Vipavski Križ

Vipavski Križ
Sveti Križ (until 1955)
Vipavski Križ
Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°52′51.82″N 13°51′41.87″E / 45.8810611°N 13.8616306°E / 45.8810611; 13.8616306
Country Slovenia
Traditional regionLittoral
Statistical regionGorizia
MunicipalityAjdovščina
Area
  Total
0.49 km2 (0.19 sq mi)
Elevation
177.7 m (583.0 ft)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
170
  Density350/km2 (900/sq mi)

Vipavski Križ (pronounced [ʋiˈpaːu̯ski ˈkɾiːʃ] ; Italian: Santa Croce di Aidussina) is a settlement on a small hill in the Vipava Valley in the Municipality of Ajdovščina in the Littoral region of Slovenia. There is evidence of habitation on the hill in the pre-Roman period. The settlement was first mentioned in written documents dating to the 13th century. The houses in the village are clustered inside a defence wall around a castle from the late 15th century. It was built to protect the residents against Ottoman raids. In 1532 Vipavski Križ was declared a town. In 1636 a Capuchin monastery with a rich library was founded in the town and it is now open to visitors.