Remembering Stanko Radikon 

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Oslavia is one of the most soulful, evocative places in Italy. The road from Gorizia winds up slowly into the hillsides. The signs are in both Italian and Slovenian, as they are in many places along the border that was once dotted with checkpoints. Pretty soon, the huge war memorial comes into view on the left, a poignant reminder of the blood that was shed here during World War I, when these hillsides, lined with trenches, saw bitter fighting and devastating losses. A bit further up the vista opens up and the scenery becomes more bucolic as vineyards come into view. To the right, Slovenia looks like it is a stone’s throw away. In fact, most cell phones pick up the Slovenian carriers from here. A few more twists and turns lead to the Radikon estate. It was there that I met Stanko Radikon many times over the years.