San Dorligo della Valle-Dolina
San Dorligo della Valle: a municipality between past and present
San Dorligo della Valle is a municipality of about 5,686 inhabitants located in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The territory of this place is characterized by the presence of the Breg valley, which extends into Istria, as well as a smaller part that develops on the Karst plateau. Let's discover together the history and curiosities of San Dorligo della Valle!
## Origin of the Name
The name of the municipality was unified in the 1920s by combining the Italian and Slovenian denominations of the capital. "Dolina" in Slovenian means "valley" or "depression", while the second part of the name is the Italian translation. The current name is a choice of the fascist period, when it was decided to restore the medieval name in honor of the patron saint of the place, St. Ulrich.
## History
### Antiquity
Human presence in the municipal territory dates back to prehistory, but the first stable settlements of a certain size are due to the culture of the Istrians. This is a presence that is documented by the majestic castellieri of Mount San Michele and Mount Carso, which rose to guard the mouth of the Val Rosandra.
Furthermore, there are important historical testimonies that demonstrate that the battle that initially saw the Romans defeated during the first Istrian campaign took place precisely on the municipal territory. The following year after the aforementioned battle, the Romans returned in force, conquering the entire peninsula, including the territory currently administered by the Municipality of San Dorligo della Valle.
During this period, the fertile valley was richly cultivated with vines and olive trees, and numerous are the renovations that testify to this. In fact, there were several Roman villas and some necropolises on the territory, while the Roman aqueduct of the Val Rosandra, which supplied fresh water to the Roman colony of Tergestum, is well preserved.
### Middle Ages
The crisis of the Roman Empire also hit these lands hard, and the inhabitants of the settlements in the territory took refuge in fortified cities. During the reforestation period, the territory underwent a new change of dominion, first passing to the Ostrogoths, who ruled for almost a century, and then to the Byzantine reconquest.
## Cultural Aspects
San Dorligo della Valle still preserves numerous treasures of the past, such as the two natural parks that extend on the hills near the municipality. In particular, the natural park of Val Rosandra offers the opportunity to undertake interesting naturalistic excursions, both on foot and by bike.
Furthermore, the municipality boasts several festivities that recall the local tradition, such as the feast of St. George, the patron saint of the local parish. The festival is celebrated every year in April, with the characteristic equestrian procession through the streets of the village.
Conclusion
San Dorligo della Valle is a municipality that preserves an ancient but still alive history and culture. Its geographical position, between the Karst plateau and Istria, offers the opportunity to discover a territory of great historical and naturalistic value.
