The presidents of Italy and Slovenia on Saturday attended official ceremonies to inaugurate the European Capital of Culture, shared between Gorizia and Nova Gorica. In a historic first, two towns from neighbouring countries - Gorizia in northeastern Italy and Nova Gorica in western Slovenia - joined forces to share the status of European Capital of Culture 2025.

Italian president Sergio Mattarella and Slovenian president Nataša Pirc Musar attended a ceremony in Europe Square, with hundreds of artists performing in GO!25 cultural events on both sides of the border throughout the day. The prestigious title is deepy symbolic for Gorizia and Nova Gorica which, until 1947, were part of the same town.