Visit Castello di San Giusto to walk in the footsteps of Trieste’s ancient rulers. Gaze over the city’s rooftops from the castle walls and spot displays of paintings, period furniture and weaponry. Established by Frederick III of Hapsburg in the second half of the 1400s, Castello di San Giusto stands on the site of a former Roman fort and urban centre. The Venetians and Austrians later redeveloped the castle into the solid and arresting structure that exists today.
Enter the castle via a wooden drawbridge that passes over a small moat to an arched vestibule. This leads to the Cortile delle Milizie, a vast courtyard surrounded by imposing bastions and towers. Pause to envisage a time when the castle would have been the cultural heart of medieval Trieste.
Climb the steps to the top of the ramparts, which afford uninterrupted views and superb photo opportunities of the city’s architectural landscape. Spot notable landmarks such as the Roman Theatre. Look west over the Gulf of Trieste and east toward the hills of Val Rosandra Reserve.
Housed in the castle’s rooms is the Museo Civico del Castello. Walk up a resplendent 20th-century staircase to discover exhibitions of art and weapons. Find antique furniture, paintings, sculptures and tapestries. Admire Baroque painter Andrea Celesti’s Il Trionfo di Venezia (The Triumph of Venice). See knight’s armour, crossbows, muskets and swords, among other objects, in the arsenal.
Castello di San Giusto sits on San Giusto Hill and above Trieste’s old town. It’s about a 15-minute uphill walk from Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia. Public buses stop at the castle, if you don’t feel like walking, and parking is available on the surrounding streets. Combine your visit with a peek inside the adjacent Cathedral of San Giusto, home to an interesting series of frescoes and mosaics that date back to the 1200s.
Castello di San Giusto and the Museo Civico del Castello are open from Tuesday to Sunday. The admission fee includes access to both the castle walls and museum or, alternatively, you can pay to visit the walls only. Information about the current museum exhibitions and special events is detailed on the castle’s official website.
