Welcome! You’re sitting on the History Bench!

Next to you is a work by Stefano Comelli, inspired by history and by the ancient gate that once stood here, giving the street its current name.
Via Rastello takes its name from the “rastrello” ( rastellus or ristiel in Friulian): in medieval times, a gate marked the boundary between the village at the foot of the Castle and the surrounding countryside.
In this video, the sculptor shares the creative process and the motivations that guided him in creating the artwork.

We have also chosen to associate this bench with a prominent historical figure of Gorizia: Count Leonardo, the last descendant of the noble Gorizia family (also known as the Mainardinis).
You can learn more about his story through a video inspired by his life, a brief biography, and a selection of resources.

And now, a few words about the “Narrating Benches” project, created by Confcommercio Gorizia for the initiative Borgo Castello. A thousand years of history at the heart of Europe.
Each of these benches is a piece of urban art and a precious chest that holds fragments of history, traditions, sounds, colors, and tales from Borgo Castello and the Gorizia region.
Imagine, for a moment, the city as a rich tapestry of threads and hues: each bench represents one motif, chosen for its importance and uniqueness.
The themes? History, Nature, Craftsmanship, and Food and Wine.

Explore the contents of this page and stroll through the Borgo in search of the other benches! One is behind you in Piazza Vittoria.
To find the others, we advise you to go all the way down Via Rastello and up to the Leopoldina Gate of the Castle, walking down Viale Gabriele D’Annunzio.

The Artist Speaks: Where Inspiration is Born

Stefano Comelli

Once Upon a Time: Leonardo, the Last Count of Gorizia

Leonardo was born in 1444, the last descendant of the noble dynasty of the Counts of Gorizia. Raised in a military environment, he received the education befitting a northern nobleman: he learned the art of warfare, leadership, and discipline. He had a deep love for hunting and never hesitated to flaunt his rank—vain and fully aware of his status, he often dressed in a bold, ostentatious style all his own.
He married twice; his second marriage, in 1478, was to Paola Gonzaga, daughter of the Marquis of Mantua and Barbara of Brandenburg. Paola was young, intelligent, and had grown up in one of the most refined and cultured courts of Renaissance Italy.
Cultural, linguistic, and age differences—along with Paola’s fragile health—made their marriage a distant and fragile union. They had only one daughter, who died in infancy—a tragedy that extinguished Leonardo’s hopes of continuing the dynasty.
During his rule, Leonardo defended the County of Gorizia from the expansionist ambitions of the Republic of Venice. Despite the challenges, he maintained a strong alliance with the Empire and with Maximilian I of Habsburg, whom he regarded as a natural ally against Venetian pressure.
Leonardo died on April 12, 1500, and just five days later, on April 17, the County of Gorizia was officially annexed to the Habsburg domains.
He was buried in the parish church of Lienz, where Maximilian had a funerary monument erected in his honor. In Gorizia as well, a tribute to the Count can still be admired: in the city’s Cathedral, in the Chapel of the Sacrament, stands the cenotaph of Leonardo—the last Count of Gorizia.

Video created using the rotoscope technique by Armando “Miron” Polacco.