Trieste

Going by foot from the Station in Piazza dell'Unità, you will find Porto Vecchio (the Old Port) to the right and two beautiful Neoclassical buildings to the left: the Verdi Theatre and Palazzo del Governo; then you will find the view open onto the marvellous Piazza dell'Unità, the largest in Europe on the sea as the people of Trieste say. The Piazza is very large; by day with the sun the grand Neoclassical buildings which surround the square impose their candid size, by night, after recent lighting interventions, it becomes very attractive. Looking at the City Hall, the Teresiano quarter extends to the left, born entirely in the 1800's, when the Austrian House decided to make Trieste a great port city. Geometric, with large rectangular blocks and beautiful Neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture, some streets are today pedestrian only, with grey and white stone pavement and recent adjustments; to the right is the oldest centre. This old and most popular area of Trieste is in a phase of rapid change; everywhere you look there are works in progress, lovely hotels (made from, as it seems, old lodges), the house of music, antiques, typical refined restaurants and shops, alternating buildings under construction covered in scaffolding, old barred shops with decrepit lowered shutters. The Illy coffee factory is a must-see, which could be defined as the Mecca of the coffee religion. Even if you are not passionate about coffee it is interesting. The fact that around few drops of a drink deep down in a little cup so big interest are turning, that it creates such a lot of work for many peolple, that an entire culture develops (Illy founded and runs an University of coffee to which pepole come from alla over the world), is a matter that make you reflect about our western culture. You can't miss a trip up to the top of the Duomo, the historic San Giusto. Of the original Early-Christian building of the 6th century only remains a portion of mosaic flooring. On the ruins of it, between the 9th and 11th century, two basilicas were built next to each other. Of these one, originally with central layout and later lengthened, it was dedicated to San Giusto. In the 1300's, the two basilicas were unified by demolishing their naves and making a simple pitched façade with elegant Gothic rose window. In the area opposite is a large square looking over the old city and Teresiano district, offering a beautiful panorama. In the square, archaeological remains found in the 1930's shed light on the remains of a Roman forum. A bronze monument honouring those fallen during the Second  World War dominates the area. The Castle, next to it, is rich in history and was developed in various phases; today it is home to the Civic Museum.