Posted on March 22, 2010 by Fiona Hilliard

The poet Umberto Saba summed up Trieste perfectly when he said: “Located between the sea and the mountains of Carso, beautiful and fascinating, she does not like to show off, although she conquers her visitor at first sight.”

Anyone who has been to this northeastern Italian city is lying if they tell you they weren’t captivated just a little bit by its beauty. Trieste has been bestowed with the honour of being both the capital of the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trieste province. True, its location at the crossroads of Germanic, Latin and Germanic and Slavic cultures definitely shaped its destiny as an interesting cultural melting pot. To be honest, you really need to look hard to find any traces of its Italian origins.

While Trieste exudes something of a modest air, it is home to many ornate neo-classical buildings and wide, elegant boulevards – pictuesque reminders of its importance as a thriving port.

It may be absolutely tiny, but its long history has provided ample fodder for local museums in the area. The main museums include the Museum of the Sea where the city’s maritime glory is fondly remembered. There’s also the Joyce Museum, which is dedicated to the life and times of one time Trieste resident, James Joyce. It was in Trieste where Joyce managed to finish writing “Dubliners” – and almost starved to death…but that’s a story for another day. Another rainy day destination worth considering is the Spelovivarium Science museum. There are actually quite a few science-based museums dotted about the place, as well as a botanical garden, a Roman theatre and two castles – Miramar castle and the Castle of San Giusto.

So how do you get to Trieste in the first place? Pretty easily in fact. Trieste has a little airport called Aeroporto Friuli-Venezia Guilia, which is served by Ryanair, with budget flights from the UK. Once you’ve picked up your Trieste car hire and you’re on the open road, be sure you look out for the aforementioned Castello Miramar on your right as you travel along the coast road.