Top Rated Attractions in Trieste

The Grotta Fioravante has garnered public interest thanks to its rich history. Archaeological excavations have unearthed artifacts which are can be dated back to the Mesolithic period. Later, the cave was also used as a cellar by the royal family and afterwards in the 20th century, it also bore witness to the World Wars. During the Second World War, the cave was used as a waste deposit by the allied forces.

This is not simply a piazza, but the very heart of Trieste: its lounge, its soul, its business center, as well as the commercial and political center. Very busy of course during the week , it plays an important role on Sunday mornings when thousands of people descend on this large European piazza that overlooks the sea. Here, they drink coffee, meet friends, colleagues and acquaintances, all in a very unique atmosphere. The piazza also accommodates many concerts, festivals, shows and exhibitions. Shaped in a perfect rectangle and surrounded by amazing palaces: the Municipio with its clock tower; the Stratti, housing General Insurance and also the Caffè degli Specchi and the Palazzo del Lloyd Trestino, which once housed the oldest Italian navigation company. Finally there is also the Prefettura or government palace and the lovely Art Nouveau building that houses the fine Duca d'Aosta hotel. And at the piazza's center stands the 18th'century Quattro Continenti fountain, the former terminal of the Maria Teresa d'Austria aqueduct. It would be a grave sin to visit Trieste and not have a coffee in this lovely piazza.

The Jewish community of Trieste has a long established cultural tradition. Throughout the Centuries, many of the most famous cultural exponents of the city came from the Jewish community. This small, but important museum traces their history and their work. The collection is made up of ritual objects, silver and materials. Guided visits out of hours are possible on request.

Castello di Miramare was the home of Maximilian until he was forced to leave and become the Emperor of Mexico. The next resident, Duke Amedeo of Savoy, made Castello di Miramare the seat for various military commands. In 1955, it was transformed into a museum. The castle still has the original furniture commissioned by Maximilian. There is a chapel; the Japanese and Chinese rooms, rich in oriental ornaments; and the apartments where the Duke of Savoy lived. Miramare is set in an extraordinary park, which extends over 54 acres (21.8 hectares). Guided tours are available upon request.

Risiera di San Sabba became the site of the only extermination camp in Italy with the German occupation in 1943. Civico Museo della Risiera di San Sabba has been a national monument since 1965. Three thousand to five thousand people lost their lives here. At the end of the war the building was partially destroyed by fleeing Nazis, trying to eliminate proof of the horrors they committed. Restored in 1975, this is a frightening place to visit; the death cells are open to visit as well as 17 detention cells, and a historic, photographic exhibition. Do not miss out on a visit.

The first section of the Civico Museo di Storia Naturale includes material which is open for public display and there is also a section reserved for students and specialists. The botanic collection has around 30 herbs and other material from the region and the rest of the country. There is a large zoological section, with an entire room devoted to coral and mother pearl. There is also marine life, amphibians and reptiles from all over the world and a section for marine mammals called "Giants of the Sea." In addition, there is a rich paleontological and mineral collection, with the reptile Carsosaurus as one of the oldest fossils and some remains of a carnivorous dinosaur found in Duino, between Carso and the sea. There is also an area dedicated to prehistoric man and human anatomy, with a man's brain from Mompaderno being of particular interest.