RAŠTEL / RASTELLO STREET

SLO

Ime ulice Raštel izhaja iz srednjeveškega zapornega sistema – železnih vrat v obliki grabelj (rastrello v italijanščini), ki so se ob mraku spuščala in tako ločevala utrjeni grajski predel mesta od okoliškega podeželja. Prav zaradi te zapornice je ulica dobila svoje ime. 

Zgornji del Raštela je najstarejši. Spodnji del ulice se je razvil v 17. stoletju, ko so se tam začele pojavljati stavbe z notranjimi dvorišči in značilnimi nadstropnimi balkoni, ki gledajo vanje. Na ulici so vedno delovale številne trgovine, delavnice in obrtniki. V 19. stoletju je bil promet še posebej živahen – v jutranjih konicah so ulico preplavile množice ljudi, vozovi in kasneje tudi tramvaj. Kupci so prihajali celo iz soške in vipavske doline, ki sta bili takrat še del goriške pokrajine. Trgovski utrip ulice se je ohranil tudi v novejšem času – v 80. letih 20. stoletja je bil Raštel še vedno živahna trgovska ulica, polna trgovin in kupcev iz vsepovsod.

~ 1910 - Gorica pod Avstro-Ogrsko monarhijo
Vir: Fond Giovanni Viola

Sledovi tistega časa so še danes vidni v številnih nekdanjih trgovinah in gostilnah, ki kljub spremembam ohranjajo izvirne izložbe, napise in celo del pohištva. Raštel je bil že v 18. stoletju srce goriškega trgovskega dogajanja in ta duh se v njem zadržuje še danes – čeprav je danes trgovski promet skromen, ostaja ulica pomemben spomenik preteklosti.

Med prvo svetovno vojno je imela ulica tudi strateški pomen. Od avgusta 1916 je predstavljala eno glavnih poti italijanskih čet, ki so se po njej premikale proti novemu bojišču na črti Sv. Mark–Vrtojba. V začetku leta 1917 so Italijani nasproti današnje Kočevske ulice (Via Cocevia), prvotnega judovskega geta v mestu, vzpostavili vojaški naan imprint of Springer Nature Switzerland, nadzorno točko – eno izmed mnogih v mestu.

Danes se Raštel počasi spreminja v kulturno ulico – prostor srečevanja, razstav, dogodkov in umetniških pobud, ki skušajo vdahniti novo življenje starodavni mestni osi. Na začetku ulice, ob vznožju grajskega griča, stoji bronast kip Carla Michelstaedterja, goriškega filozofa, pesnika in slikarja. Postavljen je bil leta 2010 ob stoletnici njegove smrti, prav tam, kjer se Raštel dviga proti gradu.

ENG

The name of the street, via Rastello / Raštel, originates from a medieval barrier system – iron gates in the shape of a rake (rastrello in Italian), which were lowered at dusk to separate the fortified castle area from the surrounding countryside.  

The upper part of via Rastello is the oldest. The lower section of the street developed in the 17th century, when buildings with inner courtyards and characteristic upper-floor balconies facing inwards began to appear. The street has always been home to numerous shops, workshops and artisans. In the 19th century, it was particularly bustling – during the morning rush hour, it would be filled with crowds of people, carts and, later on, even a tram. Shoppers came from the wider region, including the Soča and Vipava valleys, which at the time were still part of the Gorizia province. The commercial spirit of the street continued well into modern times – in the 1980s, via Rastello was still a lively shopping street, full of stores and customers from near and far.

Traces of that era can still be seen today in the many former shops and inns, which despite changes have preserved their original shopfronts, signage and even some of the furnishings. Already in the 18th century, Rastello was the heart of Gorizia’s commercial life – and that spirit still lingers today. Although commercial activity is now modest, the street remains an important monument to the past.

During the First World War, the street also held strategic importance. From August 1916 onwards, via Rastello served as one of the main routes for Italian troops moving towards the new front line between Sv. Mark and Vrtojba. In early 1917, the Italians established a military checkpoint opposite what is now Via Cocevia – the site of the town’s original Jewish ghetto – one of many such checkpoints throughout the city. 

Today, via Rastello is gradually being transformed into a cultural street – a place of encounters, exhibitions, events and artistic initiatives aimed at breathing new life into this ancient urban axis. At the beginning of the street, at the foot of the castle hill, stands a bronze statue of Gorizian philosopher, poet and painter Carlo Michelstaedter. It was erected in 2010 on the centenary of his death, right where Rastello begins its ascent towards the castle.