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.
The Riserva Naturale della Val Rosandra is an evocative corner of the Kras Plateau above Trieste. It is just 20 minutes away from the city center going towards Muggia, and is the destination of tourists, spelunkers, and mountain climbers, every weekend. It is located in the San Dorligo della Valle administrative area and is a real natural paradise with a spectacular landscape of cliffs, piles of rocks, and rocky walls overhanging the torrent which crosses through the valley. The wild and rough aspect of some sites in the valley have given rise to numerous local legends about the mysterious princess Rosandra, or even, Charlemagne. The locals say that a walk in this valley frees your mind and reinforces the body. Who knows? What is certain is that it is a place full of charm. There are all sorts of things to discover in the valley. You could spend a whole day walking here, perhaps stopping for a picnic by the river or eating at the Mario Premuda refuge.
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.
The Servola district is perhaps the most distinctive area in Trieste. It has enchanting narrow streets and an old world atmosphere. It is fame is due to the carnival parade that passes through here as well as its history and unique traditions. This small museum is the place to see the habits and characteristics of the people of the area, through documents, ornaments, furnishings, photos and prints. A lovely, successful place.
The Holy Trinity Church, located on in the small mountain village of Hrastovlje, is a fortified stone church believed to built in the 12th or the 15th Century. It features Romanesque style of architecture with some elements of Venetian Renaissance and was constructed as a part of a defensive structure for the villagers to protect them against attacks of invading Turkish armies. Even with its remarkable architecture and rich historical background, the church is mostly well known for the stunning wall frescoes decorating its inner walls painted by the noted artist John of Kastav in 1490. The most popular attraction is the mural called 'Dance of Death' depicting the rich and poor alike, equally treated by God towards the end. Today, visitors can view these amazing paintings with the option of a guided tour or listen to a taped multi-lingual commentary available at the site.
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.
Trieste Contemporanea is a cultural association founded in 1995 in Trieste, thanks to a group of motivated people and the support of the regional municipality. The purpose of Trieste Contemporanea is to promote art dialogues throughout eastern Central Europe; Trieste takes on the role of a hinge between the western European area and eastern Mediterranean countries. Trieste Contemporanea organizes collaborations, international exchanges and many more initiatives dedicated to visual art, music, cinema, literature, multimedia, theatre, architecture and design. The most important events would have to be the International Design Competition, which involves 23 countries, the CEI Venice Forum for Contemporary Art Curators, and the award for the best European young artist. Many works are shown in Trieste Contemporanea spaces, including other exhibitions during the year.
Set along the Adriatic Sea, the fortified walls of the city of Piran is a must-see. The wall was first built in the seventh century. It was expanded several times between the 13th and 16th centuries. Over the centuries, these walls were renovated and restored many times. It also features multiple well-preserved gates. Some of these gates are The Central Gate, The Muggia Gate, The Field Gate and many others. Take a guided tour of this medieval city and learn about its rich historic past.
Trieste has always had a strong theatrical tradition. This explains the existence of a museum dedicated to the history and traditions of theater, the only center of documentation of this kind in the region, and one of few in Italy, second only to the one in the Scala in Milano. This is owed to the tireless work of Carlo Schmidl, the famous musical publisher of Trieste, who created the institute in 1924. The museum contains items depicting musical life in Trieste from the 18th Century to the present day. There is a rich collection of posters and theatrical programs, costumes, jewelry, models, puppet theatres and sketches as well as an interesting section devoted to machines for producing and recording sound. Do not miss the exhibition of European and other musical instruments, including an spinetta, a kind of small harpsichord, from 1577 and a piano with six pedals built at the beginning of the 19th Century. There is also a specialist library, with more than 30,000 texts, a photo library with more than 52,000 photos and more than 20,000 records, tapes, films, and slides.
The Riserva Naturale della Val Rosandra is an evocative corner of the Kras Plateau above Trieste. It is just 20 minutes away from the city center going towards Muggia, and is the destination of tourists, spelunkers, and mountain climbers, every weekend. It is located in the San Dorligo della Valle administrative area and is a real natural paradise with a spectacular landscape of cliffs, piles of rocks, and rocky walls overhanging the torrent which crosses through the valley. The wild and rough aspect of some sites in the valley have given rise to numerous local legends about the mysterious princess Rosandra, or even, Charlemagne. The locals say that a walk in this valley frees your mind and reinforces the body. Who knows? What is certain is that it is a place full of charm. There are all sorts of things to discover in the valley. You could spend a whole day walking here, perhaps stopping for a picnic by the river or eating at the Mario Premuda refuge.