Few foreigners have heard of Gorizia, a city of around 35,000 inhabitants that straddles the Italian-Slovenian border. A beguiling mix of Italian, Austrian and Balkan influences, it seems to exist in its own whimsical snowglobe, cut off from the rest of the country.

Despite its fascinating history, beautiful architecture and unique cuisine, the city has struggled to brand itself in Italy’s saturated tourist market. But Gorizia’s brand is its very uniqueness. A city that - more than any other - exemplifies the complex history and cultural ambiguity of Italy’s border regions.