Features > General > Trieste Day Trip Guide
Tucked away in the north of Italy, Trieste melds the traditions of Slovenia and Italy, at whose borders it lies, combining elements of Italian, German, Slavic, Balkan, and Italian culture. Once a great trading port during the prosperous eighteenth century, Trieste is home to a mix of Mediterranean and European architectural and artistic styles, making its unique and tranquil culture well worth a day or two's visit. The nearby Duino, accessible by a thirty-minute bus ride, is also home to the fabulous Duino Castle, with sweeping panoramic views of the Adriatic. Here is a brief introductory guide to making the most of a day-trip in Trieste, with suggestions for sightseeing, eating, and taking in the panoramic scenery of the Adriatic, which laps at the edges of the city limits.
SEE: The stunning Piazza dell'Unita is a must for any traveler. The striking Renaissance facades that make up three sides of this central Trieste square are worth seeing in their own right, but look west for one of Trieste's most beautiful sights; the fourth side of the square drops off directly into the sparkling Adriatic sea, which sprays seafoam intermittently, sweeping salt breezes across the piazza. Take a bus to Duino – the town that inspired poet Rainer Maria to compose his famous Duino Elegies – in order to visit the striking Duino castle, perched romantically atop a rocky craig. Within the Trieste city limits, checkout the Museo Revoltella, a colection of avant-garde and nineteenth-century art, the Roman theatre – echoing an era when Trieste was known as the Roman Tergeste, the spectacular San Giusto cathedral, with its hilltop panoramas of the city, and the Miramare castle, a stunning white construction overlooking the water.
EAT AND DRINK: Trieste's cuisine combines the best of Slavic and Austrian tradition – this was once a Habsburg property, afterall – with the delicious simplicity of Northern Italian food. The restaurants, here called “buffets” have a variety of foods, including Ghocchi, stuffed with goods as diverse as hams and plums, steamy, creamy risottos, sardines, and traditional Trieste Caldaia, or boiled pork. Trieste's pastry shops also tend to sell variations on Austria's famed desserts, including “strucolo pomi,” which is a uniquely Italian take on strudel, and chiffeletti cookies made with flour, eggs, and potatoes. Especially recommended is the James Joyce Cafe, a charming and flower-guarded cafe with a fine choice of seafood. Located on the canal, near the statue of James Joycehimself, who once resided here, the James Joyce Cafe also boasts splendid water views. As for drink, check out local wines, including Terrano, Rosso, Malvasia, and Vitovska Garganja, or try the standard Trieste cocktail – Frambua – made with framboise, mint, and tamarind. THe best places to drink are in and around Piazza dell'Unita.
By Tara Isabella Burton
AllStays Pro Online
Copyright © 2015 AllStays LLC
ALLSTAYS