Introduction

Trieste is the capital city of the autonomous Italian region of Fruili-Venezia Giulia. The city has known many different influences because of its location at the crossroads of various cultures, the Germanic culture to the north, the Slavic culture to the east and the Latin culture to the south.

Population

The city has well over 200,000 inhabitants.

Location

Trieste is located in the northeast of Italy and is almost entirely surrounded by its neighboring country Slovenia. There is only a narrow overland connection with the rest of Italy. The city is located on the border of the Gulf of Trieste, which is connected with the Gulf of Venice.

Economy

The local economy mainly relies on the trade of its port. Due to its strategic position with respect to the East European markets, a lot of transit trade passes through the Triestian port, Trieste is for instance an important port for the trade of petroleum.

The Port of Trieste is also a popular landing place for cruise ships and also is a point of departure for ferries to Croatia and Turkey.

Airports

The Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport is located 33 kilometers to the northwest of Trieste, along the A4 highway (from Trieste to Venice).

Public transport

Trieste has a good public transport network with about 60 bus lines. The buses generally run on schedule, however their frequency can vary. On the busiest lines buses run every 10 minutes, whereas there are other lines that run every half hour. Tickets can be bought at newspaper stands. Moreover, there is a ferry service to Muggia and every half hour a tram leaves to the city center of Villa Opicina (climbing more than 300 meters on its route).

Traffic and parking

Traffic can be busy and chaotic in Trieste. In case you prefer sightseeing the city in a peaceful way, then park your car at the harbor and continue on foot. In the entire city center only paid parking is allowed. You can ask the traffic policemen, who walk around, to inform you how and where to pay.

Hotels

Trieste has a good variety of hotels and other accommodation to offer. The Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta, located at the central square of Trieste, is without doubt the most distinguished and chic accommodation. The city nonetheless offers many alternatives that are more economic. Generally, it is not necessary to book a room well in advance, unless you are eager to book a hotel with sea view.

External sources

For more information about Trieste, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Trieste
• Official site of the city of Trieste (Italian)
• Official tourist website Trieste (Italian, Germand and English)