Istria, Trieste

Advantages: cheap, enough to occupy you for a few hours, easy to reach
Disadvantages: not that much to see really

.... The Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia, which is the largest square in Europe is certainly well worth a look at, with various municipal buildings surrounding the piazza, which also looks down towards the Adriatic. During the summer there are frequent concerts on the piazza and the buildings are certainly very impressive. Close to the piazza there is a roman amphitheatre, although this is really pretty disappointing – if you are travelling further into Istria, you are better off going to the Colloseum-like amphitheatre in Pula, as the Trieste one is not particularly big and not so well preserved as the one in Pula, and nor is there really any information for tourists there. The amphitheatre was excavated in the 1930s and was built during the reign of Augustus in around AD33. The cathedral (Sacello di San Giusto) and the castle (castello) are perched... Read review

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Advantages: Only two hours away, compact size
Disadvantages: Didn't have long enough there!

...On 5th March 1946 in Fulton, Missouri, Winston Churchill, then Leader of the Opposition in Great Britain, declared 'From Stettin on the Baltic to Trieste on the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the continent.' Until I had cause to visit Trieste earlier this year that is what Trieste meant to me - a quote I learnt at school. It was fitting, then, that Trieste should be an overnight stop on my way to Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia and until the early 1990s behind the 'iron curtain' and firmly within the Soviet sphere of influence as defined by Churchill. Trieste is situated in the far north western corner of Italy in the region of Friulli-Venezia Giulia, which borders Slovenia and Austria. It is a former Habsburg city and this influence is apparent from the architectural styles of its more recent buildings, its cuisine... Read review

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Advantages: Breathtaking coastline, enchanting town
Disadvantages: a bit expensive

...Built on the rugged hillside above its beautiful port and the dramatic Adriatic coastline, Trieste is famous for it's marvelous seafood and Vienna-like coffeehouses. But there is much more to enjoy in this marvelous city which was once a part of the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg Empire. During the year, there are numerous Markets and Fairs in the city. On the third Sunday of every month, the cities love for antiques reflected in the coming together of over 60 or so antique shops, jewellers and second-hand dealers offering Art Nouveau and Secession objects and furniture. On a Monday, take a stroll through the street markets and pick up a few bargains! Trieste offers a huge number of galleries, museums, attractions and sites. If you are interested in art, geological, botanical, mineralogical and historical collections, Trieste offers all... Read review

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