Slovenia

I’m borrowing the title of one of the books I’ll talk about shortly to introduce this article: Slovenia, a neighbor to discover. Many of you may already be familiar with this land and its people, but there’s always something new to explore or a story waiting to be told. So, let’s uncover some curiosities together!

Back in January, I took you to Gorizia, where we also made a quick visit to Nova Gorica, eagerly anticipating the launch of GO! 2025, the year when both cities share the title of European Capital of Culture. (Did you see the unforgettable celebrations on February 8th?) It only seems fitting, then, to dedicate this month to Slovenia.

Slovenian Cuisine: A Culinary Journey

Let’s start with food—because we’ve learned that’s always a good idea! Cucina slovena. Selezione di 100 ricette classiche (Slovenian Cuisine: A Selection of 100 Classic Recipes), published in 2017 by eBesede and curated by Jože Piano, is a book that says it all in its title.

The variety of dishes is truly vast: from soups to pasta, from meat to fish, from vegetables to bread, and from salads to desserts.

Slovenia stretches from the Adriatic Sea to the Julian Alps and all the way to Hungary, and its people have always relied on farming, hunting, and fishing—preserving and enhancing their rich culinary traditions.

If you want to travel through flavors, try buckwheat with mushrooms and Prlekija’s fresh cheese cake to experience Pannonian influences. Horseradish sauce and boiled beef with potatoes will bring you closer to Ljubljana’s region. Carniolan sausage, Mohant, and Tolminc cheeses (both PDO specialties) hint at Alpine flavors, while along the coast, you’ll find Istrian brodetto and bobiči (a sweet corn soup).

Centuries of history and geography have naturally influenced Slovenian cuisine, blending elements from Italian and Austrian traditions. You’ll find tagliatelle, schnitzels, Triestine-style tripe, pumpkin soup, strudel, and bomboloni—all of which have become integral to Slovenian gastronomy.

Exploring Slovenia from a New Perspective

After feasting our eyes on these delicious culinary ideas, let’s take a deeper look at this fascinating land.

The book Slovenia, un vicino da scoprire (Slovenia, a Neighbor to Discover), published in 2003 by Società Filologica Friulana and curated by Enos Costantini, collects the proceedings of the 80th Congress of the Filological Society, which took place in Ljubljana in 2003—just months before Slovenia joined the European Union in May 2004.

The proposed contributions are each more intriguing than the last, delving into many aspects that are uniquely Slovenian, as well as many that also pertain to Friuli Venezia Giulia. They explore the geography of waters, mountains, caves, and meadows; recount history, from Emona to Aquileia, inside castles, along rivers, across borders, and through superstitions; celebrate poetry, literature, sacred and contemporary art; and honor the Slovenian language, toponymy, and linguistic influences shaped by the region’s borders.

Finally, the discussion reaches the border itself. The section “The border that wasn’t, the border that won’t be” takes us from Tarvisio to Muggia, explaining the centuries-old coexistence in these lands.

This book presents Slovenia from new and original perspectives—waiting to be discovered.

Goran Vojnović: A Literary Voice on Identity and Loss

When I began writing this article, I had no doubts about which Slovenian literary work to highlight: Goran Vojnović.

Vojnović is a young Slovenian writer and director (both theatrical and cinematic) who has been enriching his country’s cultural scene for nearly twenty years. His book, Il collezionista di paure (The Collector of Fears), published by Forum in 2023 and translated by Patrizia Raveggi, is a collection of reflections in which the author recounts pivotal moments of his life, shaped by the trauma of Yugoslavia’s dissolution.

Vojnović was a teenager when Slovenia was the first of the federal states to declare independence, followed by the others. The ensuing wars, violence, and the loss of an identity that encompassed more than just a “simple” nationality left a deep mark on him. In his books, he expresses this sense of displacement and sorrow:

            “When I speak of my homeland, I refer to an emotional geography, to a space that is both real and unreal, that partly still exists and partly does not, that disappears and reappears at the same time.” (p.18)

An intimate and courageous book, it offers a unique perspective on the past 30 years beyond the border. We may be familiar with the historical events, dates, political and military figures, wars, and massacres, but such a deep, disarming, and unconventional analysis is rare.

It is difficult, above all, because baring oneself so openly requires both courage and generosity. And if Vojnović found the strength to write and share his experiences, then we too can find the strength to read and embrace them.

Corinna Sabbadini

Books Featured:

J. Piano (a cura di), Cucina slovena. Selezione di 100 ricette classiche, eBesede, Ljubjana, 2017.
E. Costantini (a cura di), Slovenia, un vicino da scoprire, e Dobrodošli v Furlaniji (nella traduzione in sloveno), Società Filologica Friulana, Udine, 2003.
G. Vojnović, Il collezionista di paure, Forum Editrice Universitaria