Lost in the embrace of Val Rosandra is Draga a place where history clings to the rocks themselves. Draga Sant’Elia is its traditional Italian name. Draga in Slovenian simply means valley.
Here in Draga we stand near the Slovenian border a hamlet steeped in history. It was once a village of farmers and herders. The only road from the plateau to the sea ran through here. Imagine the clip-clop of hooves and the rumble of carts. They carried goods and people to and from Trieste.
Once, the castle of the Fünfenberg family stood guard. The Fünfenbergs were lords of Vicemburgo and vassals of the Counts of Gorizia. They extracted tolls from those passing through. A drawbridge or a steep path from Bottazzo gave access.
This castle became known as the Tabor of Draga. It served as a refuge for centuries especially during Turkish invasions in the 1400s. Twice it was plundered by Venetians during wars against Austria. This occurred in 1508 and again in 1616.
The Habsburg Empire transformed the castle into a customs office. This was after the threat of barbarian invasions ended. Sadly Napoleon’s troops destroyed it in the 1800s. Some furnishings and emblems moved to Mocò Castle. Today only a few traces of the castle remain.
In 1887 the Trieste-Erpelle railway opened. This single-track line provided an alternative route to Vienna. It ran through Draga. The station was named S.Elia. This was after the nearby parish church now in Slovenia. From then on the village adopted the name Draga Sant’Elia.
Today the old railway is the Giordano Cottur cycle path. This is a 15-kilometer route. It runs from Trieste to Kozina near Erpelle in Slovenia. It offers stunning views bridges tunnels and forests.
Draga’s surroundings hide many caves. Prehistoric civilizations once lived in them. Draga a place of refuge a place of passage a place of ancient echoes. The stones beneath our feet whisper tales of sieges and survival. Let us remember the resilience of those who sought shelter within its embrace.