languages
Surprisingly Slovene isn't spoken much in Gorizia unlike the towns which surround Trieste. However across the border in Nova Gorica you'll find many people who speak Slovene, Italian and English.
what to buy
As with most Italian cities you'll notice that shops tend to close for lunch and on Sundays even though the neighbouring city's shops remain open taking away their trade. Nova Gorica isn't a cheap city but you will find that Slovene supermarkets have a greater variety of goods and that alcohol and cigarettes are cheaper in the Slovenian city.