The town of Nova Gorica lies on the western national border between the Republic of Slovenia and Italy. Nova Gorica emerged only after World War II. A decision to build a larger town in the western region of Slovenia was born in 1948. In the following months and years it was youth brigades from the entire former Yugoslavia that started to build the new town. The first buildings included the so-called Russian blocks of flats, the municipal building, and a skyscraper. Eventually, larger residential areas with blocks of flats emerged, along with a number of new buildings including the house of culture (Kulturni dom) and a commercial facility (Trgovska hiša). The area between these two, together with Bevk Square which is today a pedestrian-only zone, evolved into the social centre of Nova Gorica. Over the past couple of years, Nova Gorica has strengthened its position of the regional capital also through the abundant France Bevk Public Library Nova Gorica, the new Slovene National Theatre, and a number of higher education institutions and University of Nova Gorica. A particular feature of the town is its greenery. The population of the town is about 13,000, and that of the municipality about 31,900. The unique advantage of Nova Gorica is its position by the border with Italy. Together with its neighbour town of Gorizia with a population of 35,000, the couple stand for two towns without border crossings, which are increasingly intertwined in terms of their economic as well as other activities (Source: the official website of the Municipality of Nova Gorica; www.nova-gorica.si).
Šempeter pri Gorici which is the urban centre of the Municipality of Šempeter-Vrtojba lies near the vital transport route, connecting Nova Gorica with the Soča Valley, and the Vipava Valley with Italy. The town emerged from a rural settlement, developing rapidly immediately after World War II when it became, as Gorica/Gorizia had been awarded to Italy, the administrative and industrial centre of the region. Later, those roles were reassumed by the newly established Nova Gorica, though Šempeter remains the second most important employment centre in the Goriška region. The town is a home base for many enterprises and a number of public institutions, one of the most prominent being the Franc Derganc general hospital which is the core health institution for the whole region (Source: the official website of the Municipality of Šempeter-Vrtojba; www.sempeter-vrtojba.si/intro).
The newly emerged Municipality of Renče-Vogrsko seceded from the Municipality of Nova Gorica in 2006. The municipality homes quite a number of companies and freelancers, which combined provide over 1,000 jobs. The Municipality of Renče-Vogrsko lies in the border area between the Vipava Valley and Karst. The wonderful unspoiled nature is home to kind and simple people, each of whom writes their own story – story from the valley. They are eager to share them with anyone that wants to be part of their community. The quiet countryside is a great setting for tourists who wish to spend their short vacation amid a variety of things to do or see. You can go hiking in the nearby hills or hiking trails or just stroll among the vineyards. You might go cycling or horseback riding. History lovers can go to see monuments, cemeteries or bunkers along the front lines from World Wars I and II. Nature lovers can enjoy the varied forest fauna and flora. Fishermen may enjoy a fishing adventure on the Vipava River or Lake Vogršček. There are even Ancient Roman remains in the village called Bukovica. Friendly locals offer visitors a wide selection of their produce, products or services, leaving each one finding something for themselves. Wine makers in the area offer various wines which you can buy to take home or agree on a wine-tasting event. Beehive keepers will introduce you to a wide range of honey and beeswax products. You can buy fruits, vegetables, goat milk products, young plants for your garden, natural fruit juices, local spirits and much more. And there are also many accommodation options to choose from (Source: the official website of the Municipality of Renče-Vogrsko; www.rence-vogrsko.si).