Ideas for TRIESTE and FRIULI

I loved Trieste, but I can't say it was because of any big sites. I just loved the marine feel of it.

Lipica is an easy drive from Trieste and a lovely way to spend a few hours with the horses...
If you like that sort of thing.

We also loved Trieste. Can’t remember any big sites, but enjoyed sitting in the sun on the big plaza and enjoying apertivi and gelatos. After Trieste, we rented a car drove to Udine which we also enjoyed.

There is plenty to see in Trieste and Friuli. The city centre of Trieste is worth at least a day, both the waterfront area and the hill Colle San Giusto. I also recommend the Castello Miramare on the outskirts of Trieste. I would also recommend going inland to Udine and Cividale del Friuli. Both are fascinating historical towns, and the latter has a gorge running through it.

Thanks, everyone!

Hi Nickelini,

I am originally from New York, and have been living in Trieste for the last three years. I really love it here. It's tranquil (when the Bora - high winds aren't blowing!), is by the sea, with lots of good places to hike and walk - if you and your husband are into it. For instance, there's a lovely walk along the Gulf of Trieste that leads you to Miramare Castle. It's one of my favorite places in the city. I agree with the previous post about Cividale del Fruili - a wonderful place. Also Vincenza, which you can reach by train. But again, it depends on what your interests are.

I've been to Comogli for a day trip and absolutely loved it. I also spend nearly four months in Torino a number of years ago. A nice city.

Buona fortuna!

Trieste was OK, but we weren't wowed by it. One thing, it wasn't overrun with tourists.

I have just finished planning our April trip, which will include time in that area. One of my “must-sees” is Aquileia, which has notable Roman mosaics, as does nearby Grado.

A short distance from Trieste is the town of Aquileia, an old Roman colony which at one time had 100,000 inhabitants. There are beautiful Roman mosaics in the cathedral and other Roman ruins to explore. Not far from there is the small town of Palmanova, built as a star fort by the Venetian Republic. We easily visited both of these towns and the coastal town of Grado in one day but we were travelling by car. Further from Trieste but on your general route towards Lucca, look into the towns of Vittorio Veneto, Bassano del Gappa and Cittadella. I very much enjoy exploring smaller towns. Two other picturesque spots on my radar, but I have not been there yet, are the towns of Mantova (Mantua) and Borghetto sul Mincio. They are not very far from one another and would be on the general path from Trieste to Lucca.