenal of Venice and were set up on the exterior of the basilica in the mid 13th century. The sculptures were removed to Paris by Napoleon, but were returned to the church in 1815. The interior of the church is decorated by numerous mosaics on gold ground, the floor is inlaid with marble and glass. The screen separating the choir and the nave holds marble statues, which count as masterpieces of Venetian Gothic sculpture. The church originally was not a cathedral but served as the Doge's chapel. It did not become a cathedral until 1807 when the seat of the patriarchs was transferred from Castello to Venice. The famous Campanile (bell tower) [not shown on the glass] was built separated from the church in the 10th century (the foundations were probably laid in 912) and originally also served as a lighthouse for ships coming into the harbour. The present tower was completed in 1173 and was adapted to its present form in the 16th century (height 99 m). It collapsed in 1902, but was rebuilt by 1912. The giant "Marangona" bell is the only one of the original five bells, which survived the collapse of 1902.

A note on the labelling on the glass: Although the glass is labelled in Italian, it is apparent that the craftsman who produced it was not familiar with the Italian language because "Chiesa S. Marco" is falsely spelled with a 'k' instead of a 'c'.  

Monte Lussari - Monte Santo di Lussari

Monte Lussari (DE: Luschariberg, Maria Luschari; SL: Lužarji, Svete Višarje) between the Valcanale (Kanaltal, Kanalska dolina) valley and the Cima del Cacciatore is the endmost elevation (1,765 m, 5,790 ft) of the Jôf Fuart group of the Julian Alps in northeastern Italy.

Since many centuries, this place has been a highly popular place of pilgrimage for people from Italy, Slovenia and Austria. The origin of the pilgrimages goes back to the year 1360 when the first chapel on this site was built on the spot where, according to the legend, a pastor from Camporosso had found a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary and Child. During the 16th century, the old chapel was replaced by a church, which, in 1788, was remodeled into a sanctuary. The campanile next to the church was built in 1807.

During World War I, the church was mostly destroyed in heavy battles since the mountain had been used as an observation post. After the war, the church was rebuilt again, side chapels were added in 1941.

The object of veneration is a small wooden statue of Our Lady dating from the Gothic period, which is attributed to an unknown Austrian artist. It is considered to be a symbol of religious unity for the three ethnic groups (Italian, German, Slovene) living together in the Valcanale.

Rab - Arbe Island

Rab is the ninth-largest island of the Adriatic sea (94 km²). In prehistoric times the Illyrian tribe of the Liburnian settled here. About 400 BC Greek colonists came to island, followed 200 years later by the Romans who built the harbour of 'Arba' for their war ships. From about the 15th century the island belonged to Venice. Between 1813 and 1918 it belonged to Austria as part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia. After the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918, a dispute over Rab/Arbe arose between Italy and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). The treaty of Rapallo (1921) settled this dispute in favour of the latter.

Rab is believed to be the birthplace of Marino, the legendary founder of the Republic of San Marino.

Gorizia - Görz

Gorizia (DE: Görz, SL: Gorica) is situated at an altitude of 84 m on the river Isonzo in northeastern Italy. It was first mentioned in a document in 1001 when Emperor Otto III divided the territory between the patriarch of Aquileia and the count of Friuli. The latter immediately assumed the title of Duke of Görz after the name of the castle (the town itself was not recognized as such until 1307). Görz came in possession of the Eppenstein family from Carinthia in 1031 and in 1090 passed to the counts of Lurn, who in 1202 also secured the territory of Aquileia. The Counts of Görz soon became a highly influential family. In 1253 Meinhard III of Görz inherited Tyrol (Meinhard I of Tyrol) as he was married to Agnes of Tyrol. Upon Meinhard's death in 1258, his countries where divided between his two sons. Albert II of Görz received Gorizia, The Puster valley (today eastern South Tyrol) and Lienz (today East Tyrol), while Meinhard II of Tyrol (IV of Görz) received the other Tyrolean areas. The main residence of the Görz line since 1271 was castle Bruck in Lienz. After the death in 1500 of the last Count of Görz, Leonhard, his territories passed to Habsburg Austria, which had inherited the possessions of the counts of Tyrol already in 1363. Apart from a period of French occupation between 1809 and 1815, Gorizia remained with Austria until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918.

During World War I, Gorizia and the surrounding Karst and Isonzo region were the scene of some of the bloddiest battles of the war. After World War II, the old town of Gorizia was excepted from the 1947 cessation of eastern Friuli to Yugoslavia. Only the eastern parts of the town with its mainly Slovene-speaking population became part of Yugoslavia (today Slovenia) as Nova Gorica. Today, Gorizia is the capital of the Gorizia province of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and has a population of about 34,000 inhabitants.

The centre of the old town is the spatious Piazza Grande, today named Piazza della Vittoria.

The square is dominated by the impressive Chiesa Sant' Ignazio. The construction of the Jesuit church began in 1654 and lasted until 1724. The final consecration only took place in 1767.

The Fontana del Nettuno in the centre of the square was created in 1756 by Marco Chiereghin from Padova.