Karl WP Beyer In north-eastern Italy, the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia borders on Austria and Slovenia. The metropolis of the Autonomous Region is the port city of Trieste, which has 200.000 inhabitants; a community with more than 2.000 years of history.
Trieste - panorama
The history of Trieste and its region
In the second century BC, the world power of that time, Rome, conquered the area around today's Trieste. Roman rule promoted the growth of the city. At the end of the 1st century AD it already had 12.000 inhabitants.
Trieste - Teatro Romano
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city and surrounding Istria were successively ruled by Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Lombards and Carolingians. After a 180-year Venetian interregnum, Trieste came under the protection of Austria in 1382. The Habsburgs then determined the history of the city for more than 500 years. The city has belonged to Italy since the end of the First World War. The years between 1947 and 1954 provided for a short interruption, when the region acted temporarily as a constitutional republic under the designation "Free Territory of Trieste" under the suzerainty of the Allies.
Trieste - Emperor Leopold I of Austria
Trieste - Empress Elisabeth of Austria
Trieste - cultural and economic center
Trieste is an administrative center, bishopric and research and university location. World-renowned companies operate from Trieste and provide work and wages for the inhabitants of the region. Work creates prosperity: In 2021, the region had the highest purchasing power in Italy with 22.246 euros per capita after Milan, Bolzano and Bologna (source: Statista).
Trieste - University
Since the affiliation with Austria, Trieste has developed into the seaport of the Alpine nation. It was an economic advantage that Austria's Emperor Karl VI. declared the city a free port in 1719. In the 19th century the port was expanded. Banks, insurance companies, shipyards and shipping companies subsequently settled in the prosperous city.
World-famous companies such as "illycaffè", the spirits manufacturer "Stock", the insurance group "Generali" or the "Fincantieri" shipyard group have their headquarters or production sites in Trieste.
Trieste - Headquarters of the Fincantieri shipyard group
Around the year 1900, in the start-up phase, important buildings were erected that still characterize the cityscape today. Generously dimensioned squares, beautiful fountains, impressive church buildings and many palazzi determine the cityscape.
Trieste - Wilhelminian style buildings
Port and cruise destination Trieste
With a water depth of 18 meters, Trieste is one of several deep-water ports in the central Mediterranean. In terms of its location, it is the most important seaport for Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and southern Germany.
Container ships coming from Trieste reach the Suez Canal within three days. As a southern European bridgehead on the "Maritime Silk Road", the port plays a pioneering role. Goods traffic between Northwest Europe and Asia can be shortened by at least four days by using the port facilities of Trieste. This explains why Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) secured a majority stake in Trieste's multifunctional terminal in 2020. Earlier in 2019, the Italian and Chinese governments signed a memorandum of understanding on Chinese financial participation in the modernization of the ports of Trieste and Trieste Genoa.
Due to its location and conditions, the city is one of the most attractive cruise destinations known to us in the Mediterranean. The Trieste Terminal Passeggeri SpA accommodates two large cruise ships of 300 meters in length at the same time. Although the conditions are ideal, only a few ships use the city as the start and end point of a cruise or as a stopover.
Trieste - Marina of Pleasure Boats
Trieste - Cruise ship Majestic Princess
We firmly believe that Trieste is worth a visit. Below we describe what there is to see and experience in the city Trieste Sights.
