Cittavecchia

Trieste, Italy   

Until the mid-1990's, this was the most run down area in the city, populated by drug addicts and delinquents. However, it has now become one of the most spectacular, enchanting areas in Trieste. Near Piazza dell'Unita d'Italia, it has been restored by the council, thanks to a huge, community grant. The area has renovated, and continues to renovate tens of exceptional, archeological remains from ancient Rome, buried by centuries of urbanisation. The buildings are now home to restaurants, hotels, a student house and many other tourist initiatives. Walking up the streets, it leads to the top of the Capitolino hill in around 20 minutes. For information on the area contact the office on the above number.

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Strada Napoleonica

Strada Napoleonica, Trieste, Italy

It is known as the Napoleonic street because, according to legend, it was built by Napoleon's troops. The road winds through 5 km of the Carsian high plain to the villages of Opicina and Prosecco. This walk is well loved by the people of Trieste, and especially popular on Sundays in the spring and autumn. People also come here to run and climb on the rocky outcrops which are on either side of the path.

When you are at Opicina, before beginning the walk, have a look towards the sky and admire the white obelisk which was erected by Trieste's Merchant Corp in 1830 in honour of the visit of the Austrian emperor Francis I. As you set off, the path is very easy to follow (in spite of the fact that it was originally a medieval track which made its way though an oak wood. The wood has now disappeared.) and the distance in altitude between Opicina and Prosecco is only around 100 metres. It's a perfect way to spend a morning immersed in nature, surrounded by red sumac, sage and other beautiful countryside with wonderful views over the sea.

The area was put into order by the Giulian Alpine society and dedicated to the climber Nicolo Cobolli in 1935. It is sheltered from the bora and is often bathed in the sun making it a sunny island in the winter months. After you have walked leisurely for around an hour you will get near to San Nazario which is a typical village of Carso. You can go from here to the charming sanctuary at Monte Grisa.

For further information contact Travelwizard.com.

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Sentiero Rilke

Sentiero Rilke, Trieste, Italy


This beautiful shore path has woods on one side and breathtaking views over the Sistiana Bay on the other. It is only a few kilometers long and an easy walk. It starts from the seasonal base of the Azienda di promozione turistica di Sistiana and ends at the entrance to the village of Duino. To get to this path from Trieste, take the number 44 bus, which stops across the road from the head of the path. If you drive, then be aware that there is limited parking space-you might want to park further down the road.

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Muggia Vecchia

Trieste, Italy

Behind Muggia, the enchanting town on the border of Slovenia, is a hill, where the ancient basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, of roman origin, can be found. The church, still holds regular mass, and contains many important testimonies of the past of this area, and is located in an extraordinary place. Around the church, is a small cemetery and a few rural houses. A breathtaking view can be enjoyed from the nearby piazza, including the gulf, the tourist complex of San Rocco and the Slovenian coast. Definitely worth a visit, go past the San Rocco village to get here, there is also the exquisite farm of the Scheriani family nearby, which is only open in the summer.

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Il Carso

Trieste, Italy

The Carso is one of the symbols of Trieste, one of the incomparable marvels of this region, and one of the most evocative natural enviroments in the whole of Europe. The Carso is the characteristic high plain which is spread to the East and South-East of the city. It is more than 40 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide on average. The people of Trieste love this place more than anywhere else, and many people make excursions here on Sundays. The Carso is mainly built of limestone and dolomitic rock. Its formation, which began around 120 million years ago, is due to the sedimentation of microrganisms (animals, vegatables, and mollusks) in a vast sea of which the Mediterranean is just a part. The remains of these microrganisms were deposited on the bottom of the sea and built up layers of white mud which solidified to form stone. The Carso has been modeled into many bizzarre forms because of its exposure to surface water and atmospheric conditions over the last 15-20 million years. Today it is unique place. The main characteristic of the karstic countryside is that of not having a superficial water network. The only visible water course can be found in Val Rosandra. The other short water courses which can be found on the plain, disappear underground and then reappear after having run underground for some time. This has created a countryside which appears rocky, arid, and full of hidden dangers and legends. There are a lot of caves in this area (some of which have never been explored); the most famous is the Grotta Gigante - it is so big that it could easily contain the basilica of St. Peter's, and it is in the Guinness book of records for this reason. On the Carso, which mainly faces the sea (this contrast gives life to an astonishing landscape), the Mediterranean scrub lives alongside continental and Alpine flora. Oaks, ashes, and juniper shrubs alternate with young woods of Scots pine, spruces, beeches, and plane trees. There are also clearings, moors, canyons, and the typical dry white walls built by the peasants of this area. The fauna is also very rich, with fallow deer, roe deer, dormice, hares, hedgehogs, moles, numerous types of birds, and many different reptiles, including the unusual olm, a blind amphibian which lives in total darkness in caves. As well as the numerous, typical hamlets of this region, there is also a large Slovenian community and many of the road signs are written in two languages. There are 150 restaurants, farm holiday centres, and osmizze, typical eating places which are family-run and serve local products such as wine and cheese. It is a landscape full of beauty and has much to be discovered. For further information contact the Azienda di Promozione Turismo on the number indicated.

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