Trieste City Break

We invite you to visit Trieste, the marvellous Italian port town on the border with Slovenia. This bohemian city is renowned for its coffee culture and intellectual tradition. Did you know that James Joyce and his wife Nora lived here for over a decade? Apparently it was here where he started to wok on his masterpiece Ulysses. Other grat minds that wandered the the streets of Trieste were Rainer Maria Rikle, Umberto Saba and even young Sigmund Freud. Why don’t you follow their steps?

HISTORY OF TRIESTE

Although the area has been settled since the third millennium BC and was known in the roman times as Tergeste, the interesting history of Trieste actually started much later. After acquiring the status of a free city in 1295, Trieste found itself in a constant struggle to resist Venetian influence. Fearing loss of its independence eventually led this small seaside town to place itself under the protection of the Habsburgs, who were committed to respecting and protecting Trieste’s integrity and civic freedom. The royal house kept is promise for the next couple of centuries and in 1719 Trieste was even given the status of a free port, meaning no importing/exporting taxes were implied. This economic policy was further supported by Maria Theresa who acceded the throne in 1840, allowing Trieste to become the main port of the Habsburg Empire and one of the biggest in entire Europe. It was during her reign that the city was given a complete make over worthy of it status. The autonomy of Trieste ended when Napoleon took control of this area in the beginning of the 19th century and although it was returned to the Austrian crown just a few years later, it never got back its privileges as a free port. Nevertheless Trieste continued to grow and flourish after it obtain a railway connection to Vienna in 1857 and soon become the forth biggest city in the Empire.

Due to its long status as a free city and an important trading centre, Trieste has always been a colourful and heterogenic place. New immigrants were mainly arriving from the Adriatic regions of Istria, Veneto, Dalmatia, Friuli and Slovenia; but also continental Europe (Austria, Hungary) and the Balkans (Serbs, Greeks, etc.), creating an interesting melting pot that still influences the cultural scene of the city.

After WWI and collapse of the Autro-Hungarian Empire, this cosmopolitan city was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy which – being one of the winning powers – also gained the whole Istrian peninsula. Between both world wars this region was heavily italianised by the fascist regime which led to a strong kickback after Italy’s defeat in WWII when Yugoslavia reclaimed most of the territory. Trieste, however, was left to Italy even though Slovenes represented a majority in this area. We have prepared a special itinerary for everyone who wish to visit Istria and learn more about the fascinating history of its three nations (Croats, Italians and Slovenes). Nowadays, due to the processes of European integration their cultures seem to be more intertwined than ever before.

Visit Trieste – the bohemian capital of espresso

TRIESTE CITY TOUR

If you choose to visit Trieste, you can land at its airport which hosts a few low-cost airlines or connect with Italian flag carrier ITA via one of the country’s mayor air-hubs (Rome or Milan). Alternatively you can also fly to one of Venice‘s two airports and we’ll organise a transfer to a hotel booked for you in Trieste. After you settle in, our professional guide will take you on a tour of the city. You will probably begin your visit in the central neighbourhood known as Borgo Teresiano, named after the Habsburg empress Maria Theresa who made it look so pretty. The wide avenues among neoclassical buildings will remind you of Vienna, but the vast Piazza Unità d’Italia opened towards the Adriatic Sea will reconfirm you are actually in a coastal town.

In the afternoon you can expand your tour of Trieste by visiting the fairy-tale white castle of Miramare, 7 kilometres north of the city. Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian had it built in the 19th century, but died in combat before it was finished. Legend has it that everyone who spends a night at the castles goes mad – that is what happened to Archduke’s wife Carlotta. Nevertheless, you can’t really sleep here as Miramare has been turned into a museum and together with the gorgeous park that surrounds it attracts numerous visitors as one of the primer tourist sites in the area. At dinnertime your driver can take you to the sleepy, but pretty, fishing village of Muggia south of Trieste. It’s a pleasant place to enjoy fresh sea food and take an evening passeggiata.

Explore the surroundings by taking daily excursions from Trieste 

DAILY EXCURSIONS FROM TRIESTE

When you decide to visit Trieste, you should also take into consideration its interesting surroundings, full of rich history and beautiful nature. One of the most popular daily excursions from Trieste is the archaeological area of Aquileia. This UNESCO-recognised site used to be one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire. After the Patriarchate of Aquileia was founded in 314 AD, the great Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta was built. Its extraordinary mosaic pavement is considered the earliest surviving remnant of any Christian church. When the barbaric invasion started to become more common, Aquileia (a Patriarchate from 560 AD) lost its status to the nearby Grado, which was protected by the lagoon. Both towns can be easily visited on a daily tour from Trieste.

Other interesting towns in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia province are Udine, Cividale del Friuli and Gorizia. After Trieste, Udine is the biggest city in the region, known for its grand architecture and art galleries. Alongside the picturesque Cividale del Friuli it was one of the frontier towns of imperial Rome and later prospered under the Venetian rule. The history of the nearby, Gorizia – located by the Slovenian border – is a bit different, as it was mostly influenced by the Habsburgs. The town is interesting for having a younger sister just on the other side of the border named Nova Gorica (New Gorica). Since the fall of the EU borders both cities are slowly merging into one. Here you can also visit the Franciscan monetary of Kostanjevica, the burial place of the last French king Charles X. The monastery is especially known for its garden of roses.

Trieste is just a short drive from the Slovenian coast where you can easily spend the whole day. Your driver guide will probably first take you to Piran, a lovely Venetian town situated on a long peninsula. You are invited to explore its narrow streets and enjoy the amazing views from its historic walls. Equally charming, but usually less busy is Izola just a short drive away. In the afternoon, you can visit Koper, the main city in the Slovenian coast and take walk along its elegant promenade. If you choose to visit Trieste, this daily excursion is simply a must!

Also very interesting is the hinterland of Trieste. Your driver guide can show you around the region of Karst on the Slovenian side of the border. It was this particular area that gave name to the karstic phenomena all over the world. This special type of topography is formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such is limestone and is characterised by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. Its fertile soil is very suitable for growing wines and there are numerous vineyards where you can taste local produce. Among regions greatest attractions are the Lipica Stud Farm and the beautiful UNESCO-protected Skocjan caves.

Tours from Trieste can easily be extended all the way to Slovenian capital of Ljubljana or the Alpine wanders of Bled, Bohinj and Soca River. Due to its proximity to the border, many of our guests choose Trieste’s airport as the arrival/departure point when they travel to Slovenia. We can pick you up and transfer you to Ljubljana right away. Being in the very heart of the country, Ljubljana is a great base to explore the rest of Slovenia. From there you can continue your travels to Croatia or even further south. Remember, we are a local tourist agency specialised in personalised tours all over the Balkans.