Alessandro Barbero in Kobarid

"Kobarid 1917. Lecture About a Battle": Alessandro Barbero presents the history of the Battle of Caporetto in 1917.

"Kobarid 1917. Lecture About a Battle"

Alessandro Barbero presents the history of the Battle of Caporetto in 1917.

In 2025, as Nova Gorica and Gorizia share the title of European Capital of Culture, a remarkable historical event will take place on 27 September 2025 in Kobarid. Renowned Italian historian Alessandro Barbero will deliver a live talk reconstructing the famous Battle of Kobarid (1917), where Austro-Hungarian and German forces broke through Italian lines within hours. With over 12,000 dead, 30,000 wounded and 300,000 captured, the battle left a lasting mark on the shared memory of Italy and Slovenia.

Barbero, author of the acclaimed book Caporetto (2017), will present this dramatic turning point of World War I not only as a military event, but also as a reflection of the social and political landscape of Italy at the time. He is widely admired for his clear, compelling storytelling style that resonates with audiences of all ages.

The event will be introduced by Janko Petrovec – theatre actor, award-winning journalist, and long-time RTV Slovenia correspondent from Rome. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of Radio Koper. The lecture will be delivered in Italian with simultaneous translation into Slovene.

Please note that tickets for the main event area, under a tensile structure (at Manfredova ulica), are no longer available.

For those who were unable to obtain tickets, a large screen will be set up in Trg svobode square in Kobarid, where it will be possible to watch the event live with subtitles. Admission is free, until the square reaches maximum capacity.

More information: https://www.estoria.it/event/caporetto-1917-lettura-di-una-battaglia/

On this occasion, as part of the accompanying programme, local food, drinks, and artisanal products will be available at stalls set up along Gregorčičeva and Manfredova streets from 12:00 to 22:00.

Throughout the weekend, the Fundacija Pot miru (Walk of Peace Foundation) will also offer guided tours of the Italian Charnel House, the Kobarid Museum, the Kolovrat Open-Air Museum, as well as a guided experience titled The Story of a Soldier from the Isonzo Front. The full schedule of guided tours and booking instructions is available here: https://www.thewalkofpeace.com/sl/locationsearchcriteria/poletje-jesen/