Monuments and natural beauties

• Palazzo Gopcevich: this Renaissance palace was designed by architect Berlam in 1850. It is on Canal Grande.
• Canal Grande: it was made in 1700 to allow sail boats to dock in the heart of the town. 
• Palazzo Carciotti: this palace is on Canal Grande. It is the most beautiful example of neoclassical architecture in Trieste. It was designed by architect Pertsch in 1805. It is a big and elegant palace of the homonymous rich Greek merchant. The proportions are perfect and the façade has an ashlars base supporting six white Ionic columns. The dome is made of copper and is decorated with a bronze eagle.
• Piazza della Borsa: this square is like a triangle surrounded by different ages palaces. There is the so-called palace of Borsa Vecchia (Stock Exchange), by architect Mollari. This building is in neoclassical style and has a pronaos with four big Doric columns. Outside there are allegorical statues portraying Asia, Volcano, Europe, Africa, Mercury, and America. On its right side there is Palazzo Dreher (Borsa nuova), with its curved and rich façade. In the middle there is a column with the bronze statue of Emperor Leopold I of Habsburg made in 1673. On the left there is palazzo Romano built in 1760-70, modified in 1919, a beautiful example of Baroque art of Trieste.
• Casa Batoli: this house was designed by architect Fabiani and built in 1905. There are big windows and the roof is richly decorated.  
• Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia: this is the heart of Trieste. It was recently transformed thanks to the project (1999 – 2001) by French architect Huet. It is like a big (16.000 m²) and regular rectangle, surrounded by big palaces: Palazzo Comunale, by architect Giuseppe Bruni, built in 1872; this palace has a really elaborated structure in which two side wings meet in a central building. It is decorated by a tower, Torre dell’Orologio, surmounted by two characters that are part of the local folklore: “Mikeze” and “Jakeze”, bronze statues that act as the clappers of the bell. Then there is Palazzo del Lloyd Triestino, a Renaissance style building in which there was one of the most ancient navigation companies (whose ships travelled in the whole world), designed by Austrian architect Heinrich von Ferstel. There is also former Palazzo Vanoli, a liberty building built in 1875 and Palazzo Pitteri, by architect Moro (1780), the only one built before 1870. It has a classical style. There is also the Baroque column supporting the statue of Charles VI, who is considered very important in the story of the town. In the square there is a XVIII century fountain, called dei Quattro Continenti and the XIX century house, casa Stratti, the seat of the famous café Caffè degli Specchi.
• Palazzo del Governo: this palace was built in 1905 by Austrian architect Hartmann. The façade is really beautiful and has a big covered terrace, on the middle portico. The upper part it is covered by glass mosaics from Murano (there are small allegorical heads, medals with the cross of Savoy family, etc.) and the lower part it is covered by white stone. From the terrace visitors can admire the beautiful view of the square, of the port and of the gulf. In the brightest days even the Alps are visible. The inner decorations are beautiful and rich.  
• Castello di San Giusto: the castle is on the homonymous hill, and dominates Trieste. It was built by the governor of Venice since 1368. Inside there is a museum, Museo Civico, that contains some interesting local works of art and a rich arms collection, whose items were donated by the richest and most important families of Trieste. From there it is possible to admire a wonderful panorama; it is possible to see the ancient part, with its alley, the narrow streets, the stairs and the XVIII century district, called Teresiano.
• Orto Lapidario: here there are the ancient findings of this area, collected by Domenico Rossetti. There is also the monument (in neoclassical style) dedicated to the German archaeologist Winkelmann, murdered in Trieste.
• Castello di Miramare: Maximilian of Habsburg ordered to build this castle. He was the brother of the Emperor, Francis Joseph, and he arrived in Trieste in 1850 for the first time with his wife, Charlotte of Belgium. Maximilian was an admiral of the Austrian fleet and in 1854 he decided to live in Trieste. He chose to build a castle on the hill of Miramare and ordered the project to architect Junker (1856) giving him very precise indications. The furniture is perfectly preserved. Maximilian dedicated himself to design the park: he chose exotic and rare plants that recalled his many journeys. He was eventually killed in Mexico and it is said that Charlotte went mad for the sorrow. According to a legend over this castle there is a curse, people believe that its inhabitants will die young and in a violent manner. Near the castle there are the stables, today they are used for exhibitions. Many statues and sculptures decorate the gardens.
• Caffè Tommaseo: it is one of the most ancient in Trieste. It was open in 1830 by a citizen from Padua, Tomaso Marcato, who gave his name to the café. This place was really loved by artists and merchants and in 1848 it received the name of the famous Dalmatian writer and patriot, Tommaseo. After the murder of Guglielmo Oberdan, that marked the triumph of Austrians, the café took back its original name. Then on 3^rd November 1918 Trieste passed to Italy and the name Tommaseo was used again. One of the typical foods that could be eaten was the ice-cream. An anecdote: on 29^th September 1830 the Cafè was probably owned by countess Lipomana. She actually was the widow of Gioacchino Murat, Carolina Bonaparte. Since 7^th April 1954 the café has been protected, like other cafés, as an artistic and historical monument.
• Caffè S. Marco: people went there to read the newspapers, to play billiards. Young patriots also met in this café and prepared false documents to escape from Italy. On 23^rd May 1915 some Austrian soldiers destroyed the café. The style is that of Austrian cafés, with rich decorations made of flowers. There also naked figures painted in the medals on the walls. Coffee leaves decorate the rooms, too. Tables are made on marble with a pig iron support. The pedestal of the table is supported by lion’s legs, the lion of Saint Mark. This symbol was chosen by the first owner to celebrate Italy and its patriots. The arrangement of the tables is really loved by chess-players.
• Caffè Tergesteo: it has been since 1863 in front of a famous theatre, “Giuseppe Verdi”. Windows are coloured and portray episodes taken from local history. The famous Italian poet, Umberto Saba, dedicated a poem to this café: “Caffè Tergeste… tu concili l’italo e lo slavo, a tarda notte, lungo il tuo bigliardo”.
• Tergesteo: this big palace was built in the first half of 1800 by a company of local merchants and the project was by architects Buttazzoni and Bruyn. The main façade is enriched by sculptures; the main feature of the building is the gallery with a glass vault, designed by Pizzola, from Milan; teenagers and young people usually meet here when bora blows.  
• Chiesa di S. Silvestro: this is the most ancient church in town and it was probably built in the place where the house of martyrs Eufemia and Tecla was. It has some peculiar features and it is really important from a historical perspective, this is why it was declared a national monument. Today the basilica is used by the Reformed evangelic church. The church was built in Romanic style around the half of XII century and was ordered by the Bishop Bernardo: the shape is irregular. There is no apse; there is a central nave and two small side aisles. They are separated by columns. In the presbytery there is a marble table portraying the Last Supper: a Bible is on it. At its back there is a Crucifix made of wrought iron in 1700. On a column there is a Middle Ages sinopia, that is the model of a fresco. The vault is decorated in the middle with a lamb: it is the symbol of purity. There are some remains of XIV century frescoes: they portray episodes takes from Emperor Constantine’s life and the Annunciation.
• Monastero benedettino di S. Cipriano: some rooms of this monastery are still perfectly preserved. It contains many paintings and sculptures of XIV-XVI centuries and some silver objects that belonged to the church that was near the monastery. In this monastery there is one of the few enclosed orders of Italy. It has probably been here since 1200.
• Basilica paleocristiana: near Castello di S. Giusto there are the remains of the ancient Roman basilica or courtyard built around 100 a. C. The stone throne of judges is very interesting.
• Chiesa di S. Antonio Nuovo: this wonderful neoclassical church was built by Pietro Nobile and was completed in 1842. It has some features of the Pantheon.
• Chiesa di S. Maria Maggiore: this church is called the Baroque church of Jesuits. There are interesting XIX century works of art, such as a sculpture by Bearzi and some paintings by Bison. It was built between 1627 and 1682 and was widened by Andrea Pozzo.
• Chiesa di S. Spiridione: this Serbian – Orthodox Church was designed in 1869 by architect from Milan Carlo Maciachini. The style is neo-Byzantine and the shape is that of a Greek cross. It contains many works of art: in front of the altar there is a great oil lamp donated by the tsar, Paul I when he visited the town in 1782. The Russian princess Giulia Samojlova donated a rich Evangel covered with gold and silver.
• Chiesa di S. Nicolò: this Greek – Orthodox Church was completed by architect Pertsch in 1821.
• Chiesa Evangelico Luterana: this neo-Gothic building was designed at the end of last century by Austrian architect Zimmerman; glasses come from Bavaria.
• Risiera di San Sabba: this factory was used to husk rice. It was built in 1913 and after 8th September 1943 it was used by Nazis as a prison and has the posting point of prisoners towards the German and Polish camps. Here Nazis stored food, arms, and killed many dissidents, partisans, Hebrews. On 4^th April 1944 there was the start of the crematorium. In 1965 this factory was proclaimed a national monument.
• Foiba di Basovizza: this natural ‘abyss’ was a mineral pit. It was dug at the beginning of XX century to take carbon, but it was soon abandoned because it didn't give a good production. On 29^th and 30^th April 1945, Basovizza became the heart of tragic fights among Yugoslavian forces that wanted to free Trieste and German army. Probably many dead bodies of the soldiers were “buried” in the pit. After a few days the area was crossed by prisoners, military and civil prisoners, directed to Slovenian camps. Many of them were killed. In 1992 a decree by the President of the Republic proclaimed this place a national monument. Today there is a stone plaque containing a prayer and a big cross.
• Cattedrale di S. Giusto: the cathedral is a mix of the two previous ones; the main nave (XIV century), unites the churches of S. Giusto, Patron of the town, and the one dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. There is a charming mosaic portraying Jesus Christ, S. Giusto and S. Servolo. The apse is dedicated to S. Apollinare. The façade has a wonderful Gothic rose-window and it is made of sand stone, like the bell tower. Inside there is a beautiful chapel, Cappella del Tesoro, that contains the famous halberd of S. Sergio, the symbol of Trieste.
• Museo Civico Sartorio: this museum contains a painting portraying the Adoration by the three wise men by Palma il Giovane, a painting by Bartolomeo Montagna, a portrait of Our Lady by Sassoferrato, a rich collection of drawings by Giambattista Tiepolo and beautiful ceramics.
• Museo del Mare: this museum is famous also abroad for its rich collection of ships of any ages. There are relics belonged to G. Ressel, who invented the propeller. One section is dedicated to Marconi and to the ship Elettra.
• Faro della Vittoria: the lighthouse was designed by local architect Arduino Berlam and by sculptor Giovanni Mayer. It illuminates the Gulf and represents a monument dedicated to all those who died in the sea during the First World War. The lighthouse was started in 1923 and ended on 24^th May 1927. It was inaugurated by King Vittorio Emanuele III. The base is on the existing remains of the Austrian fortress and it is covered by stones of Istria. On the monumental column there is a “capital” and a lamp having a bronze and crystal case. On the top of the dome there is a copper statue portraying the Victory.
• Grotta Gigante: this cave is in the homonymous district, at 15 km from the town. It is a very big cave, open to public and it is 65 m large, 280 m long. The vault is like a dome and it is 107 m tall. Inside there are many stalactites and stalagmites. The scientific tools in it create a real rich laboratory.
• Riserva Marina di Miramare: this sea reserve was created in 1986 and it is at the feet of the homonymous rock. The deepest point is 18 m. This is a very precious reserve thanks to its nature. Inside the park a wonderful garden was created: the so-called garden of butterflies.
• Kleine Berlin: these galleries were created by German army as a protection for the soldiers and the workers that worked in the area of the courtyard at the end of the Second World War.
• Museo Revoltella: this museum of modern art was founded in 1872 by Baron Pasquale Revoltella. It contains around 350 works of art (paintings and sculptures) and the rooms are really charming.
• Arco di Riccardo: this arch was ordered by Ottaviano in 33 b.C. According to a legend this arch is linked to Richard the LionHeart, that was made a prisoner in Trieste on his way back from the Holy Land.
• Casa Pancera: this beautiful house was built by Matteo Pertsch in 1818.
• Chiesa di S. Michele al Carnale: a Gothic building of XIV century.
• Resti romani: the Roman ruins are really interesting. There is a temple of I century b.C., some remains of a theatre that could contain up to 6000 people, built at the beginning of II century a.C., a small Antiquarium.
• Chiesa di S. Nicolò dei Greci: this church was built in 1784-87, the façade is neoclassical and it has twin bell towers.
• Palazzo Aedes: this palace is called “skyscraper”.
• Chiesa di S. Antonio Nuovo: this church was built by Pietro Nobile in 1827-42.
• Piazza Ponterosso: this ancient square of Borgo Teresiano takes its name from the bridge that linked the two banks of Canal Grande; there is a XVIII century fountain surmounted by the famous character, called “Giovannin”.
• Museo “Scaramangà di Altomonte”: this museum contains a small but important collection of local art and history.
• Corso Italia: this is the place where the traditional “liston” (a walk) takes place. In 1914 the dead bodies of the archdukes killed in Sarajevo passed through this road toward Vienna.
• Pescheria: this building was designed in 1913 by Giorgio Polli and it contains the fish market. In one wing surmounted by a tower, Torre dell’Orologio, there is an aquarium, with interesting fauna from Adriatic Sea.
• Piazza Oberdan: in this square in 1882 Guglielmo Oberdan was hanged by Austrians.
• Stazione marittima: the maritime station was designed in 1930 by Nordio. The inhabitants of Trieste love to walk along the breakwater, especially at sunset.  
• Sinagoga: this synagogue is considered one of the most beautiful and big in the world. It was built between 1902 and 1910 and was designed by architects R. and A. Berlam that maybe took his inspiration from the ruins of Baalbek, in Asia. They thought that this kind of architecture expressed in the best way the Hebrew style.  

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Written by Stefania Maffeo
Translation by Linda Liguori