Exploration of nature and culture of Kras and Brkini under way
Sežana, 22 April - More than 20 events have been organised as part of a month-long festival at which visitors to Kras and Brkini will learn more about the nature and culture of this south-western part of the country through hiking, lectures and culinary events. Kraška Gmajna, or Kras Common, will run between 22 April and 20 May.
Dutovlje
The town of Dutovlje in the heart of Kras region on the west of the country.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
File photo
Kras is widely known for its red Teran wine, traditionally made dried proscuitto and white Lipizzan horses, and Brkini boasts apples and the škoromati carnival costumes.
Visitors to the area will be able to taste local food, learn about plants and animals indigenous to Kras and Brkini, and be immersed in the traditional folk wisdom.
The festival is organised by the Kras and Brkini Regional Development Agency in collaboration with a number of partners to promote tourism.
Katja Kralj, head of the Kras and Brkini destination, invited visitors to "explore the uniqueness of our region, experience the landscape that is full of life and kind people, and taste local dishes" during the spring segment of the annual festival.
The festival is opening today in Sežana with Villa, Garden and Wine where visitors will have an opportunity to explore Mirasasso Villa and its Botanical Gardens, and make a stop at Vinakras's wine cellar.
As part of a hike around the town of Kobjeglava, hikers will learn about herbs and socialise around a campfire in the evening, while Luka Kristanc will speak about medicinal plants from Kras and the coast in Rodik.
Among the events are also a cycling tour around Kras near the city of Nova Gorica, a workshop of dry stone walling and the screening of a documentary about the Kras Common before the festival concludes with the Days of Kras Common Goodies.
There will be more similar events in the region of Kras in May as Vilenica Cave marks 390 years of tourism and the cross-border Geopark Kras-Carso Park project offers hikes on both sides of the Slovenian-Italian border. The town of Hrpelje will meanwhile organise a mountain bike race to Mt Slavnik.