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AN ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE IRON CURTAIN
just north of Solkan, once a village and now a suburb to Nova Gorica. The
border runs through urban areas, in and around the two towns of Gorizia
and Nova Gorica, and rural areas. The border passes through industrial
areas, agricultural areas, woodlands and steep cliffs. The character of the
landscape changes but the white border stones persist along the route.
Although the white border stones have stayed consistent since the border
was established after World War II the character of the border areas has
changed considerably. These areas, at least on the Yugoslavian side, used to
be under high surveillance. In some areas, such as urban areas, fences and
barriers were used to help guard the border. As time went on and
requirements changed, so did the materiality of the border. So are there any
traces of these changing landscapes visible to us today
In the company of saints and bunkers
The road to the top of Mount Sabotino/Sabotin twists and turns up a steep
incline like a serpent, climbing higher with every bend. Thick woodlands
cover large areas but at times the landscape opens up to reveal some
extensive views before the road becomes enclosed by woodland again. Small
villages surrounded by farmed terraces are dotted along the road. To get
from the town of Nova Gorica to these hill settlements you have to cross
Italian territory. A road corridor was built here in 1985 to aid access before
which people had to go around the other side of the mountain making the
road substantially longer. A section of the Slovenian hinterland was cut off
after World War II by a barrier of Italian territory making it highly remote.
Only after the Treaty of Osimo was signed in 1975 could negotiations of a
road corridor through Italian territory start. Although it took several years
for these negotiations to be finalised, ironing out issues such as how to deal
with accidents or breakdowns within the road corridor, it was finally
opened to traffic in 1985 (Figure 22). Still today this road is completely cut
off from the surrounding landscape by high concrete walls on both sides
making it impossible to divert at any point until inside Slovenian territory.
The purpose of this corridor is to get people from one side to the other with
no distractions. The high walls on the side allows no views into the surrounding
landscape but channels sight as well as movement straight ahead
through the corridor to Slovenian territory on the other side. No stopping is
allowed. This whole section of road is, in fact, completely designed to move
people along and only once inside Slovenian territory does the landscape
open up, again allowing for views and free movement.
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