The heart and the oldest part of the city was situated on San Giusto hill, in ancient times probably occupied by Celtic people.

Trieste is named for the first time, as a Roman settlement, Tergeste, in a document of the 1st century a.C., when Cisalpine Gallic people obtained the Roman nationality.
All this area was part of the 10th italic region, called “Venetia et Histria”.
Trieste was invaded by Longobard, Byzantine and Frankish people. From 1000 a.C. the first local magistratures began to exist (the Gastaldi) and dangers began to arrive from the sea pirates and from the fights with Venice. The situation was like this till the city made an alliance with the duke Leopold of Austria (1382). From then on the destiny of the city was related to the one of the Asburgo family, who defended the city  by building the Castle of San Giusto, started with Federic the third in 1470 and finished in 1630. Except for very brief periods, Trieste has always been under the Asburgo power till 1918. In 1719 the city got the title of Free Port and new commercial paths connected the city to the rest of the world; so Trieste became the main port of the Austrian Empire.
At the same time the city became an important cultural centre in Central Europe, role that the it keeps also today.

In November 1918, at the end of the First World War,  Trieste passed under Italian rule, but only in 1954, after 9 years under allied control, it was definitely reunited with Italy.

Today Trieste is the most important city of the smallest Italian province and of Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia.
 

SAN GIUSTO CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL

The Castle dominating Trieste from the hill with the same name, was built in 14th century on the site of an older fortress; it was enlarged and completed between the 16th and 17th centuries. It was the residence of captains of the empire who governed the city in the past. Close to the Castle there is the Cathedral, symbol of the city, erected in 14th century when two Romanesque basilica of the 11th century were joined. The front of the cathedral is dominated by a big Gothic rosette and three portals. The bell-tower, of the 13th Century, was built on the  ruins of a Romanesque temple’s propylaeum.

ARCH OF RICCARDO

In the heart of the ancient part of the city, the Arch of Riccardo, quite englobed in a house, stands in an urban area where a restoration project is having place. Erected in Augustan Era (33 b.C.), it was one of the doors of the ancient roman walls. Today it is all that remain of Roman Republican period  in Trieste. The arch is nearby Piazza dell’ Unita’ d’Italia.

ROMAN THEATRE

The Roman theatre was brought to light in 1938, during excavation works in the ancient part of the city. It was erected in Augustan period and restored by Quinto Petronio Modesto a minister of Traiano Emperor. It seated 6000 spectators and the stage faced the sea. At that time, the sea arrived at the base of the San Giusto hill. The theatre staged Plauto’s comedy, Greek tragedy and later, the games of the Gladiators. Nowadays the theatre is used to stage many different genres.
 

PIAZZA PONTEROSSO

This square takes its name from the color of the drawbridge which connected the two banks of the canal till 1750 when the reclamation works of salterns started. The charm of this square is exalted by the beauty of Serb-Orthodox San Spiridione and Sant’Antonio churches.
 

BORSA VECCHIA

Built at the beginning of 19th century, in a Neoclassic style, the Borsa Vecchia, housing the Chamber of Commerce and it face the square called in the same way. Next to the square stands one of the most representative example of Liberty style in Trieste: Casa Bartoli (1905), designed by architect Max Fabiani. Nearby here is another important building, in a singular Baroque style: Casa Rusconi which its galleria Tergesteo housing one of the most traditional and particular Café of Trieste. In the centre of the square stands a bronze statue of Habsburg Emperor Leopold I (1673).

PIAZZA UNITÀ

In a spectacular position, in front of the sea, this is one of the most beautiful European square.
A large rectangular shape bordered with impressive palaces such as: tha Palazzo del Municipio designed by Bruni, the Palazzo Modello, that dates 18th century, also by Bruni, the Casa Stratti, the Palazzo del Governo, the Palazzo Lloyd Triestino, designed by the architect Ferstel, Hotel Duchi d’Aosta, by Geringer, the Palazzo Pitteri by Ulderico Moro. In front of the entrance of the Palazzo Comunale stands the Fontana dei 4 Continenti. The most important social and cultural events of the city take place in this square.

TEATRO VERDI

Opened on 21st April 1801, It is the eldest theatre in the city. Built by architect Pertsch, inspired by the Teatro allla Scala in Milan. In 1901 when the famous Italian composer died, the theatre was called with his name: G.Verdi.Restored in 1997, during winter stages the Opera season, and in summer the traditional and famous Opera Festival. In a elegant neoclassic style, this “temple” of Opera and Classic music is situated on the promenade of Trieste.
 

TOMMASEO CAFÈ

The Caffe’ Tommaseo, very close to Piazza dell’ Unita’ d’Italia and the Teatro Verdi, is located in the most glamorous part of the city. With its old tradition is one of the legendary Café of Italy, and the most ancient in Trieste. Opened in 1830 by Tommaso Marcato from Padua, decorated by Gatteri, featuring big mirrors imported from Belgium.
In 1997, it was restored and redecorated, according to the original Viennese tradition.

RIVE

Along the sea-side of Trieste you can find a lot of  buildings and infrastructures which marked its history. Such as: the Pescheria Centrale, the Railway Station of Campo Marzio, housing the Railway Museum, the Vecchia Lanterna, the Lloyd Arsenale, the Molo Audace and the Molo Bersaglieri where stands the Stazione Marittima, a building of  Thirties.

HISTORICAL PALACES

In Trieste there are really a lot of historical palaces, in Neoclassic style, the already mentioned Palazzo delle Borsa Vecchia e Galleria Tergesteo, but also the Palazzo Costanzi, Villa Necker, the Palazzo Carciotti and the Palazzo Tommaseo. In Gothic style there is the Arsenale del Lloyd, and between the Eclectic styled we have to remember the Palazzo delle Poste, the Palazzo del Municipio and the Railway Station of Campo Marzio.
 

COSTIERA TRIESTINA

The Trieste Riviera starts from Duino and ends in Muggia at the Slovenia boundary. It is made of  spectacular rocks jutting out over the sea (“falesie”). From these wonderful places along the coast you can enjoy a panorama without equal, the Sistiana bay, the Grignano bay, the Riviera of  Barcola , the white beautiful Miramare Castle, the sea-side of Muggia  and a lot of gorgeous spots along the Gulf.

DUINO CASTLE

The “New castle”, of 13th Century , with its position vertically on the sea, is one of the most beautiful noble residence of the region.
Nearby the are the ruins of the elder “Old castle” of 11th Century, famous for its poetic female character the Dama Bianca (White Lady). The legend narrates that she was pushed in to the sea by her cruel husband and became a stone.
Recently among Duino has been discovered an interesting archeological site, where were found skeletons of pre-historic reptiles, living in this area 78 millions years ago.
In this area are very interesting to visit also the Timavo River, the “Castellieri” and the ancient Karst Caves.

ROCCA OF MONRUPINO

The Rocca of Monrupino has been originally a pre-historic "castelliere" then Roman fortified castrum, eventually impregnable fortress against the Turkish hordes. In year 1512 a previously existing sacred building was replaced by a church devoted to the Holy Virgin. It exhibits a polygonal abside and a single aisless nave; on the portal there are visible remains of frescos probably dating to 18th Century; the roof is made of stony slabs. The 19m high bell-tower joining the front is the actual entrance to the church.The panorama on the surrounded land is really spectacular

MIRAMARE CASTLE

In a beautiful panoramic position on the rocks facing the seaside, the castle was built in white stone between 1856 and 1860, committed by archduke Maximilian of Austria and his wife Carlotta. The inside part is extremely luxurious with rooms of different styles and characteristics. In 1955 it became a National Museum open to visitors. Outside the castle a huge park hosts rare and exotic plants from all over the world.

MUGGIA CASTLE

Muggia is one of the six district of Trieste, situated in the extreme SE  province, surrounded by the Slovenian border. In the Citta’ Vecchia, it retains only few memories of its early ages as an important Roman fortified centre, (the Via Flavia from Tergeste to Pola, passed trough this centre).
Only a part of the ancient walls of the castle is still visible, with the Porta di Levante and of San Ulderico and the Romanesque Basilica of  Santa Maria Assunta. Of Medieval period, the Basilica was built in 14th Century, during Aquileia domination, before the Venetian one.

CARSO TRIESTINO

The Carso is certainly one of the most studied and investigated area of the world. However after the Second World War its extension was reduced.
Thanks to the particular geo-morphology of the soil, the Carso is full of (over 2000) underground caves, often made by fossil.
The Grotta Skilan with its 6 kilometers of length and 375 meters of depth is the biggest of the area.
Other famous caves are: the Grotta di Trebiciano, (where at 350 meters of depth Timavo River flows), the wonderful Grotta Gualtiero Savi, (with 4 kilometers of galleries), the Timavo Complex, with underwater excursions, and the famous Grotta Gigante, so huge that could contain the Duomo of Milan. And there are still many others to explore!