Trieste is famous for its wind, its sea, its panoramic hills, and for the cultural diversity of its inhabitants. It has always been a borderland. Its centre features prestigious buildings, panoramic points, wide squares and many different churches for every religion, not to forget the sea that appears and disappears behind every corner, as a shy glimpse or wide horizon.
15km south of Trieste, the town of Muggia definitely deserves a visit: you can walk through the small alleys and squares of the historical centre, up to the castle and the Santa Barbara promontory, with its magnificent view on the Gulf of Trieste. People from Trieste and Muggia haven’t always been the best of friends, since they were rival port cities. In 1400 Muggia was part of the Most Serene Republic of Venice, and that’s why the atmosphere is still now very venetian: both in architecture, dialect, costumes and culinary traditions.
You can reach it by car, bus (n. 20) and by Delfino Verde boat.
It’s worth a visit, not to forget the city’s history. It used to be one of the few lagers in Italy, later destined to the sorting of prisoners deported in Germany and Poland, to the stocking of pillaged goods and the imprisonment and elimination of hostages, partisans, political prisoners and jews.
You can reach it by car, bus (n.8, 10).
San Giusto hill is the heart of Trieste: here were the first prehistoric settlements of the Castellieri culture. At the top you can visit the asymmetric Romanic Cathedral (resulted from the merging of two churches), the castle, the lapidarium, the ruins of the Roman tribunal, the community museum of history and art, the remembrance park.
The hill is a 15 minutes’ walk from the hotel, but you can reach it also by car or bus (n.24). If you park your car at the Park San Giusto multi-storey car park (with our special discounts) you will be able to access the internal lift to the top of the hill.
The medieval city of Trieste, the so called Old City, has grown at the bottom of the San Giusto hill, with all its alleys and tiny squares. Its architecture is very poetic, and it’s really lively thanks to the presence of small pubs and restaurants. It could have been drawn by Escher, and you can find many hidden treasures at every corner. Also, you will find the ruins of the ancient Roman theatre at a stone’s throw away from the hotel, in the opposite direction of the Old City. It used to stand by the sea, and could accommodate an audience of 3500.
It can be reached by foot.
A stone’s throw away from the Urban Hotel Design you’ll find the marvellous Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia (dedicated to Italian Re-Unification), one of the biggest squares in Europe, facing the sea.
Behind the square and near the Palazzo della Borsa there is the ancient Ghetto, whose central position says a lot about the role of the Jewish community in Trieste in 1696, when it was built. Its alleys are full with pubs, restaurants, secondhand dealers and bookshops that still keep their distinctive vitality.
Trieste, borderland on the sea, is a real melting pot of different cultures, as shown by the magnificent churches of many religions: San Nicolò Greek Orthodox Church, San Spiridione Serbian Orthodox Church, the synagogue and the Lutheran Evangelical Church. The Greek neoclassical Church stands by the sea, near the historical Caffè Tommaseo. Inside the building you’ll notice the small silver icon of Jesus, whose look seems to be following you while you move.
Along the Ponterosso canal, instead, stands the Serbian Orthodox Temple with its 5 blue domes. You have to go inside to enjoy the mystical atmosphere and the several frescoes on the ceiling, such as the wonderful starred sky.
The monumental synagogue in Piazza Giotti was built to replace four other smaller synagogues already present in the city. The temple is still very important today on the European scene. It’s possible to visit the synagogue in certain given days during the week.
In Europe there are bigger and more valuable castles, but the position of Miramare, overlooking the sea, with Trieste or the snow-clad Dolomites on the background, its unique architectural style and its short but turbulent history make it the most beautiful castle of the continent.
You can reach it by car, bus (n. 6), some local trains (Miramare station). In summer it’s possible to get to the castle via Delfino Verde boat.
There are 500 steps to go down into the caves and another 500 to go up, but don’t let these numbers scare you. It’s worth it because the visit is a true journey to the centre of the earth with an actual “Charon” guiding you from a bank of the majestic cave to the other.
You can reach it by car, bus (n.42).
The Park’s history starts in 1908, with the opening of Trieste’s Psychiatric Hospital. In the 70s the Park witnessed the development of innovation and change in the psychiatric field, thanks to Franco Basaglia and his partners’ revolution.
The hospital and park opened to the city: the patients were free to go out, and the citizens to go in. It’s worth a walk, especially in spring, to admire the restored buildings and the beautiful rose garden. It houses more than 5000 types of roses, and is one of the most important rose gaardens in Italy.
You can reach it by car or bus (n.12)
È raggiungibile in auto, bus n. 12