Šmartno

About this place

Šmartno is a hilltop village in the Municipality of Brda in Slovenia's Littoral region, close to the Italian border, about 9 km northwest of Nova Gorica in a straight line. The whole village has been declared a cultural heritage monument. The village sits at the geographical centre of the Gorizia Hills, on a hilltop ringed by defensive walls. Its history goes back to Roman times, and it was first recorded as Sanctus Martinus in 1317. It takes its name from its church, dedicated to Saint Martin. Inside the walls, pale stone houses with wooden shutters press together along narrow cobbled lanes that open onto a small square under a stone bell tower, while round defensive towers and an old gate stand on the walls. Around the village the Brda hills, covered in vineyards and orchards, roll to the horizon. Visitors enter through the gate in the walls, wander the lanes and stand at the edges for views over the hills. The area is known for its vineyards and fruit trees, sunset over the hills is a highlight, and autumn is harvest time.