Trieste is an ancient city in the north-eastern part of the Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana), located a 10-minute drive from the official border with Slovenia (Slovenia). The city is a monument to various rulers and eras. The main attractions are the 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?
Quays 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 views of the coast and the sea.
We recommend starting the trip from the territory of the seaport - Molo Audache, named after the Italian destroyer ship called the “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 in order to perpetuate the memory of sailors who heroically died in the First World War. The architect Arduino Berlama and sculptor Giovanni Maier worked on the project. On the top of the lighthouse, the image of Victory was installed, made of copper, and at the foot - the figure of a sailor and an anchor from the destroyer "Audache", which first came to Trieste in 1918.
The opening took place in 1927 in the presence of King Victor Emanuele III (Vittorio Emanuele III).
Square of United Italy
Unity Square (L'area del l'Unità d'Italia) borders the water area of Trieste Bay (baia di Trieste) and the piers of Molo Audache, on the other three sides are the buildings of the Government House (Palazzo del Governo) and other palaces.
The largest square in the world can be admired around the clock, because in the evening the lights turn on, turning the city by the sea into a fairy kingdom.
An area appeared in the 18th century on the site of port buildings that surrounded prison buildings and stables. Its first name is 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 mounted on the road surface light up: they show what place the sea reached in ancient times. 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 stands 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, turned Trieste into a "little Vienna." Karl’s plans for transformation continued to bring to life the daughter of Maria Theresa (Maria Teresa), so that the city became a symbol of the power of the dynastic Habsburg family.
Fountain of the Four Continents
On Unity Square is the Fountain of the Four Continents (Fontana dei Quattro Continenti), built in 1751 by Bergamo Mazzoleni (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 over the symbols of the continents, which hospitably welcomes guests from all over the world and symbolizes the Glory and prosperity of the city. 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 citizens and guests of Trieste.
Municipal Palace
The City Hall (Palazzo del Municipio) was built on the foundation of the previous project by Giuseppe Bruni (Giuseppe Bruni) in 1875 and is an original combination of 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, grace, desire to use the methods of building fashionable Parisian buildings in the appearance of the facade. Turret decoration on top of town hall - clock with bronze images of the Moors Micheze and Jachezebeating the time with blows to the bell.
In this house in 1938, Benito Mussolini was received, for his performance from the balcony of the palace they even carried a fountain in the square, which could obscure the speaker.
The town hall building has a popular nickname - Palazzo Sipario (the palace-curtain), since the old wretched quarters of the port city were closed with this building.
Palazzo della giunta regionale
This palace, otherwise called the Palazzo Lloyd, was built in 1881-83 by Heinrich von Ferstel for the banking company Lloyd. 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, performed by Hugo Haedti. At the time of construction, the fountains worked, but the water used was different: the salty sea was supplied to the fountain of Venus, and fresh - Thetis. Now the government of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region is sitting here.
Palazzo Modello
Palazzo Modello was built by Antonio Buttatstsoni and was conceived as a model and ideal for other urban 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 Cappella di St. Peter Interestingly, the stained-glass window from the church was transferred to another church - San Bartolomeo in Barcola (San Bartolomeo in Barcola).
Until 1912, the building housed a luxurious hotel, and subsequently, at present, city services.
Palazzo stratti
Palazzo Stratti Palace was built by Antonio Buttazzoni in 1839 for the wealthy merchant Nikola Stratten, and in 1846 it was rebuilt according to the design of Elfrid Geiringer and Francesco Righetti. Since 1846, the house belonged to the insurance company Assicurazioni Generali. The palace above is decorated with a majestic balustrade and sculptures by Luigi Dzandomenegi.
The building is known because it preserved the Mirror Cafe (Caffè degli Specchi), opened in 1839, attracting visitors with its interior and goodies.
Government Palace
The Palace of Government (Palazzo del Governo) was built in 1904-1905 under the direction of Vienna-based architect Emil Hartmann in a trendy 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 mosaic panels of Murano glass and the coat of arms of the Savoy Republic (Repubblica Savoia), which replaced the coat of arms of Austria (Austria).
Grand Canal
On the Grand Canal (Il Canal Grande) you can explore the city from the inside. The idea of building a canal that stretches from port districts to the city center with retail shops and shops belongs to Maria Theresa of Austria.
In the second half of the 18th century, the canal was dug manually, then decorated with bridges, and now you can ride it on sightseeing boats.
San Giusto Cathedral
The Central Cathedral (Basilica di San Giusto) is located on a small hill near Piazza Unity and the Grand Canal. The most valuable attraction here is the Escorial Carlista Chapel (Cappella di El Escorial-Carlisti), which preserves the tombs of the royal house of Spain, one of which appeared in 1975.
Miramare Castle
The Miramare Castle was built at the direction of Archduke Maximilian and was used as his residence. The style of construction was to remind of the citadels of ancient Scotland, knightly times, heroic military campaigns. Maximilian personally engaged in a huge garden with an area of 22 hectares, planted plants in it, took care of them, he was a great connoisseur of art, was engaged in charity a lot. In honor of Maximilian, his statue is installed in the park.
The fortress is located at the Miramare Marine Reserve, a natural protected area.
Revoltell Museum
The Revoltella Museum (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 (Domenico Morelli);
- Giorgio Morandi;
- Giorgio de Chirico et al.
In the courtyard of the museum attracts attention the fountain of the nymph Aurizina (Aurizina) by Pietro Magni (Pietro Magni) - a symbol of the city.
Museums
Trieste is a city in which it can take several days to visit all museums. The most interesting are the following:
- Museum of Theater and Music Carlo Schmidl (Carlo Schmidl)located in the Gopchevich Palace, which was built in the 19th century by windows on the central canal, presents a collection of old instruments by the musician Carlo Schmidl and materials on the development of musical and theater art;
- Museum of History and Art and Rock Garden (Civico Museo di Storia ed Arte ed Orto Lapidario), representing a collection of finds of archaeologists discovered during excavations of ancient cities (fragments of buildings and other artifacts);
- Museum of Ancient Roman Architecture and Sculpture - Lapidario Tergestinolocated in the castle building of the XV century;
- Holocaust Museum "Riciera di San Sabba" (Museo della Risiera di San Sabba)occupying premises that were used as a concentration camp in 1943-1945, where more than 20,000 Jewish prisoners were destroyed, and presenting documents of the terrible days of Nazism;
- Public Library (Biblioteca Civica)containing the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of the English novelist James Joyce and the Museum of Italian prose writer and playwright of Jewish origin Italo Svevo;
- Aquarium (Acquario Marino)representing the inhabitants of the ocean and sea waters.
Museum collections tell of different stages of Trieste's culture. But the whole city is a kind of open-air museum.
Roman theater
The first mention of Trieste is found in the book of Julius Caesar's 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 Octavian 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 see the gladiatorial battles, were preserved, it makes a strong impression. The theater is used for its intended purpose, musical events are held here.
Funicular tram Opichina
The Tranvia di Opicina tram route starts from Area Oberdan; flights operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The tram is at the same time a funicular going uphill and going down. 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 the stairs of 500 steps. The sight is exceptional: in the cave there are stalagmites 12 m high, especially beautiful ones with light. The cave is maintained at a temperature of 12 ° C to ensure uninterrupted operation of the instruments.
After the cave, you can visit the Museum of Speleology, which contains interesting exhibits telling about the geology of the region, as well as finds of paleontologists.
Traveling around Trieste and sightseeing in the vicinity will open new pages in the history and culture of the past and present, introduce you to the unique objects of nature. The historical and cultural appearance of Trieste represents a harmonious unity of the features of Italian and Austrian architecture and represents a fascinating dialogue of cultures, we recommend.
