Cattedrale dei Santi Ilario e Taziano

Church, in front of which, instead of a parking lot, a small square has been made complete with a "fountain !!"

It was rebuilt after the First World War. Of no artistic interest.

The Cathedral of Gorizia is dedicated to the patrons of the city S.Ilario and Taziano is a very beautiful church.At the central altar there are beautiful marble sculptures made by a certain Pacassi. From the chapel of S. Acazio through a short staircase you can access the tombs of the bishops of the city. In front of the church, the square has been redone making the whole thing even more valuable. Masses on Sundays are: 9 am --- 11.30 am ------ 7 pm. For me this part of my city I call it "My little ancient world"

I am not going to describe the beauty of the Church to which I returned yesterday, after years of absence, to attend the Holy Mass at 11:30, because you can read everywhere. I speak rather of the atmosphere, which is breathed during the celebration. Crowded church (incredible in these times!) The celebration was beautiful, the songs were beautiful, the general organization was beautiful, with the children sitting in the front row, followed by a young nun. I remembered that, when I was a child, it was the Pauline Sisters who carried out this service. I also liked that the parish priest Don Nicola, together with the altar boys who came out in the procession, greeted the faithful in the churchyard. Unfortunately, the refurbishment of the square in front has eliminated many parking spaces (only one for the disabled).

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Hilary and Taziano Martiri is the main place of Catholic worship in the city of Gorizia, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the bishopric of the metropolitan archdiocese of the same name. In the first centuries of its history, after 1001, at least from the point of from a religious point of view, Gorizia depended on the parish church of Salcano, then Castrum Syliganum, today Solkan, a suburb of Nova Gorica in Slovenia. This village was probably the heir of a Roman post, which was then used throughout the Middle Ages; in turn the parish was headed by the Patriarchate of Aquileia. With the increase in the prerogatives of Gorizia, which from a “villa” as it was mentioned in 1001, obtained the right to hold a weekly market in 1210 and then citizens' rights in 1307, the ecclesiastical importance of the settlement also increased. From the 13th century Salcano had a vicar who took care of Gorizia, in 1398 the church of Santo Spirito was erected near the castle, in the 15th century there was talk of a plebs de Salcan alias Goricia, in 1455 the parish of Santi Ilario was established and Taziano, to arrive at the end of the century, when the documents report plebs de Goritia. At this point the problem of a seat worthy of all these offices arose: a land was chosen to the south of today's Piazza Cavour, which at the time was called the Municipality, which overlooked this square, and also housed the aforementioned weekly market. On this land - already ecclesiastical property - not a single building arose, to tell the truth, but, according to Sergio Tavano's definition, “a true constellation of religious buildings”. Of these, the main was the one dedicated to Sant'Ilario, second bishop of Aquileia and martyr. Not much is known about this building, except that it must have been where the present presbytery is, which already existed in 1314 and that in 1342 the patriarch Bertrando granted Albert II, Count of Gorizia to build an altar there. A chapel dedicated to Sant'Anna was built next to this church in 1365, of which little remains because it was partly demolished in 1866 to make way for a road.

Beautiful church, both the facade and the interior kept well, and the square in front. Free entry. It is also possible to visit a nativity scene at Christmas and the altar and part of the mezzanine floor.

CATHEDRAL OF GORIZIA In 1455 the parish of Saints Titian and Ilario was established in Gorizia. The church, better known as the Duomo of Gorizia, was recognized by the Ministry of Architectural Heritage of Friuli Venezia Giulia for its historical, cultural, artistic and architectural interest. The current building was built between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In 1497 a sculpture representing the last count of Gorizia, Leonardo (now the original is located in Lienz where Count Leonardo is buried). Between 1682 and 1702 the church underwent a radical makeover in the Baroque style. In 1751 the Patriarchate of Aquileia was suppressed, and by then the Cathedral of Gorizia became the seat of the archbishop. Part of the treasure of the church of Aquileia was brought to Gorizia. During the First World War Gorizia was bombed and the cathedral church suffered a lot of damage. In 1928 it was rebuilt and returned to worship, the fact is remembered by a plaque located outside the church, on the left side. In the church of the Duomo there is a reproduction of the famous painting of the Madonna del Monte Santo. This painting has a little story about me: during the Second World War I I lived in Gargaro, a town at the foot of Monte Santo. On September 8, 1943, negotiations for the armistice began. From that date, the Italian troops in disarray began to withdraw from the Bainsizza plain. On the same day the Tito troops entered the Gargaro area. Given the bad situation, my parents decided to leave the country and move to Gorizia. The monks of Monte Santo often went to Gargaro for their needs and they knew my family well in which they placed the utmost trust. When we decided to leave the country, they gave us the painting of the Madonna, begging us to take care of it until the possibility arose to deliver it, in complete safety, to the Curia of Gorizia. So at the opportune moment we sent it to the Bishop. After the end of the war the painting was returned to the Sanctuary of Monte Santo, where it can still be admired. Cav. Sergio Pacori.