Sežana

Infobox Settlement
name = Sežana
official_name =
native_name =
other_name =
nickname =
settlement_type = Town
total_type =
motto =

imagesize = 300px
image_caption = Sežana main street


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =Wappen Sezana si.pngshield_size =60px
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
blank_emblem_size =


mapsize =
map_caption = Location of the Municipality of Sežana in Slovenia


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
image_dot_

dot_mapsize =
dot_map_caption =
dot_x = |dot_y =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = left
pushpin_map_caption =Location of the city of Sežana in Slovenia
pushpin_mapsize =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =flag|Slovenia
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Sežana
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
subdivision_type3 =
subdivision_name3 =
subdivision_type4 =
subdivision_name4 =
seat_type =
seat =
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =Mayor
leader_name =Davorin Terčon|leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
leader_title2 =
leader_name2 =
leader_title3 =
leader_name3 =
leader_title4 =
leader_name4 =
established_title =
established_date =
established_title1 =
established_date1 =
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
founder =
named_for =
area_magnitude =
unit_pref =Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 =217.4
area_land_km2 =
area_water_km2 =
area_total_dunam =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_blank1_title =
area_blank1_km2 =
area_blank1_sq_mi =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
elevation_max_m =
elevation_max_ft =
elevation_min_m =
elevation_min_ft =
population_as_of =2002
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total =11,842
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =
population_metro =
population_density_metro_km2 =
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
population_urban =
population_density_urban_km2 =
population_density_urban_sq_mi =
population_blank1_title =males
population_blank1 =5,800
population_blank2_title =female
population_blank2 =6,042
population_density_blank1_km2 =
population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
timezone =
utc_offset =
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
coor_type =
latd=45 |latm=42|lats= |latNS=N
longd=13|longm=52|longs= |longEW=E
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
blank_name =Average age
blank_info =39.4 years
blank1_name =Residential areas
blank1_info = convert|34.82|m2|sqft|abbr=on/person
blank2_name =Households
blank2_info =4264
blank3_name =Families
blank3_info =3350
website = [http://www.sezana.si/ Official site]
footnotes = Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, census of 2002.

Sežana ( _it. Sesana) is a town and a municipality in the Karst region of western Slovenia, near the border with Italy. According to the census of 2002, it has a population of 11,842, of which around 4,500 live in the town of Sežana and the rest in the neighbouring rural areas.

Sežana is located about 10 km from Trieste, Italy, and 80 km from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. In the past, a large border crossing between Slovenia and Italy was located in the village of Fernetiči, but it has been opened since December 21st 2007, when Slovenia joined the Schengen zone, ending the need for passport and customs checks between the two countries.

History

:"see also Gorizia and Gradisca, Austrian Littoral, Julian MarchSlavic tribes, ancestors of modern Slovenes, first settled the area in the late 6th century A.D. In the Middle Ages, the area belonged to the Duchy of Friuli and the Patriarchate of Aquileia, until it was conquered by the Counts of Gorizia in the 14th century. In 1500, it fell under the Habsburg dominion and it was included in the County of Gorizia and Gradisca.

Sežana remained a small and rather unsignificant village until mid 19th century, when the Austrian Southern Railway, connecting Vienna to Trieste, was built next to it. Sežana thus became connected to the major traffics and soon emerged as the most important center on the Kras Plateau, together with Opčine. After 1918, it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy and included in the Province of Trieste. During the Fascist period, the population was subjected to a violent Italianization policy, and many locals joined the militant anti-fascist organization TIGR. During World War Two, especially after 1943, the area was became a battlefield bewteen the Partisan resistance and the Fascist and Nazi German forces. In May 1945, Sežana was liberated by the Yugoslav partisans. Between June 1945 and September 1947, it was administered by the British and U.S. Army. In 1947, it became part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in 1991 of independent Slovenia.

Economy

Many impornant industrial enterprises are located in Sežana, including companies as Mitol, Jadran, Goldclub, Alfastreet, and Kraški zidar, as well as many smaller enterprises. Sežana is also a center for the tourist industry. Its excellent location between Ljubljana, Trieste, and the Adriatic coast and many important tourist sights in the vicinity, such as the world famous Lipica studfarm, Postojna Cave, Škocjan Caves, Vilenica and the fortified village of Štanjel, make Sežana an attractive tourist destination.

Sežana is also an important agricultural center.

Sights

Many things can be also seen in the city: there is a botanical park, a memorial room commemorating the poet Srečko Kosovel and a tourist trail from Sežana to Tomaj dedicated to the poet, and the Tabor nature trail. The Lipica studfarm is also located in the municipality, as are several pitoresque villages.

Towns and villages

Avber, Bogo, Brestovica pri Povirju, Brje pri Koprivi, Dane pri Sežani, Dobravlje, Dol pri Vogljah, Dolenje, Dutovlje, Filipčje Brdo, Godnje, Gorenje pri Divači, Gradišče pri Štjaku, Gradne, Grahovo Brdo, Griže, Hribi, Jakovce, Kazlje, Kopriva, Kosovelje, Krajna vas, Kregolišče, Kreplje, Križ, Krtinovica, Lipica, Lokev, Mahniči, Majcni, Merče, Nova vas, Orlek, Plešivica, Pliskovica, Podbreže, Poljane pri Štjaku, Ponikve, Povir, Prelože pri Lokvi, Pristava, Ravnje, Razguri, Raša, Sela, Selo, Senadolice, Sežana, Skopo, Stomaž, Tabor, Tomaj, Tublje pri Komnu, Utovlje, Veliki Dol, Veliko Polje, Voglje, Vrabče, Vrhovlje, Šepulje, Šmarje pri Sežani, Štjak, Štorje and Žirje.

Famous natives and residents

*Avgust Černigoj, painter;
*Danilo Dolci, social activist;
*Taras Kermauner, literary historian and philosopher;
*Srečko Kosovel, poet;
*Ciril Zlobec, poet.

Twin cities

* Rab, Croatia
* Gevgelija, Republic of Macedonia

External links

* [http://www.sezana.si/ Sežana] , official page of municipality (in Slovenian)
* [http://www.mestosezana.tk/ The town of Sezana] , about the town of Sezana