Is Trieste a city worth visiting?
What to do around Trieste? Trieste, located in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, is one of the most fascinating and representative cities of Italy: overlooking the Gulf of the same name, it has always attracted visitors because of its unmistakable s border town atmosphere, its port being one of the major trade hubs towards Eastern Europe. Trieste sits on the coast of the Upper Adriatic between Italy and Istria, just a short distance from Slovenia, and features a blend of Mediterranean and Central European cultural traits.
These characteristics can be seen in a number of unique locations and are nowhere to be found in other parts of the Peninsula: the city, often cited in the verses of poet Umberto Saba, carries with it the reputation of being “schiva e pensosa” (shy and thoughtful), we prefer to describe it as fascinating and surprising, and not to be missed if you are traveling with Dragonfly Tours to discover the true Italy, in all its aspects.
What to see in Trieste?
This is an easy question to answer, we start with the greatest attraction for those who visit this city, Piazza dell’Unità.
Piazza Unità d’Italia and Molo Audace
The people of Trieste boast this this is the piazza that overlooks the largest sea in Europe, and it probably is. It is a place where borders don’t seem to exist because the eye is drawn to view of the sea and its apparently endless horizon, and we are filled with awe when we turn to see the imposing buildings that surround the three remaining sides of the rectangular piazza: the imposing Palace of the Austrian Lieutenancy, now the Town Hall, the Palazzo Lloyd, now the seat of the region, and Palazzo Stratti where we find one of the oldest cafés in Trieste, the historic Caffè degli Specchi.
Observing these buildings from the perspective of the Molo Audace is priceless, especially in the evening when the lights are reflected in the water, and a stroll along the almost 250 meter-long pier offers unforgettable views.
Castello Miramare
The Miramare Castle and the adjoining Park of the same name date back to 1855. Built on the rocky promontory of Grignano following the wishes of Maximilian of Habsburg. Today, the castle, and its 22-hectare park, are one of the most visited sites in the city. 6 km from the center, the Habsburg residence is a mix of Gothic, Renaissance and medieval motifs which reflects the eclectic style of its architect Carl Junker. The Park, built to conserve rare species of trees and plants, was created with the same architectural mastery, exploiting the skills of botanical experts from the Lombardy region of Veneto.
La Grotta Gigante, an unexpected cave in the city
This place is truly a surprise in the urban context of a city.
This is the Grotta Gigante, a geological conformation of karstic origin that has been open to tourism since the early 1900s. It is considered a world record winning cave because it holds the largest natural chamber in the world among the caves open to the public. The route for guided tours is about 850 m long and it reaches a depth of 101 m below the surface.
What more do you need to convince you to book your tour of Trieste? Take this opportunity to embark on an unusual journey and explore a city that will give you lifelong memories.