Visitors will be able to see rose parks and a garden of Bourbon roses, as well as visit lectures, an exhibition of photographs and paintings, attend a number of concerts and enjoy various desserts containing rose petals.

Visitors will also be able to see the Viatori garden in the nearby Italian city of Gorizia, which is housing one of the most beautiful botanical collections in the area.

The festival, running until 14 May, is organised by a local association promoting roses, gaming company HIT and the municipality of Nova Gorica.

The organisers said as they presented the festival that it was gaining in recognition and attracting an increasing number of visitors from Slovenia and abroad.