I will take you on a journey to Trieste - a hidden gem on the Adriatic. Trieste, Italy used to be a city-state on its own. It also used to be the base of the Austrian navy. Well, if you wonder how come that a landlocked country had a naval base and are curious about a city that was a state, read on.

Canal Grande in Trieste

A city-state that everyone coveted

Trieste (the ending 'e' is pronounced in Italian) can boast a rich and long history, dating back to the Roman times. When Rome was the size of contemporary Italy, Trieste was its north-eastern outpost. Conveniently located at the foothills of the Alps, tucked between hills and sea, it attracted merchants which brought about Trieste's wealth. As it is usually the case, its wealth attracted powers that be.

View on Miramare Castle from Trieste beach

Rome, Byzantium, Charlemagne, Venetian Republic and finally Habsburg's Austria - all of them once ruled the city. In between being part of this or that empire, Trieste enjoyed periods of self-governance. However, money talks, and so many times Trieste would buy itself a status of city-state. The last time, surprisingly recently, was just after World War II. Following a dispute between Italy and Yugoslavia, Trieste was declared a Free Territory.

Trieste Town Hall

Forget Venice, Trieste is the hidden gem on the Adriatic

Trieste, quite a small city, overwhelms by grandiose buildings - city hall, churches, theater, banks - all testify to Trieste's former wealth. Now a bit forgotten, with tourists swarming to nearby Venice, Trieste is much calmer (and cheaper) place. If you - like me - are not a fan of crowds, queuing and exorbitant prices, then Trieste is the place to visit.

Ruins of Roman Amphitheater in Trieste

Miramare - Austria's Navy Headquarters

Few kilometers north-west from city center, you will find Miramare - a XIX century castle built by Austrians. By that time Trieste had grown into Austria's fourth largest city and became their naval base. Austria (correctly speaking - Austro-Hungarian empire) ruled most of Central Europe back then and wasn't the landlocked country it is now. Miramare castle was commissioned by Ferdinand Maximilian Habsburg and served as his residence. Ferdinand Maximilian was the Commander in Chief of the Austrian Navy. Therefore, Miramare, conveniently located on a cliff overlooking the sea, was ideal for his purposes.

Miramare Castle viewed from its gardens

The castle was never meant to be a fortress. It was a palace, a fitting residence for a high ranking official and a brother to the kaiser (German for "emperor") as well. Therefore it has large windows and is surrounded by gardens and a park, with a marina at the bottom of the cliff, Miramare castle is a perfect destination for a half a day trip. The palace has been turned into museum, admission is only 12 EURO and the gardens are free to stroll.

Miramare Castle gardens

Miramare Castle Hall

Trieste - a Hidden Gem on the Adriatic

I spent a "long weekend" (arrived on Thursday evening, departed on Sunday afternoon) in Trieste and it was a perfect city trip in mid October 2019. In conclusion, Trieste - a hidden gem on the Adriatic, once a city-state and naval base of now landlocked country, is definitely worth seeing. Rich history, a lot to see plus a calm sea and a beach on top of it. For me it offered an additional bonus - it is very close to Slovenia, so I went there (city of Koper) for a Sunday lunch and thus added another country to my map of visited places.

La Mula, sculpure on the Trieste beach

Hope you have enjoyed the short city trips. Follow my blog, more stories are coming.