Just north of Trieste, next door to Opicina, lies the town of Monrupino (Repentabor in Slovenian *). It is marked by the Sanctuary of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin which can be seen perched atop the hill overlooking the Karst. This is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike as, from here, you…
Often referred to as the “lungs” of the city, Trieste’s parks and gardens offer pleasant refuge from the dog days of summer and lovely displays of color in spring and fall. Trieste’s main gardens prominently featuring botanical specimens are: The Civico Orto Botanico: Established in 1842 the city-run botanical garden is a small but lush…
I recently read an article by a fellow American and writer, Noah Charney, who lives in Slovenia, about his Ski and Swim Challenge. Basically, Slovenia, our lovely neighbor to the north and east, boasts “that the country is so compact, with such a diversity of terrain, that you can ski in the morning and swim…
While visiting the Museo Diocesano in Udine recently, I came upon an unusual collection of small paintings. Each one depicted a particularly gruesome scene; someone falling from a rooftop, someone being gored in the eye by a bull, someone being trampled by a carriage and so on. They reminded me of the terrible illustrations…
Udine is, as the locals say, “the Milan” of the FVG region, meaning it is industrious, full of hard working people and often finds itself a little out of step with its more leisurely and chill neighbors. Not often considered a tourist destination, it is in fact ideally situated in the Province of Udine which…
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011 (recognized as the capitol of the Lombard Duchy and first stop in the “The Lombards in Italy, the places of power (568-774 A.D.)” UNESCO Itinerary), Cividale del Friuli is an intriguing town. Situated high above the Natisone River which, like the Isonzo river, is an amazing shade of emerald green…
Just 45 minutes from Trieste is one of the most unusual and interesting museums I’ve seen. It is a museum dedicated to farm-life and the history of farming in the Friuli region. The large and impressive collection of over 20,000 items (with more coming in every day) is housed in an old farmstead in the center of the…
The legend of the “Lady in White” is a common one around the world. Often, it refers to the ghost of a woman who, in life, has suffered abuse or unbearable tragedy so as to deprive her of peace in the afterlife. Even Trieste has its “lady in white” — in fact — there are even a…
The Castle of Duino is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Trieste area. It is a little more rustic than Miramare but much more soulful and romantic. It maybe because of its location on the windswept cliffs of Duino overlooking the sea and the ancient ruins of the castle of the Patriarch…
Spilimbergo is a town located northeast of Venice in the province of Pordenone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The town is best known as the home of the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli (Mosaic Academy of Friuli), which was founded in 1922. It is definitely underrated and worth the under 90 minute trip from Trieste. Upon our arrival (on…
One of the iconic symbols of Trieste, the Castello di Miramare sparkles like a pearl on the Triestine coastline. Built in the mid 1850s by Carl Junker as the seaside residence for Archduke Ferdinand Maximillian of Habsburg (brother of Emperor Franz Joseph) and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, it boasts a 54 acre English style garden filled…
Trieste is a city that loves the Sea: It is evident from the many boats one sees every day out on the Gulf, the active commercial and passenger ports, the daily ritual of its citizens bidding goodnight to the sun on the Molo Audace. The Civico Museo del Mare is considered one of the leading Maritime…
It is only recently that the terrible events involving Italy & Yugoslavia at the end of WWII, have been acknowledged. It is a very painful period where atrocities were perpetrated by both countries, eventually leading up to the Istrian Exodus. In brief, from 1947 –the year The Treaty of Paris was signed giving Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia…
Part of the network of “House Museums” across Italy, this home was built in 1875 by Giovanni and Ruggero Berlam of Trieste for the prominent Jewish family, Morpurgo de Nilma of Trieste. The 1st and second floors belonged to the Morpurgo brothers Carlo Marco and Giacomo respectively, who married a pair of sisters Emma and Fanny Mandolfo. The…
“Honor, Reflection, Enterprise and Perseverance” are the words that greet you when you ascend the stairs to the sumptuous apartments of Baron Revoltella. The Museum is the convergence of the Baron’s city home and the Modern Art Museum which began with his private collection and grew thanks to the enormous financial gift he bequeathed Trieste upon…
