Trieste: Italy's most underrated city. What hotels in Trieste have nice views? italy unity square

“My soul lives in Trieste,” wrote the author of Ulysses, James Joyce. This city is undeservedly overlooked by the main flow of tourists. Perhaps because just a hundred and twenty kilometers to the west is Venice, promoted by guidebooks. But the city of Trieste (Italy) is interesting in its own way. You need to recognize it gradually, discovering layer after layer, slowly enjoying its secrets hidden in the past and the seething youthful enthusiasm of the present. The city is the capital of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a province in the northeast of the country. The border with Slovenia lies very close. It is a coastal city washed by the waters of the Adriatic Sea. The population of Trieste is only two hundred and sixty thousand people. The official languages in the province are Italian, German, Slovene and Ladin. These are all dry statistics. And what can win the hearts of tourists this northern Italian city? We will talk about this in our article.

How to get to Trieste

The border location of the city makes it a convenient transport hub when traveling around Europe. Airplane is the best way to quickly arrive in Trieste (Italy). Ronci dei Legionari Airport is international. It accepts flights not only from Rome, Milan and Genoa, but also from London, Birmingham, Munich, Belgrade, Tirana. The airport is located 30 kilometers from the city, where shuttle number 51 runs. A taxi ride will cost you about 60 euros. Every hour a train arrives from Venice to Trieste. The city station receives trains from Udine, Rome, Milan, Basel, Zagreb, Budapest, Ljubljana. Trieste can be reached by bus from Udine, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Belgrade and Sofia. With your own or rented car, it is advantageous to get to Trieste from Venice. Both cities are connected by a convenient highway A 4. You should leave it at the turn of SS 14 Costiera. The SS 58 Carniola expressway is tolled.

History of Trieste

Maybe this city is not as brilliant as its neighbor, the pearl of the Adriatic, Venice, but it is more ancient. In ancient times, this ancient Roman city was called Tergestum. From that era, an open theater, an arch and a rich exposition of the Archaeological Museum have been preserved. The city reached its heyday, oddly enough, during the reign of the occupier - Austria-Hungary. And this affects both the architecture of the settlement, and its customs, language and cuisine. While the Garibaldists fought for the liberation of the country, the emperors made Trieste the center of the province - the Austrian Riviera. Italy included the city in its composition only after the Second World War. But the imperial heritage shines through in the whole appearance of Trieste. Tourists who have visited Vienna find much in common between this Italian city and the capital of Austria. Throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Trieste was one of the important ports of the empire. And now it is a marvelous mix of German restraint, Slavic recklessness and Italian fun.

Trieste (Italy) Hotels

The capital of Friuli, like any other city in this tourist country, is full of luxury hotels, inexpensive B&B apartments and budget hostels. It is not at all necessary to look for a five-star hotel where a night will cost you several hundred euros. Holidays in Trieste (Italy) will be quite exquisite if you book the city "four". For example, Starhotels Savoia Excelsior Palace occupies an old building across the road from the sea. A double room with breakfast costs 160 euros here.

Guests are also impressed with the high-class service of the Grand Hotel Duchi d "Aosta on the Unification of Italy Square (129 euros / day) and Miramare, which is a fifteen-minute walk from the famous romantic castle (144 euros / day). Of the three-star hotels, we can recommend the Forum Boutique Hotel "near Piazza de la Borsa and Milano near the railway station. The cost of living in apartments of this class ranges from sixty to one hundred and twenty euros per day.

What to try in Trieste

The long stay of the Austrians on these lands left an indelible mark on the gastronomic tastes of the locals. Like the Viennese, they are big fans of coffee. Unlike Italians, Triestes prefer to drink beer rather than wine with their meals. Pork dishes, especially bigos, are in high esteem among the locals. And literally all Triestes eat with horseradish: tortellini, gnocchi, pizza... Having been in the capital of Freuli, be sure to try liptauer. This appetizer is already of Hungarian origin. Incorporation into Italy affected the variety of cheeses, the best of which is considered goat's milk onion. In the confectionery here you will be served delicious pastries and chocolate. And finally, like any seaside city, Trieste (Italy) is famous for its fish. It competes with kotekino, sausages and other meat delicacies for which Slovenian cuisine is famous. Seafood dishes are also beyond praise, especially in the Antipastoteca di Mare ‘Alla Voliga’ tavern, which is on top of the hill of San Giusto. Restaurants "Salumenta Sartori" and "Gran Malabar" have proven themselves well.

Beaches in Trieste (Italy)

The capital of Friuli is a unique city. Its main square goes straight to the sea. And in Trieste, the only separate beach in Europe has been preserved. The female and male halves are separated by "Pedochin" - a wall extending far into the sea. Opposite the Bay of Trieste is the islet of Grado. It is he who was chosen by tourists, because his shores are entirely sandy beaches. The coast in the border town of Muggia has the same coverage. The remaining fourteen kilometers of the seaside territory of Trieste are for everybody.

The shores here are picturesque, rocky, forming many secluded bays. Because of this, the entrance to the sandy beaches is paid, within four euros per vacationer. But these areas are equipped with toilets, showers, changing cabins. Lifeguards are on duty here, there is a rental of sun loungers and umbrellas, many bars and entertainment on the water. The swimming season in this part of Italy lasts from May to September. But the hottest months are July and August.

Ancient and medieval heritage of Trieste

Ancient Tergestum no, no, yes, and slips through the face of a modern city. It is rather strange to find an ancient Roman amphitheater here. Once upon a time, gladiators fought in its arena, and the stands could accommodate up to six thousand spectators. The theater was located on the very shore of the sea. But now the attraction is in the city center. It was not the amphitheater that moved, but the coastline moved away from it due to silting. The ancient ruins were discovered by accident during earthworks in 1936. Most of the artifacts of the ancient Roman era are kept in the Lapidarium Tergestum, an archaeological museum. In the southern part of modern Trieste are its medieval quarters. Particular attention should be paid to the ancient Basilica of San Giusto with the royal tomb and the church of St. Michael. Byzantine mosaics can be admired in the Orthodox Church of Spyridon. Trieste (Italy) is also famous for the fifteenth century Venetian fortress of San Giusto and the Duino fort.

Miramare

This romantic castle is striking not because of its antiquity, because it was built in the second half of the nineteenth century. It was built according to the project of the Austrian architect Karl Juncker. But Miramare Castle (Trieste, Italy) takes the soul with the tragedy that has played out within its walls. A beautiful building of white stone on a seaside cliff was to become a love nest for Archduke Maximilian of the Habsburg dynasty and his wife Charlotte of Belgium. But fate decreed otherwise. Maximilian had the opportunity to become emperor of Mexico, and the couple moved to New World. They really liked it there, but Maximilian's unsuccessful foreign policy involved him in a war with the United States. Charlotte returned to Mirimare, where she soon showed signs of insanity. The only daughter of Leopold the First died in Brussels, never knowing that her husband had died in Mexico. The castle is located eight kilometers from the city center.

Grand Canal

There are two more sights of Trieste (Italy) that the traveler is not allowed to miss. One of them is the Grand Canal. It was dug from the sea in the eighteenth century. Construction was carried out under the protectorate of Maria Theresa of Austria. As a mockery of the Habsburgs, the square at the end of the canal is called the Unification of Italy. Both banks of the man-made harbor are lined with neoclassical buildings. And the square itself is full of pompous buildings that look like wedding cakes.

Grotta Gigante

The surroundings of the city with the sonorous name of Trieste (Italy) are also fraught with a lot of interesting things for tourists. The main natural attraction of Friuli is the largest cave in Italy, Grotta Gigante. It is located in national park"Val Rosandra", which can be reached by public transport. Grotta Gigante is a huge underground cavity 130 meters long. A characteristic feature of the cave are twelve-meter stalagmites. In the mountain village of Opicina, tourists are delivered by a unique old tram, which in some places works like a funicular. And in the second week of October, the annual regatta of sailboats "Barcolana" takes place in the Gulf of Trieste.

Trieste is an ancient city in the northeastern part of the Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana), located 10 minutes drive from the official border with Slovenia (Slovenia). The city is a monument to various rulers and eras. The main attractions are streets, squares, palaces and museums that tell about the complex history of Trieste.

What is definitely worth seeing and where to go for an independent traveler?

Embankments and port

A feature of the city is the location of the central square near the embankment, so that the windows of the palaces built around the square offer a view of the coast and the sea.

We recommend that you start your walk from the territory of the seaport - Molo Audache, named after the Italian destroyer ship called Audache, which announced the inclusion of Trieste in Italy. On the pier there is a statue of a sailor raising the flag of the Italian Republic over the city.

Lighthouse

The lighthouse building appeared in the 20s of the XX century to perpetuate the memory of the sailors who heroically died in World War I. Architect Arduino Berlama and sculptor Giovanni Maier worked on the project. At the top of the lighthouse, an image of Victory, made of copper, was installed, and at the foot - a figure of a sailor and an anchor from the destroyer Audace, which was the first to arrive in Trieste in 1918.

The opening took place in 1927 in the presence of King Victor Emmanuel III (Vittorio Emanuele III).

United Italy Square

Unity Square (L'area del l'Unità d'Italia) borders on the waters of the Bay of Trieste (baia di Trieste) and the piers of Molo Audache, on the other three sides there are buildings of the House of Government (Palazzo del Governo) and other palaces.

You can admire the largest square in the world around the clock, because in the evening the lights turn on, turning the city by the sea into a fairy-tale kingdom.

The square appeared in the 18th century on the site of port buildings that surrounded prison buildings and stables. Its first name was St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), then it was called Big (Piazza Grande). The current name was given to the square in 1918 after the incorporation of Trieste into Italy after the 550-year rule of the Habsburg dynasty.

You should definitely visit the square in the evening, when the blue lamps built into the road surface light up: they show where the sea reached in the old days. Around the square are the 7 most luxurious palaces of the city.

Sculpture of Charles VI

In the very center of L’area del l’Unità d’Italia rises a majestic column, erected in 1728 on the day of the arrival of Emperor Charles VI of Habsburg (Carlo VI d’Asburgo) with his image installed on it in 1754.

Charles VI played a significant role in the development of the city and its architectural appearance, turning Trieste into a "little Vienna". Karl's plans for the transformation continued to implement the daughter of Maria Teresa (Maria Teresa), so that the city became a symbol of the power of the dynastic Habsburg family.

Fountain of the Four Continents

Unity Square is home to the Fountain of the Four Continents (Fontana dei Quattro Continenti), built in 1751 by Bergamo Mazzoleni. The idea of this building is the glorification of the ruling dynasty.

Sculptural images of animals next to 4 female statues on the sides of the fountain depict the continents from which ships come to Trieste:

The figure of a horse is a symbol of the European continent;
Camel - Asia;
Leo - Africa;
Crocodile - America.

The symbol of the city of Trieste is the image of a female figure flying above the symbols of the continents., which hospitably welcomes guests from all over the world and symbolizes the glory and prosperity of the city. The foot of the fountain is decorated with shells and dolphins, allegorical images of the Nile River and other rivers and seas.

During the construction period, the fountain also had an elementary practical purpose - to serve as a source of clean fresh water for the citizens and guests of Trieste.

Municipal Palace

The city hall building (Palazzo del Municipio) was built on the foundations of the previous project by Giuseppe Bruni in 1875 and is an original combination of the features of several architectural styles. The architect wanted to reproduce the features of the original version and complement them with modern details.

The building attracts attention with its eclecticism, lightness, elegance, and the desire to use the methods of building fashionable Parisian buildings in the appearance of the facade. Decoration of the turret at the top of the town hall - a clock with bronze images of the Moors Micheze and Jacheze chiming the time with bells.

In this house in 1938 Benito Mussolini was received, for his speech from the balcony of the palace they even transferred the fountain to the square, which could obscure the speaker.

The building of the town hall has a popular nickname - Palazzo Sipario (curtain palace), since this building closed the old squalid quarters of the port city.

Palazzo della Giunta Regionale

This palace, otherwise called Palazzo Lloyd, was built in 1881-83 by Heinrich von Ferstel for the Lloyd banking firm. The architect used the style of the Renaissance (Rinascimento) to emphasize the grandeur of the port of Trieste and its dominance over the seas.

In front of the palace there are 2 fountains with sculptural images of the sea goddess Thetis by the ancient master Joseph Pokorny, and the young goddess of love Venus, made by Hugo Haedti. At the time of construction, the fountains worked, but the water they used was different: salty sea water was supplied to the fountain of Venus, and fresh water was supplied to Thetis. Now the government of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region sits here.

Palazzo Modello

The Modello Palace (Palazzo Modello) was built by Antonio Buttatstsoni and was conceived as a model and ideal for other city buildings. The palace was built in 1870 on the site of the demolished buildings of the Church of St. Peter (Chiesa di S. Pietro) and the chapel of Cappella di St. Peter. Interestingly, the stained glass from the church was transferred to another church - San Bartolomeo in Barcola (San Bartolomeo in Barcola).

Until 1912, the building housed a fashionable hotel, and later and now - city services.

Palazzo Stratti

Palazzo Stratti was built by Antonio Buttazzoni in 1839 for the wealthy merchant Nikola Stratten and rebuilt in 1846 by Elfrid Geiringer and Francesco Righetti. Since 1846, the house belonged to the Assicurazioni Generali insurance company. The palace at the top is decorated with a majestic balustrade and sculptures by Luigi Zandomeneghi (Luigi Dzandomenegi).

The building is famous because it has preserved the Mirror Cafe (Caffè degli Specchi), opened in 1839, which attracts visitors with its interior and delicacies.

government palace

The Government Palace (Palazzo del Governo) was built in 1904-1905 under the guidance of the Vienna architect Emil Hartmann in the fashionable Art Nouveau style. The house was intended for the commander-in-chief of the Austrian army, at the moment it is one of the buildings of the city government.

The building is decorated with Murano glass mosaic panels and the coat of arms of the Republic of Savoy (Repubblica Savoia), which replaced the coat of arms of Austria (Austria).

Grand Canal

On the Grand Canal (Il Canal Grande) you can see the city from the inside. The idea of building a canal, which will stretch from the port quarters to the city center with shops and stores, belongs to Maria Theresa of Austria.

In the second half of the 18th century, the canal was dug by hand, then decorated with bridges, and now you can ride excursion boats along it.

Cathedral of San Giusto

Central Cathedral(Basilica di San Giusto) is located on a small hill near Unity Square and the Grand Canal. The most valuable attraction here is the Escorial-Carlista chapel (Cappella di El Escorial-Сarlisti), which preserves the tombs of the royal house of Spain, one of which appeared in 1975.

Miramare Castle

Miramare Castle was built at the direction of Archduke Maximilian and was used as his residence. The style of construction was supposed to remind of the citadels of ancient Scotland, knightly times, heroic military campaigns. Maximilian personally took care of a huge garden of 22 hectares, planted plants in it, looked after them, he was a great connoisseur of art, and did a lot of charity work. In honor of Maximilian, a statue of him was erected in the park.

The fortress is located at the Miramare Marine Reserve, a natural protected area.

Revoltella Museum

The Museo Revoltella, built in 1858 by Friedrich Gittsig, houses the Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria d'Arte Moderna).

Here are the works of famous painters:

Francesco Hayes;
Domenico Morelli;
Giorgio Morandi;
Giorgio de Chirico and others.

In the courtyard of the museum, the fountain of the nymph Aurizina (Aurizina) by Pietro Magni, a symbol of the city, attracts attention.

Museums

Trieste is a city where it can take several days to visit all the museums. The most interesting are the following:

Museum of Theater and Music Carlo Schmidl, located in the Gopchevich Palace, built in the 19th century with windows overlooking the central canal, presents a collection of ancient instruments of the musician Carlo Schmidl and materials on the development of musical and theatrical art;

Museum of History and Arts and Rock Garden (Civico Museo di Storia ed Arte ed Orto Lapidario), representing a collection of finds by archaeologists discovered during excavations of ancient cities (fragments of buildings and other artifacts);
Museum of Ancient Roman Architectural and Sculptural Art - Lapidario Tergestino, located in the castle building of the XV century;

Holocaust Museum "Risiera di San Sabba" (Museo della Risiera di San Sabba), which occupies the premises that were used as a concentration camp in 1943-1945, where more than 20,000 Jewish prisoners were exterminated, and which presents documents of the terrible days of Nazism;
Public Library (Biblioteca Civica), housing the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of the English novelist James Joyce (James Joyce) and the Museum of the Italian prose writer and playwright of Jewish origin Italo Zvevo (Italo Svevo);

Aquarium (Acquario Marino), representing the inhabitants of the ocean and sea waters.

The collections of museums tell about the different stages of the culture of Trieste. But the whole city is a kind of open-air museum.

Roman theater

The first mention of Trieste was found in the book of Julius Caesar "Notes on the Gallic War" (Giulio Cesare, "Memorie di guerra Gallica"). It is known that the city attracted the ancient Romans as a convenient port, the fortress walls around Trieste were built under the emperor Octaviano Augusto (Ottaviano Augusto) in 33 BC. e.

The theater of the ancient world (Teatro Romano) was discovered in 1938 in the center of Trieste.

Despite the fact that only fragments of the theater, which accommodated 6,000 people who came to watch the gladiator fights, have survived, it makes a strong impression. The theater is used for its intended purpose, music events are held here.

Tram funicular Opicina

The Tranvia di Opicina tramway starts from Area Oberdan and runs from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. The tram is also a funicular that goes uphill and downhill. 4 cars have been preserved since their release in 1935 and two more - in 1942.

At the top of the mountain is the village of Villa Opicina, which is actively visited by tourists.

giant cave

Trieste invites travelers to visit the largest cave in the country - Grotta Gigante, having a width of 107 m, a length of 130 m, a height of 65 m. To get inside, you need to go down a staircase of 500 steps. The spectacle is exceptional: in the cave there are stalagmites 12 m high, especially beautiful with illumination. The temperature in the cave is maintained at 12°C to ensure that the instruments work smoothly.

After the cave, you can visit the Museum of Speleology, which contains interesting exhibits that tell about the geology of the region, as well as finds of paleontologists.

Traveling around Trieste and sightseeing in the surrounding area will open up new pages of history and culture of the past and present, introduce you to unique objects of nature. The historical and cultural appearance of Trieste is a harmonious unity of the features of Italian and Austrian architecture and is a fascinating dialogue of cultures, we recommend.

Trieste is the most un-Italian city in Italy. It is not visited by tourists making typical tours, of course everyone wants to see Venice, Pisa, Florence or Rome. Italy, although many times smaller than Russia, is so different. Each town has its own unique charm. There is one in Trieste. This charm is mixed with ancient Roman ruins, medieval buildings, has a rich Viennese flavor, they speak four languages - Italian, Slovenian, German and English. And in a cafe on the Unification of Italy square, we were served in pure Russian.

It turned out very comical, my husband read the menu and made an order in English, and our son naturally said in Russian that he wants ice cream, and then the waitress says: “We don’t have ice cream, boy.” And as if nothing had happened, she continues to speak English with her husband. This is how the city of Trieste turned out to be so cosmopolitan, it has always stood at the junction of the Latin, Slavic and German worlds and absorbed a little from everyone.

All the attractions of Trieste are compactly located around its main square and fit in just one photo.

Italian Unification Square

Trieste's most chic attraction is Piazza Unità d'Italia. It received its real name quite recently in 1955, before that it was simply called the Great Square (Piazza Grande), and even earlier St. Peter's Square in honor of the church of the same name that had not preserved.

The square was built up in the 19th century during the reign of the Habsburgs, when Trieste became fashionable seaside resort Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a period of rapid growth of the city, the power of the Austrians benefited Trieste, as well as Budapest, which was also built up with magnificent buildings under the strict guidance of the Habsburg dynasty. Many compare Trieste for this area with Vienna or even St. Petersburg. The townspeople themselves claim that this is the largest square in the world overlooking the sea.

The city hall was infamous in connection with Mussolini. It was from the balcony of this building that on September 18, 1938, the dictator announced the introduction of racial laws in Italy. For the sake of this gathering, the fountain of the four continents was even removed, and the people accepted Mussolini's speech with enthusiasm.

Only 4 continents were reflected in the sculptures of the fountain, since at the time of its manufacture it was not yet known about Australia and Antarctica, therefore there is such an erroneous fountain on the main square of Trieste.

The tower of the municipality was built on the model and likeness of the clock tower in Piazza San Marco in Venice. An interesting bell is installed on the top - the Moors - Micheze and Yakeze (Micheze e Jacheze) beat the bell, then we examined it in the museum of the castle of San Giusto closer. It is curious that these sculptures are called Moors, in my opinion they are typical Europeans, there is nothing African in them

Italy took part in the First World War on the side of the Entente, in memory of the fallen heroes, the main square is decorated with two metal columns, the lower parts of which are decorated with statues of infantrymen, pilots, artillerymen and other military specialists, even wreaths are still laid.

The government palace is decorated with beautiful mosaics in the Byzantine style.

To see the more ancient architectural monuments of Trieste, you will have to climb the mountain. It was hard because of the heat, but it was worth it.

Castle and Cathedral of San Giusto

The ancient heart of Trieste is located on a high hill above the sea, there still stands a medieval castle built between 1471 and 1630 and the Cathedral of San Giusto. The Christian cathedral for several centuries coexisted next to the Roman forum, the remains of which can be seen to this day.

The cathedral is very impressive, its construction dates back to the 14th century, at that moment two basilicas of the 9th century were combined into one cathedral. And the entrance portal is borrowed from ancient Roman ruins. The entrance is free.

The interior is decorated with ancient mosaics. Fortunately, in the cathedral we met a group of tourists from Minsk with a guide, so we managed to listen to a short story about the mosaics and paintings of the cathedral. The central nave contains a relatively new Murano glass mosaic. The ceiling of the cathedral is wooden, painted with various floral patterns.

The oldest mosaic is on the left, it is difficult to say exactly how old it is, but the motifs are very reminiscent of the mosaics of Ravenna. To view the masterpiece, you will have to fork out a little, lighting is paid. In European churches, such requisitions are common, I had to throw a coin into the machine to turn on the light. The floors are also mosaic, they say the 4th century AD.

There are several more paintings in the cathedral dating back to the 17th-18th centuries, I noticed that the year is signed on the canvases i676, it is instead of the number "1" that the small letter "i" is put, maybe alternative historians are not so wrong with their new chronologies.

One of the paintings depicts a prelate in a red cardinal robe (he was canonized), and his face is very swarthy, he can definitely be mistaken for a Moor. However, the guide convinced us that it was just the varnish that had darkened over time, so the prelate looks dark-skinned, and the other characters in the same picture are white-skinned, did the varnish darken on their faces?

Hello dear readers. Trieste is located in the picturesque region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, on the border with Slovenia. Trieste has over 200,000 inhabitants.

city port is one of the most important in Italy, and is the hub for the international trade flows of central and eastern Europe to Asia.

Sights of Trieste

Trieste an amazing tourist city, but as a rule, tourists neglect it in favor of more famous and large cities such as, etc. But visiting it at least once you will make sure that it has its own unique history and culture, and that there are sights worthy of attention here too.

Especially popular with tourists is the Giant Cave (Grotta Gigante), the largest cave in the world. It is not located in Trieste itself, but in the nearby town of Sgonico on Borgo Grotta Gigante 42a.

And of course very popular. Miramare Castle - the symbol of the city.

Trieste is in itself a great sight of Italy. I think any tourist will get a lot of positive impressions walking along the ancient squares among the most beautiful buildings miraculously preserved to our time.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit excursion activities in Trieste, today individual, group and bus tours of the city can be pre-ordered on the website, including a walk through the Miramare castle and a giant cave.

Population of Trieste

The population of the city of Trieste is more than 200 thousand people.

Trieste is an international city, emigrants from Slovenia, Romania, China, Africa, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Greece, Germany and the CIS countries live here. At the same time, Trieste is the most populous city in the region, with the highest income level and the lowest unemployment rate.

Transport

To move around the city, tourists are provided with two types - a tram and a bus. bus tickets can be purchased directly from the driver. The trams have special ticket machines.

Also tickets for public transport in Italy they are sold in newspaper or tobacco shops (ask biglietto sul tram), and the ticket can be either for a day, or for a week or even a month. If you decide to travel around Trieste, the best means of transport is train or bus.

Train tickets in Italy and Europe can be bought.

Italians talk about Trieste as one of the safest cities in Italy (in terms of crime). Still, caution never hurts.

Economy of Trieste

The economy of the city of Trieste is mainly thriving due to industries such as shipbuilding and metallurgy. It is here that the largest, world-famous plant for the production of marine engines and equipment for power plants is located in Europe. It is also home to the Fincantieri company, which is a global leader in construction cruise liners and navy ships. .

Also in Trieste are largest companies Alcatel and Telit specializing in the production of telecommunications equipment.

The largest producers of Hausbrandt, Dreher and Illy are also located here, as well as the best Italian companies for the production of sausages and pasta.

Trieste can even be called the coffee capital of Italy. Therefore, walking around the city, you will constantly meet coffee shops, coffee makers and other paraphernalia related to coffee.

Trieste Airport

international Airport Ronchi dei Legionari (Airport Ronchi dei Legionari) is the only regional airport located in the province of Gorizia, 33 kilometers from Trieste. There are daily flights from here to cities in Italy and Europe. The airport cooperates with such airlines as Lufthansa, Alitalia, Airdolomiti, Ryanair.

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Additional airport services:

bank (open from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 13.30 and from 15.00 to 15.30).
ATM (24 hours)
diner
restaurant
duty free shop
book Shop
post office
Internet (WiFi)

From Ronchi dei Legionari Airport to Trieste can be reached:

by bus: number 51, the journey to Trieste Central Station is about one hour. Ticket price 3.50 €.
by taxi: the cost is approximately 60.00 €. Taxi phone numbers in Trieste: 040 307730, 040 390039.

Order an inexpensive transfer:

Another closest international Airport Marco Polo (Venice) is located 170 km from Trieste.

How to get to Trieste from Rome

The distance from Rome to Trieste is 674 km.

by train: from the railway station in Rome "Termini", the travel time will take approximately 5.5 hours, the ticket price in economy class is from 50.00 € in the first class from 70.00 €. Do not forget to validate the ticket when you get on the train, this is a very common mistake of tourists in Italy.
by car: the whole trip will cost you about 125.00 €, of which road tax is about 50.00 euros and fuel 80.00 €. The journey will take 7.5 hours.
by bus: fare approx. 50.00 €. One drawback, this method is the longest.

How to get to Trieste from Milan

The distance from Milan to Trieste is 453 km.

By train: from Milan Central Station to Trieste, the journey time is 4.5 hours, the cost of a train ticket is from 40.00 €, in the first class 70.00 €. As I said above, do not forget to validate your ticket when you get on the train.
By car: the whole trip will cost about 80.00 €, of which about 30.00 € for road tax and 50.00 € for fuel. The trip will take about 5 hours.
By bus: the whole journey will last 7 hours, the ticket price is 40.00 €.

Culinary traditions of Trieste

Like many port cities in Italy, the main and important ingredients in the cuisine of Trieste are seafood. Although there are also a lot of meat recipes here, and the local Dessert and are among the best in Italy.

Like all cities and regions of Italy, Trieste is famous for its unique cheeses. One of the favorites is Liptauer cheese, which has Hungarian-Slovak-Serbian-Austrian roots.

As a rule, Liptauer is made from goat's or sheep's milk, or rather from cottage cheese. To which is added butter, sour cream, finely chopped onions, paprika, parsley, mustard, capers, cumin seeds, a pinch of red pepper and anchovies. All this turns into a homogeneous mass and is used as food as a snack, or simply spread on bread and crackers.

As I said above, Trieste has served as a haven for many ethnic groups from all over the world, and each of them has brought something unique to the cuisine of the city and region. One of these "chips" is the use of a large number of herbs and spices.

The most common typical dishes of the city of Trieste can be called:

jota - bean soup, it includes sauerkraut, ribs, bacon and potatoes;
porzina e capuzi - boiled pork with cabbage, served with horseradish and mustard;
gnocchi with plum filling;
gnocchi with fried stale bread, eggs and ham;
brodetto triestino - fish broth with the addition of shellfish and crustaceans;
rice with beans;
goulash (Goulash alla Triestina) - prepared from veal with the addition of onions, tomatoes and sweet peppers;
Apple strudel;
putizza - a pie filled with walnuts, hazelnuts, raisins, breadcrumbs, milk chocolate, honey and rum;
kipfel - a kind of croissant;
fave di Trieste - almond cake with maraschino fruit liqueur.

The best wines the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and the city of Trieste are Carso (DOC) wines specializing in the production of white and red wines - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Terrano, Chardonnay, Traminer, Malvasia, Sauvignon. Perhaps Carso wines are not as famous all over the world as French ones, but we can certainly say that the quality and taste of these wines are excellent.

Events in Trieste

Throughout the year, some interesting events are sure to take place in Trieste. One of which is sailing regatta"Barcolana", which is held on the second Sunday of October. Various film festivals are also held here, one of the most significant Trieste Film Festival is held annually in January.

Shopping in Trieste

Trieste is a great place to shop especially if you are interested in antiques, leather goods, books and clothing. There are just a huge number of shops, large shopping centers and ordinary open markets.

Shopaholics should know that shops in Italy, and in Trieste in particular, are open every day from about 9.00 to 20.00, it is obligatory lunch break from about 13.00 to 16.00, on Sunday almost everything is closed, but there are exceptions and some shops can only be open until lunch. Outdoor markets are usually open from early morning until afternoon.

The main number of shops is located on Borgo Teresiano square. the best place to look for clothes. shoes and household items. Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia is famous for being home to some of the best antique shops in Trieste. Here you can find everything from furniture and porcelain to amazing works of art. .

Shopping centers Giulia (Via Giulia, buses No. 6, No. 9 and No. 35) and Torri d’Europa (Via Svevo, buses No. 8 and No. 29 go here) are very popular with tourists and Italians.

Each third Sunday month, near Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia (in Cittavechhia) you can visit the flea market. The Mercato di Ponterosso food market is located next to the canal in the Borgo Teresiano area. Also don't forget to visit the covered market "Mercato Coperto" on Carducci street.

Finally, I suggest watching a video about the beautiful region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia:

Of all the significant cities in Italy, Trieste - the administrative center of the province of Friuli Venezia Giulia - is the most "non-Italian" in terms of architectural appearance.

This is not surprising, because the central part of the city was built according to the project of the Austrian Archduchess Maria Theresa, the smartest and one of the most influential women of the eighteenth century, and Trieste became part of modern Italy later than everyone else, it happened only in 1954. In today's article we talk about the history and sights of the city.

Unity Square of Italy

Usually European port cities are always bustle, hype, pandemonium, narrow dirty streets and crowds of beggars, but Trieste is an absolute exception to the rule.

Grand Canal of Trieste

Everything here breathes with royal calm and imperial slowness. Therefore, before you start exploring the local sights, take a walk along the wide city embankment, admiring the moored yachts, inhaling the salty sea air and listening to the cries of seagulls, and only after the hectic mood of Moscow disappears, head to the Unity of Italy Square located across the road from the embankment, acquaintance with the city makes sense to start with it.

ITALIAN UNITY SQUARE

Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia is considered not only one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, it is one of the largest squares in Europe with direct access to the sea. It should be said right away that the square did not always look like this; it acquired its current appearance relatively recently, at the end of the twentieth century.

Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia

For example, earlier the square had no direct access to the sea, and a small city park was located in its center. The square was designed in 1879 by the architect Bruni, but in 1999 it was completely modernized. In fact, the idea of “turning the city to face the sea” came to mind back in the eighteenth century, Maria Theresa, the Austrian Archduchess, mother of Marie Antoinette, who personally oversaw the construction of Trieste.

Palazzo del Governo on Unity Square of Italy

Here we have to dive into history a bit. The fact is that since 1382 the city, which previously belonged to the Venetian Republic, passed to the Habsburg Monarchy, and for a long time remained the main port of the Austrian dynasty.

Yachts on the city embankment

However, until the eighteenth century, the Austrian monarchs did not burn with a desire to engage in “beautification of Trieste”, as a result, only the medieval part of the city located on a hill looked relatively good, while the port and harbor were what port and harbor should be, that is, dirty, unsightly and further down the list.

Quay of Trieste

But under the reign of Charles VI of Habsburg, the fate of the city began to change dramatically. Initially, Trieste was given the status of a free imperial city, and when in the forties of the eighteenth century power passed into the hands of Maria Theresa, the Archduchess of Austria decided to implement an extremely ambitious project in Trieste - to build a new type of city, a modern port with wide streets and Viennese-style buildings, in a word , appearance Trieste, as conceived by the Empress, was to best demonstrate the superiority of the Habsburg dynasty over anyone else.

Today, in Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia - the central square of the city - the innovations of the Austrian monarchs are evidenced by a column with the figure of Charles VI on top (erected in 1728) and the fountain of the Four Continents: Africa, Europe, America and Asia - each part of the world is symbolized by a woman figure that looks the same.

Fountain of the Four Continents

The figure of Australia is absent from the fountain for a more than banal reason - it was erected in 1751, that is, before European sailors discovered the fifth continent. But luxurious palaces in the Austrian style were erected on the Unity Square of Italy already in the second half of the nineteenth century. The central one, facing the sea, - Palazzo del Municipio, that is, the municipality building - was built in 1875.

Palazzo del Municipio

Its appearance is a fine example of the neo-baroque style, however, the monumental buildings on the right and left sides of the square are also made in the same style, they were all built in the period from 1790 to 1905.

Another interesting point, according to one theory, for the financial prosperity of the city, the buildings of banks, insurance companies and other enterprises dealing with monetary issues should resemble either palaces or ancient temples in their appearance. In this context, it is curious that the luxurious palazzos on the Unity of Italy Square are the buildings of banks and insurance companies.

The buildings on Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia personally remind me of both cream cakes and carved ivory boxes, one way or another, you can look at their snow-white facades, decorated with statues and bas-reliefs, for hours. Palazzo del Governo stands out against the general background - the Government Palace - its facade is decorated with mosaics in the Venetian style.

Mosaics on the facade of the Palazzo del Governo

In the evenings, the main square of Trieste is illuminated by a million lights; locals love to drop in here to drink coffee or a spritz and breathe in the sea air. And it is on the Unity of Italy Square that the tourist office of Trieste is located, where you can take a map of the city or purchase a tourist card that allows you to visit local museums with discounts, as well as use public transport.

AUSTRIAN TREASURY: CENTRAL QUARTER OF TRIESTE

After admiring the palaces on the Unity of Italy Square, go for a walk around the Austrian part of the city. Start from Piazza Verdi. The square got its name due to the fact that it houses a theater bearing the name of the author of Aida.

Facade of the Teatro Verdi

A curious moment, the theater was originally called simply the Opera and Ballet Theatre, but when the question arose of which country Trieste should be part of in the twentieth century, the locals renamed the city's musical theater the Verdi Theater as a response, thereby demonstrating that they want to become Italian citizens.

Fountain in Piazza Verdi

In the center of the square there is an antique-style fountain, again in strict accordance with the precepts of Maria Theresa, according to her idea, the fountains should have flaunted on every square of the city so that the townspeople would feel comfortable in the summer heat. On the square near the theater, the exchange building is also very curious, looking one to one, like an ancient temple, remember what I wrote above about managing the energy of money? Here is another great illustration of this theory.

The exchange building looks like an ancient temple

By the way, when you walk around this part of the city, pay attention that here, without exception, all the buildings look like this: on the lower floors there is a minimum of decor, but there are giant windows, and the upper floors are richly decorated with statues and bas-reliefs.

Female figures on the facade of one of the houses

A similar architectural solution - again, the implementation of the plans of Maria Theresa, in her opinion, on the lower floors of houses standing along wide streets, along which carriages can freely pass, shop windows should have been located, respectively, all the attention of passers-by should be attracted by things exhibited in shop windows, not stucco around the windows.

Pedestrian street in Trieste

But the upper part of the buildings should be decorated as pompously as possible, so that the guests of the city understand that powerful people live in Trieste.

Bas-reliefs decorating the buildings of the city

Statues on the facade of a neo-baroque building

In general, walking around this part of the city, it becomes clear why Trieste became a favorite place in the nineteenth century. winter holiday the Viennese court, here the feeling of the imperial spirit, as they say, is in the air, and you can admire the statues that adorn the facades of buildings until your head spins.

Bas-reliefs on the facades of houses

However, the most eloquent embodiment of the plans of Maria Theresa is St. Anthony's Square (Piazza Sant'Antonio), which is connected to the sea by the Grande Canal laid in the center of the square.

Grand Canal, Trieste

Now the canal is partially drained, and there are numerous cafes on both sides of it, but in the past the canal was so large that merchant ships could enter the city through it.

On both sides of the canal there are palazzos in which merchants lived, respectively, they could do business with merchants who arrived in the city without leaving their workplace. And the channel ended at the steps of the Church of St. Anthony, the appearance of which resembles a theater rather than a church.

Church of Saint Anthony, Trieste

At night, the lights of the temple were reflected in the water of the canal, so that entrepreneurs who arrived in Trieste were instantly imbued with the amazing beauty of the city and respect for its inhabitants. Unfortunately, today the canal was partially drained, but it is still pleasant to walk along it.

Street cafe on the Grand Canal

By the way, while walking along the canal, you will definitely notice the statue of James Joyce, installed in the square. In fact, many writers worked in Trieste, and local guides even take tourists to the literary places of the city - there are monuments to five writers. But, if the names of Umberto Saba or Italo Zvevo do not say anything to most Russians, then everyone has certainly heard about James Joyce.

Monument to James Joyce in Trieste

The author of "Ulysses" lived permanently in Trieste from 1904 to 1915, he worked as an English teacher in an Italian family. Here Joyce worked on the novels The Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and it is also believed that it was here that he drew up the plan for Ulysses and wrote several draft chapters of the novel.

Street in the center of Trieste

By the way, one more curious moment. On St. Anthony's Square, you can see not only a Catholic church, but also an Orthodox church belonging to the Serbian community and dedicated to the Trinity and St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky.

Church of St. Spyridon

The fact is that Trieste has always been a multinational and multi-religious city, so the Serbian diaspora erected a large Orthodox church in the center. By the way, real Murano glass was used to decorate the mosaics on the facade of the church, which is why they shine so brightly.

Murano glass mosaics on the facade of the church

And it is also believed that if you thoroughly rub, excuse me, with a soft place on a stone at the entrance to the church, then this ritual brings good luck. By the way, the residents of Trieste, including the parishioners of the Serbian church, do not see anything seditious and blasphemous in this action, on the contrary, they are proud that the coach of the Milan football team himself repeatedly took all the club’s players to Trieste and forced them one by one to good luck rubbing your booty against the stones of the Orthodox Church.

Ghetto of Trieste

Since Trieste was originally conceived as a commercial and international city, the Jewish diaspora could not have done here either. Representatives of the chosen people lived in a ghetto surrounded by a wall. The easiest way to get into the ghetto is from Piazza Verdi, turn into an arch and you are there.

Arch with a mask in Piazza Verdi

However, one should not think that in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Jews felt bad in Trieste, on the contrary, rich Jewish families lived here, and the synagogue of St. Francesco and various educational institutions were located on the territory of the ghetto.

An antique market is held here on weekends.

Of course, during the Second World War, everything changed. From 1943 to 1945, the city was occupied by the Germans, in the building for husking rice, the Nazis set up the infamous Risiera di San Savva concentration camp, in which 3,000 to 5,000 people died. Today, a memorial sign has been erected at this place.

Street in the center of the ghetto

Now the old synagogue, which moved to a new building long ago, is reminiscent of an ornament on one of the walls of the ghetto, however, only fragments of the walls remain here, but surprisingly beautiful palaces built by wealthy Jewish families in the nineteenth century have survived. And in this area of Trieste there is a huge number of cozy street cafes and bars, we strongly recommend stopping at one of them for lunch.

MEDIEVAL CITY

If you start climbing uphill from the ghetto, then you will find yourself in the Medieval Quarter of Trieste. This is how the city was before Maria Theresa took over.

Narrow stairs lead up from the ghetto, climbing which you begin to sincerely feel sorry for the elderly seigneurs and their spouses living in this part of the city.

Narrow streets of the medieval quarter of Trieste

When you find yourself in a medieval quarter, you instantly understand that the picture has changed a lot. There are no wide avenues, no bas-reliefs on knowledge, and the appearance of houses from an architectural point of view is very recognizable - this is how small Italian towns often look.

Houses in the medieval quarter of Trieste

Fun fact, most of the houses in the medieval quarters of European cities look, albeit simple, but nice, but have you ever thought that most of the windows in these houses appeared only in the nineteenth century? In the Middle Ages, the windows of the houses were very small and they were cut through only under the very roof. So those very tiny “attic-type” windows are authentic medieval windows, everything else is the fruit of modernization.

On a hill in the center of the medieval city, of course, is the Castle. The governor of Trieste once lived in it, who wanted to sit high, look far away, and at the same time feel absolutely safe. The castle was rebuilt several times, defensive and outbuildings were added to it.

Trieste Castle

Near the castle there is a church dedicated to Justus of Trieste, the same Saint is also considered the patron saint of the city. The church was built in the period from 1471 to 1630, and it is curious that in it ancient Venetian mosaics coexist with modern mosaics.

By the way, since the church was erected on the site of an ancient temple, Christians inherited antique columns from the pagans: two are located in the temple, two more are in a shop opened at the church.

View of the city from the top of the hill

At the top of one of them, you will certainly notice a gigantic structure resembling a Babylonian ziggurat. So, this is another temple - a modern, Catholic church, built in honor of the fact that Trieste became part of Italy.

ROMAN HERITAGE

Of course, the Romans could not help but check in Trieste. The main building dating back to the ancient era is the Roman amphitheater.

Ancient Roman amphitheater in Trieste

The theater looks very impressive, but what is curious, according to historians, the theater was built on the seashore, that is, where cars drive now, in the days of the ancient Romans there was a harbor, and the guests of the theater, sitting on stone seats, could watch staged naval battles.

MIRAMARE CASTLE

Another iconic landmark of the city, it is not for nothing that Miramare Castle, located 15 minutes from the center of Trieste, is consistently called one of the most romantic places in Europe.

Red Room of Miramare Castle

Carved staircase in Miramare castle

From an architectural point of view, Miramare repeats the best examples of Scottish castles, its veranda overlooks the sea and, standing here, it is so easy to feel like Assol waiting for her handsome prince.

Miramare castle at sunset

By the way, it is the observation deck at Miramare that is the best place in Trieste where you can admire the sunset, the beauty is such that you don’t even want to take out your iPhone and try to shoot how the pink rays of the setting sun stroke the sleepy waves of the sea, you just want to freeze in place and admire, soaking in all the impressions of the past day.

Thank you for your help in organizing the trip, the Department of Tourism of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region:

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Julia Malkova- Julia Malkova - founder of the website project. Former editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about traveling for my own pleasure and the pleasure of readers. If you are a representative of hotels, tourism office, but we are not familiar, you can contact me by email: [email protected]

What is definitely worth seeing and where to go for an independent traveler?

A feature of the city is the location of the central square near the embankment, so that the windows of the palaces built around the square offer a view of the coast and the sea.

Lighthouse

Dear reader, to find an answer to any question about holidays in Italy, use. I answer all questions in the comments under the relevant articles at least once a day. Your guide in Italy Artur Yakutsevich.

The opening took place in 1927 in the presence of King Victor Emmanuel III (Vittorio Emanuele III).

United Italy Square

You can admire the largest square in the world around the clock, because in the evening the lights turn on, turning the city by the sea into a fairy-tale kingdom.

Sculpture of Charles VI

Unity Square is home to the Fountain of the Four Continents (Fontana dei Quattro Continenti), built in 1751 by Bergamo Mazzoleni. The idea of this building is the glorification of the ruling dynasty.

Sculptural images of animals next to 4 female statues on the sides of the fountain depict the continents from which ships come to Trieste:

The figure of a horse is a symbol of the European continent;
Camel - Asia;
Leo - Africa;
Crocodile - America.

During the construction period, the fountain also had an elementary practical purpose - to serve as a source of clean fresh water for the citizens and guests of Trieste.

In this house in 1938 they received (Benito Mussolini), for his speech from the balcony of the palace they even transferred the fountain to the square, which could obscure the speaker.

The building of the town hall has a popular nickname - Palazzo Sipario (curtain palace), since this building closed the old squalid quarters of the port city.

Until 1912, the building housed a fashionable hotel, and later and now - city services.

The building is famous because it has preserved the Mirror Cafe (Caffè degli Specchi), opened in 1839, which attracts visitors with its interior and delicacies.

The building is decorated with Murano glass mosaic panels and the coat of arms of the Republic of Savoy (Repubblica Savoia), which replaced the coat of arms of Austria (Austria).

In the second half of the 18th century, the canal was dug by hand, then decorated with bridges, and now you can ride excursion boats along it.

The Central Cathedral (Basilica di San Giusto) is located on a small hill near Unity Square and the Grand Canal. The most valuable attraction here is the Escorial-Carlista chapel (Cappella di El Escorial-Сarlisti), which preserves the tombs of the royal house of Spain, one of which appeared in 1975.

Miramare Castle

The fortress is located at the Miramare Marine Reserve, a natural protected area.

Revoltella Museum

The Museo Revoltella, built in 1858 by Friedrich Gittsig, houses the Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria d'Arte Moderna).

Here are the works of famous painters:

Francesco Hayes;
Domenico Morelli;
Giorgio Morandi;
Giorgio de Chirico and others.

In the courtyard of the museum, the fountain of the nymph Aurizina (Aurizina) by Pietro Magni, a symbol of the city, attracts attention.

Museums

Trieste is a city where it can take several days to visit all the museums. The most interesting are the following:

Museum of Theater and Music Carlo Schmidl, located in the Gopchevich Palace, built in the 19th century with windows overlooking the central canal, presents a collection of ancient instruments of the musician Carlo Schmidl and materials on the development of musical and theatrical art;

Museum of History and Arts and Rock Garden (Civico Museo di Storia ed Arte ed Orto Lapidario), representing a collection of finds by archaeologists discovered during excavations of ancient cities (fragments of buildings and other artifacts);
Museum of Ancient Roman Architectural and Sculptural Art - Lapidario Tergestino, located in the castle building of the XV century;

Holocaust Museum "Risiera di San Sabba" (Museo della Risiera di San Sabba), which occupies the premises that were used as a concentration camp in 1943-1945, where more than 20,000 Jewish prisoners were exterminated, and which presents documents of the terrible days of Nazism;
Public Library (Biblioteca Civica), housing the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of the English novelist James Joyce (James Joyce) and the Museum of the Italian prose writer and playwright of Jewish origin Italo Zvevo (Italo Svevo);

Aquarium (Acquario Marino), representing the inhabitants of the ocean and sea waters.

The collections of museums tell about the different stages of the culture of Trieste. But the whole city is a kind of open-air museum.

The first mention of Trieste was found in the book "Notes on the Gallic War" (Giulio Cesare, "Memorie di guerra Gallica"). It is known that the city attracted the ancient Romans as a convenient port, the fortress walls around Trieste were built under the emperor (Ottaviano Augusto) in 33 BC. e.

The theater of the ancient world (Teatro Romano) was discovered in 1938 in the center of Trieste.

At the top of the mountain is the village of Villa Opicina, which is actively visited by tourists.

After the cave, you can visit the Museum of Speleology, which contains interesting exhibits that tell about the geology of the region, as well as finds of paleontologists.

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