Trieste: the melting pot of Eastern Italy
- Blogtrotters
- 4 gen 2018
- Tempo di lettura: 4 min
A couple of months ago Giulia did her annual trip to Trieste, the city where she studied university.
Due to his location on the in the extreme East of Italy, on the border with Slovenia, Croatia and close to Austria, Trieste is an incredible mix of cultures, that you can see in the architecture, in the food tradition and in the language variety.
The city's vibe is simply unique, on her first visit 7 years ago, Giulia completely fell for this city and the university memories made it even more special.
This article wants to show the city’s atmosphere and to suggest the experiences and places that you absolutely can't miss. The list would be endless, but I here is our top 7 :)
Admire the sunset on Molo Audace
Molo Audace is the walkway extending about 200 metres out to sea situated right in front of the famous Piazza Unità. It’s a magical place from where you can enjoy a fantastic view over the sea and the huge square, which has become the main symbol of the city. Here you’ll find people walking, couples on their first date and you can simple sit down and admire the beautiful sunset (or a storm) over the sea. The colours and the light will leave you speechless.
2. Get a coffee in Caffè San Marco
Coffee is a very sensitive topic in Italy, and especially in Trieste. First, if you want to order coffee like a local you need to learn all the names that local people give to the different types of coffee. This is a small guide that can help you if you don’t want baristas to look at you like an alien (like it happened to Giulia during the first months) :)
That being said, Trieste offers an incredible variety of literary cafés. The most characteristic one is Caffè San Marco, a historical café founded in 1914 that became the meeting point of many writers such as Italo Svevo, James Joyce and Umberto Saba.
It’s located in Via Battisti 18, not far from the main street Viale XX Settembre, you can simply walk there and enjoy your coffee with a pastry in true Italian style.
3. Walk around the city centre
What better way to explore a city than getting lost in its streets and discover new gems at each corner? Trieste is great for that, you can walk around the whole center in one morning and you’ll love its vibrant and lively vibe. My favorite area is Cavana, the old part of the town. Once populated by prostitutes and dealers, it has recently been renovated and is now a buzzing area with plenty of shops, restaurants and stores.
Interesting to see is also the area around Canal Grande, a small artificial canal crossed by the bridge “Ponte Rosso” (Red Bridge) where you’ll find the famous statue of James Joyce.
4. Enjoy the view from San Giusto
San Giusto Castle stands on a hill of the same name that overlooks the city. The Castle never experienced significant military activity, and so has endured until today.
With its strategic location it offers stunning views over the city and the Gulf of Trieste, enjoy!
5. Take a sip - It’s the Spritz!
Aperol Spritz is one of the most traditional Italian aperitif drink. Originally from the Veneto region, the “Spritz culture” has spread all over Italy, especially in the north, and finds in Trieste a great popularity and many happy customers… Me being one of them, of course :)
Note that in Trieste it’s more on trend ordering a white Spritz, that only contains white wine and soda, without the Aperol. Personally, I prefer the original one or a twist called Hugo, with elderberry syrup.
So, since you can’t go to Trieste without having at least a good spritz, here are some suggestions on the best bars for aperitivo and good wine:
6. Take a walk by the sea in Barcola
Barcola is a maritime neighborhood of Trieste, it’s a popular tourist place with beaches and long promenade walkways.
Here you’ll find a nice pine forest populated by students, families and friends having a picnic, playing the guitar or simply enjoying the sun (and of course, a spritz!).
In summer you can sunbathe, go for a swim in the sea and try one of the delicious icecream of Pipolo, a famous gelateria situated at the beginning of the forest, on the other side of the street.
Barcola is a magic place all year round, and you can’t miss the beautiful 5km promenade that takes you until the Miramare Castle, an elegant castle that in the 19th century used to be the summer residence of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Hapsburg and his wife.Today the castle is open to visitors, is surrounded by a park full of precious botanic species and offers a fantastic view over the Trieste Gulf. Definitely worth a visit!
7. Eat like a local in Osmiza
An Osmica or Osmiza is a rustic meeting place typical of the province of Trieste and of the Karst area. It is usually a private house or a cellar located outside the city on the hills and in the middle of the nature, where wines and foods such as eggs, ham, salami, bacon, cheese, pickles, sometimes sweet of own production are sold and consumed.
Pro: great cold meat and cheese, cheap, its’ perfect place to go with a big group of friends, be loud and have fun
Cons: wine comes in great quantity, it’s very cheap, but the quality is not the best. Long story short, hangover alert… And make sure you don’t have to drive afterwards :)
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