Ajdovščina | |
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Ajdovščina
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Location in Slovenia | |
Coordinates: 45°53′14.6″N 13°54′5.2″E / 45.887389°N 13.901444°ECoordinates: 45°53′14.6″N 13°54′5.2″E / 45.887389°N 13.901444°E | |
Country | Slovenia |
Traditional region | Littoral |
Statistical region | Gorizia |
Municipality | Ajdovščina |
Area | |
• Total | 7.0 km2 (2.7 sq mi) |
Elevation | 106 m (348 ft) |
Population (2012) | |
• Total | 6,676 |
• Density | 960/km2 (2,500/sq mi) |
Climate | Cfa |
Website |
Ajdovščina (pronounced [ˈaːi̯dɔu̯ʃtʃina]; Italian: Aidussina,German: Haidenschaft) is a small town with a population of about 6,700, located in the Vipava Valley (Vipavska dolina), Slovenia. It is the administrative centre of the Municipality of Ajdovščina.
The first mentions of Ajdovščina go back to circa 2000 BC. In the Bronze Age and the Iron Age a fortified settlement stood on the nearby hill of Gradišče. In the early period of the Roman Empire, after a road was built from Aquileia towards Emona, a small post and goods station known as mansio Fluvio Frigido stood on the site of today's Ajdovščina.
In the late 3rd century and the early 4th century a fortification system, Claustra Alpium Iuliarum, which run from the Kvarner Gulf to Cividale, was built by the Roman Empire. Its centre was the fortress of Castra or Castrum ad Fluvio Frigido, the remains of which are today still visible in Ajdovščina.
Despite the fact that the Italian border is less than 20 km away and that Ajdovščina was under Italian administration from 1918 to 1947, and from 1927 as a commune of the Province of Gorizia (as Aidussina), during Italian rule (1918–1943, nominally lasted to 1947), the style of the town does not resemble that of a typical Italian town. The strong bora winds would cause damage to the usual Italian house construction. Thus the population adopted and modified the classical Karst architecture for their own needs; for example, by putting stones on roofs to weight down the tiles against the strong winds.