We, the Slovenes in Italy

The Slovenian community in Italy has always been an inseparable part of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Slovenes began settling in this area in the 6th century AD, and Slovenian presence here is confirmed by several manuscripts dating back to the 9th century. Over the centuries, we Slovenians in this 200-kilometer vertical strip have shaped a social system that has been able to adapt with great awareness to all social and historical challenges.
The current image of Slovenes in Italy is extremely rich, vibrant, and vital, as demonstrated by the content of this publication. The system in which we live is stretched between two countries, two languages, and two societies, which we connect daily and together create a unique image of the geographic area in which we live.
The independence and democratization of Slovenia, along with its integration into the common European space, have brought new opportunities for development to this part of Europe, at the border between the Slavic and Romance worlds. We Slovenes living in Italy are also trying to take advantage of these opportunities with the aim of continuing to be important co-creators of this space, while also remaining faithful to the values that history, not always kind, has carved into us.