Trieste is a stunning city in northeast Italy (Image: Getty)
Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Brits looking to head abroad and while the likes of Rome, Venice, and Milan are frequently visited, there is a beautiful city that can often be overlooked.
Located in northeast , Trieste is the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, and sits just five miles away from Slovenia. It is nestled between Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea, boasting a long picturesque coastline and stunning canals.
Its Piazza Unità d’Italia – which translates to Unity of Italy Square – is one of Europe’s largest seafront squares. It dates back to the 19th century when the city was one of the most important seaports for the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
The area is home to two stunning castles, the cliff-side Miramare Castle which was built between 1856 and 1860 for Archduke Maximilian, the brother of Emperor Franz Josef. While the city’s Castle of San Giusto took over two centuries to build.
Travel blogger Nik Kennett visited Trieste with wife Allie in 2021. The couple found the city a “refreshing break” from the crowds of bigger Italian destinations.
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Piazza Unità d’Italia is one of Europe’s biggest seafront squares (Image: Getty)
Speaking on the couple’s , Nik said: “Italy is fabulous and while you should absolutely visit the heavy hitters like Rome and Venice, there are plenty of other cities that don’t typically meet the standard Italy travel itinerary but are lovely and worth considering. Trieste is one of those destinations.
“We visited in 2021 and it provided a refreshing break from the crowds we’d experienced in other Italian cities. With its unique past as an Austrian-Hungarian port, Trieste blends Austrian, Hungarian and Slovenian influences giving it a distinctive character that feels not just Italian.”
“Piazza Unità d’Italia, one of Europe’s largest seafront squares, offers a perfect spot to relax while enjoying views of the Adriatic.”
Trieste has plenty of sites dotted around the city, with a Roman theatre at the foot of San Giusto hill and Grotta Gigante, the largest tourist cave in the world.
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Barcola in Trieste is popular for swimming and sunbathing (Image: Getty)
The city is also often known as the coffee capital of Italy and is home to the historic Caffè San Marco, a coffee house used as a meeting place for writers such as James Joyce.
The nearby Barcola boasts its own microclimate, offering a high quality of life since ancient times. Its urban beaches are used by many locals in Trieste for sunbathing and swimming.
Trieste Airport has direct links to the United Kingdom with flights leaving from Stansted Airport. A direct flight can take just over two hours.