This (unknown) Italian city is booming
Lists, I love them. In all shapes and sizes, but especially travel lists I often refer to. Booking.com just happened to share the – according to them – ten trending destinations, including an Italian city that takes the spotlight. Any idea which city this is? You can drink the absolute best coffee there and admire professional sailors. Still no clue? Trieste, it is. The city is ranked fourth – yes, that's something to be proud of – and has caught my attention to choose this promising city for a city trip. I have already started finding the coolest activities and the most beautiful gems of the city. That needs to be enjoyed with a drink – and in Trieste, they always do that with spritz bianco.
The Italian city of Trieste
The city is located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, near Slovenia and on the Gulf of Trieste. Until 1977, Trieste was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Only after the Treaties of Osimo did the province definitively come into the hands of Italy. So don't be surprised if you miss the Italian atmosphere here. The various influences make the city particularly special and interesting for anyone who can appreciate a history lesson. Trieste is one of the most underrated cities in Italy. That promises something.
8 coolest things to do in Trieste
1. Visit the largest seaside square in Europe
I don't know if it's just me, but during a city trip, I prefer to hop from terrace to terrace. Preferably with a view of the sea, a crowd of people (there's nothing better than unabashedly people-watching?) or some splendor. At Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia, it can all be done. It is rightly called the beating heart of Trieste. Fun fact: concerts are held regularly.
2. Wander through la città vecchia
The fact that the city was once part of Austria is clearly visible in the old town. Stroll through Italian alleys and past Austrian buildings. Don't want to wander aimlessly through the city? Set Google Maps to Teatro Romano or walk to San Giusto, where you'll find a museum in a castle. At Arco di Ricardo – an ancient Roman city gate – you can join one of the many restaurants.
3. Count sailboats during the La Barcolana
I personally find sailing not that exciting, but when there are hundreds of boats in the water, I find it worth watching. This is the case during ‘La Barcolana’ – the most famous sailing race in the Mediterranean. The atmosphere is already great a week in advance. At sea, but also on land. Want to go there this year? Keep the month of October free.
4. Visit Castello Miramare
In the intro, I already mentioned that I would share the most beautiful gems of the city with you. Castello Miramare looks stunning and is, in my opinion, the most beautiful in the city. Or rather, it is a twenty-minute drive outside Trieste. The 19th-century white castle has 22 botanical gardens, is situated on a rock, and overlooks the sea. Inside, with all the tapestries, chandeliers, and paintings, it is beautiful, but the view of Trieste and the Slovenian coastline makes the location absolutely stunning.
5. The city of coffee
Illy – who doesn't know it? The roots of this coffee brand lie in Trieste, so that means: strong coffee on every corner of the street. The Italians seem to gather at Caffè degli Specchi, so you know what to do. You probably know that they drink coffee in Italy like the best, but our Italian coffee guide will surely come in handy here.
6. Walk through the world's largest caves
I always get spontaneously claustrophobic when I hear the word ‘caves’ and ’tour’ in one sentence, but for those who do enjoy it, Trieste is a paradise. With a length of 280 meters, a width of 65 meters, and a height of 100 meters, Grotta Gigante is the world's largest cave complex. You can admire the 12-meter-long stalagmite La Colonna di Ruggero here. You wouldn't want to miss that, would you?
7. Meet the girls of Trieste
While Rome is known for the Colosseum and the Amalfi Coast for its stunning beaches, Trieste also has something in store for us. ‘The girls of Trieste’ is what I'm talking about, located at Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia. The statue symbolizes the fact that Trieste, after a turbulent history, became part of Italy again.
8. Come face to face with writer James Joyce
Yes, the Irish writer, known for his books ‘Ulysses’ and ‘Finnegans Wake’, spent no less than fifteen years of his life in Trieste. His experiments with language make him one of the most influential writers from Ireland. That's worth a statue. And you can find it next to the Ponte Rosso.
