The village of Vrhpolje near Vipava is a sprawling, clustered village, boasting eight chapels and monuments. It has a compact village core (with predominantly buildings and farmhouses following the 14th century coastal building pattern), formed around the Church of St. Cross.
Text prepared by Andrejka Ščukovt, Conservator, OE Nova Gorica.
One of the chapels, built at the turn of the 19th century, is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is located in Gorenjska vas. It forms a small square with the roadside walls, known to the inhabitants of Toppolje as Square of Love. As part of the maintenance work, the ambiance of the Square of Love comprehensively renovated. The roadside stone retaining wall, which is 27 metres long to the south-west and about 11 metres long to the south-east, has been built up with drainage. The restored niche beneath the chapel is equipped with a drinking fountain and paved with Repen stone. The chapel, which had to be relocated some 2 m north of its original location due to the narrowness of the roadway, has undergone a comprehensive conservation restoration.
