Trieste

Trieste's charm stretches up to the sea between Piazza Unità d'Italia with its elegant buildings, and Borgo Teresiano, an emblem of a cross between cultures, languages, ethnicities and religions. Its architecture is a harmonious blend of the Neoclassic, Art Nouveau, the eclectic and the Baroque, which harmoniously coexist with Roman ruins and 18th-century Habsburg buildings. There are plenty of holiday promotions for Trieste that allow you to discover the city's myriad of sights, its Central European personality and its nature reserves.

If you'd like to begin your tour from the oldest part of the city, then head over to San Giusto. You'll be on the hill that looms over Trieste, site of the first Roman settlement where the ancient Tergeste stood. From here you can admire the San Giusto Castle, which houses the City Museum. If you love to photograph panoramas, take a walk amongst the ramparts and loopholes of the walls to enjoy a view of the entire city from the hills to the sea. The next stop is Piazza della Cattedrale where you can visit the Cathedral of San Giusto, which was erected on an early-Christian structure. Behind it is the History and Art Museum, whose atrium houses statues found during the excavation of the Roman Theatre and the Orto Lapidario (Rock Garden), which is home to Roman and medieval relics from the Trieste area.

Towards the Rotonda Pancera stands the Arco di Riccardo, one of the ancient gates in the Roman walls. Leaving the narrow streets and alleys of the Old City quarter behind, in Via del Teatro you can admire the well-preserved Roman Theatre, which once was right on the seaside. Although the coast is further away today, the view is still enchanting. If you're not in a hurry, we highly recommend a visit to the Antiquarium to admire the findings from the necropolis.

Piazza Unità d'Italia in the heart of Trieste is surrounded by beautiful neoclassical buildings. Here you can get a feel for what the city was like in the 19th century, since the atmosphere seems to have remained intact, taking you back to the age of the elegant cafés of Trieste frequented by important figures of Central European culture. These places revive the spirit of the golden age of Trieste, the border town. There are some historic cafés on the square, like Caffè Tommaseo and Caffè San Marco, once authentic literary salons assiduously frequented by Italo Svevo, James Joyce, Umberto Saba and many others.

Also on the square stands the Palazzo del Municipio, designed by architect Giuseppe Bruni with an eclectic style, flanked on both sides by the Palazzo Modello, also by Bruni, and Casa Stratti, which houses the Caffè degli Specchi. Next are the Palazzo del Governo, Palazzo del Lloyd Triestino and Palazzo Pitteri, a symbol of the Baroque in Trieste. Across from Palazzo Pitteri, you can admire the fountain made by Mazzoleni. Nearby you can visit other beautiful squares like Piazza Verdi and Piazza della Borsa, with a statue of Leopold I and the Palazzo della Borsa Vecchia (today the seat of the Chamber of Commerce).

Moving towards the coast, you'll reach Borgo Teresiano, built around the Grand Canal where sailing vessels once docked. Here numerous buildings belonging to 18th-century traders and businessmen gave shape to the typical face of Trieste with their neoclassical style. Amongst the most famous are Palazzo Tergesteo, Palazzo Carciotti, the Church of Sant'Antonio Taumaturgo at the end of the canal, Teatro Verdi and the Stock Exchange building. Other significant examples are Rotonda Pancera, Casa Steiner and Palazzo Gopcevich. This quarter is also symbolic of this multi-ethnic multicultural city. Indeed, most churches of the city's various religions are here, built after the edict declaring freedom of worship. You can start with the Serbian Orthodox Church of San Spiridione, with its unmistakeable light blue cupolas and Byzantine mosaic façade. In Via Tre Novembre stands the Greek Orthodox Church of San Nicolò and in Largo Panfili, the Neo-Gothic Evangelic Church. In Via San Francesco you'll find the Synagogue, one of the most important in Europe.

If you still have time, Miramare Castle, standing on a peak overhanging the Gulf of Trieste, is definitely worth visiting. Surrounded by a large park as well as by the Oasi Marina, it symbolises the close ties that united Trieste and Vienna for nearly two centuries.

A stroll along the Molo Audace pier offers an unforgettable view of Trieste. Your gaze will plunge into the blue sea, then soar up to Miramare Castle and finally be enraptured by all the lights of the city. It's especially impressive at sunset. For dinner, if you'd like to enjoy some traditional local seafood dishes, you can try Bottega di Trimalcione, a fantastic tiny restaurant in the popular district of San Giacomo, or Antica Trattoria Suban, rich with Central European influence, near the Galleria del Tergesteo. A historic café not to be overlooked is Stella Polare. These and many other sights await you in this magical city, thanks to the numerous last minute holiday promotions for Trieste.