Explore Trieste
Miramare Castle
The Miramare Castle was the residence of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg and his wife Charlotte of Belgium. The Castle, facing the sea, is located on a rocky promontory karst, leaning towards the Gulf of Trieste, and built between 1856 and 1860 at the behest of Archduke Maximilian of Austria.
The Archduke followed the design of the dwelling and the construction of its large park (over 22 hectares), an English and Italian garden full of rare plants, sculptures and ponds, with wide steps leading down to the sea.
The castle has over 20 rooms: of particular value are the "Massimiliano Sale" and the "Throne Room".
The castle overlooks a protected marine area by the WWF, which offers interesting activities for kids.
>> 15 minutes from SeaTrieste: how to reach it
Piazza Unità d'Italia and Molo Audace
Piazza Unità d'Italia, the living room of Trieste, is the largest square in Europe overlooking the sea. Once it was called St. Peter's Square, then "Piazza Grande" (the "Large Square"). It was named Piazza Unità when Trieste was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy after 1918. In 1955, when Trieste was again annexed to Italy with the dissolution of the Free Territory of Trieste, the square took its current name.
Piazza Unità "stretches" to the sea with an "arm" long 246 meters: the Molo Audace. Observe the city from the top of the pier is exciting, especially at sunset hour. Take the time for a relaxing walk.
The Old Town
"Zità Vecia" in local language, it is the historic center and the oldest area of Trieste. It includes three districts:
> Cavana: pedestrian, with small alleys and quaint square and with an intimate and at the same time a little 'worldly. Great hangout for cocktails.
"Then, come in via Cavana, I had to slow down to the crowd that blocked the narrow way." Italo Svevo, "Confessions of Zeno", 1923.
> San Giusto: the hill of the same name where the cathedral and the castle are, described below.
> Old Jewish Ghetto: it covers the area behind Piazza Unità and was founded by Leopold I of Austria. The ghetto initially housed a hundred Jews and it was closed by high walls with three entrances. The doors were opened in 1784. It now houses antique shops, art shops and local crafts. Flea market on the second Sunday of the month.
Castle and Cathedral of San Giusto
In 1382 Trieste, worn out by the constant Venetian reprisals, signed the Act of Voluntary Annexation to the Austrian Empire, under which the city retained its autonomy, under the protection of an Imperial Captain. So it was that in 1468, Frederick III ordered the construction, at the citizens' expense, of a Fortified House flanked by a tower, on top of the hill of San Giusto.
Over the centuries, around the House of the Captain, three sides of today's triangular perimeter were added.
At the entrance you can admire the original statue of "Mikeze and Jakeze", the two automata that mark the hours on the bell tower of the Municipality of Trieste facing Piazza Unità. The Cathedral of San Giusto is located just in front of the Castle.
The Giant Cave (Grotta Gigante)
The Giant Cave is the tourist cave with the largest room in the world, entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995. It consists of an enormous cavity from 365,000 cubic meters volume, with incredible dimensions: height 98.5 m., length 167.6 m. and width 76.3 m. The guided tour takes place over a distance of 850 meters, takes about 1 hour and descend up to 100 meters deep. The internal temperature is constant and equal to 11° C.
You can also visit an educational center and the Scientific Speleological Museum, or join an "Underground Aperitif". See more.
A suggestion: please contact the Info Point of the Giant Cave in advance, to ensure service availability and more details.
The Karst of Trieste
The karst plateau has a great ecological importance, both for its particular geology and for its typical flora and fauna.
Just in the passageway between the Atlantic and continental climate, the Karst create microclimates that enrich the flora making it unique in its species and the landscape, with its icontrasts between stone and vegetation, turned in a poetic red-orange during the autumn season.
Do not miss a tour of the "osmize", houses and cellars of farmers, where you can taste and buy cold cuts, sausages, cheese, olive oil and wine. You will recognize them by the typical bough hanging in front of the house. Feel free to ask us more details :-)