Located in northeast Italy, Trieste is the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy. As this region is situated between the border of Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea, the influence of Austria, Slovenia and Hungary are evident throughout the city. Here are some things to see and do during a visit to Trieste.
Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia
In the older part of the city, you will find Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia and this is the largest square in Trieste. There are many buildings of historical and architectural interest at the square and fantastic views over the harbour.
Trieste Harbor
At the harbor, you will find the old port, a new port, wide boulevards and four piers. The harbour is lined with shops and cafes, so it is a great place to go for a walk, a spot of retail therapy and a bite to eat.
Teatro Romano
The Roman Theater is at the base of the San Giusto hill and was built by the Romans in the first century AD. It is now in ruins and no longer used but it is still an interesting site to visit.
Canale Grande
Although the Grande Canale was once used for ships, it is now filled with smaller boats. It is surrounded by some beautiful buildings, including the Neoclassical San Antonio church and the San Spiridione Serbian Orthodox church. The canal is particularly spectacular at night when the street lights illuminate the water.
Castello di San Giusto
At the top of the San Giusto hill is the Castello di San Giusto. It was built as a fortress by the Habsburgs between the 15th and 17th centuries. Not only is this a historically interesting structure to visit, it also provides panoramic views over the city and the surrounding area.
The Museums of Trieste
There are three museums you should try to visit while you are in Trieste. Museo Civico Revoltella is a modern art museum that features over 800 sculptures and a thousand paintings. Museo Civico di Storia Naturale is a natural history museum, the highlight of which is a 3.6-meter fossil of a hadrosaurus found locally. Museo del Mare is a sea-themed museum featuring ship models and exhibits that tell the history of the port of Trieste.
Cattedrale di San Giusto
In the 14th century, a 6th-century church and an 11th-century church were combined to create the cathedral. Roman stonework was also added to this new building and you can see these on the campanile and doorway. A cannon left by Napoleon was used to cast the cathedral’s bell.
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- Main Image: Pxhere
