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amanico
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Trieste and its surroundings, a place of an amazing diversity.

All is in the title, which explains why, each year for some 13 years, now, I spend my summer holidays here, in this part of the world.

As I already certainly said it, Trieste is not really the image - cliché - you have when you think " Italy ".

If you're looking for some italian Clichés, go to Rome, Firenze, Taormina...

If you're looking for something deeply different, then Trieste is for you.

Here, you'll find some strong influences from the East, but also from Venice, Turkey, and so on, which can be easily explained by the geolocalisation of this town: Trieste is at only 15 Kilometers from the Slovenian Boarder, and at a bit more than 20 kilometers from the Croatian Boarder, at the east.

Go to the north, drive during approximatively 200 kilometers, and you will arrive at the Austrian Boarder.

So, for those who don't well know this part of Europe, that means that you have the mountains, hills, and the sea, at the same place, which sounds very italian.

BUT, which differs from the other parts of Italy lies in the architecture of the town, the blend of culture, the churchs, the food, the mix of old, very old and modern, even the names of the bars, and so on...

Trieste is a very difficult town to describe, it has to be lived, to be felt, to be tasted, to fully understand then enjoy it.

Loose yourself in the different part of the towns, smell the air, have some nice coffees or appetizers, a good plate of " scampi fritti " or a pizza, try the local speciality ( I warn you, it is surprising, for an italian town ) the famous capuzzi ( sauberkraut / Choucroute !!! ).

If you want to avoid the heath, have a jump to the heights of Trieste, go to Slovenia, and eat at an " Osmizza " some Cevapcici or Rastinici.

Avoid the local wine, which is a bit too " Chapa Gola " ( throat catcher ) for me.

Taste the Presnitz or the Putizza, some interesting and delicious desserts made from walnuts and grapes, moderately sprinkled with Grappa.

Enjoy a superb plate of sea food or fish in Croatia... Unless you prefer crude ham with figs and cheese...

Diet is impossible, as you already got it.



Let's start the pictorial trip....

1/ Trieste:

Let's start by my favourite part of the town, the " Canale ", which is a magic place. I can stay for hours, there, just admiring the change of light and colors, the reflections of the houses on the water... There is something very " venitian here, without the crowd of the Tourists.

From a boat:



To the sea:



A closer look to the canale:



Another place, majestuous is the Piazza Della Unita, gathering the most prestigious hotels of the town, the Hall Town, and the Governor's Palace.

On the sunset, it is almost golden:



At the sunrise:



From the boat:



A close up of the clock of the Hall Town Clock, with its Jaquemarts which made me think about Rolf Schnyder, somewhat...



The Piazza Della Unita drives you to the sea, with its 2 bronze statues, and this day, there was a sea cruiser... Bill, why didn't you warn me that you were in town?





What a beast!



Now have a look at the monuments above the Piazza... You will see the San Giusto Fort and Basilic, which are dating from the Roman era.



Another view on the San Giusto Fort, which can be seen between the colored walls:



Are we in Germany or in Italy? The colors may give us a hint...



Some pictures of the heights of the town:









The chic du chic is to have a bath at the seawall... There is a ferry which brings you there, each 30 minutes, then you will enjoy a nice water and some small beaches.





Aaaah, the farniente:



In Trieste, there are 3 watch shops... Which are all closed in August, so no temptation here.

But you don't really need a watch, if you want to read the time:



When the sun goes down, there is always something to discover or to enjoy, from the streets of the old town, with its typical very narrow " passages ", to these typical bars under tents:











And if you ever want to move frrom the town, there are many possibilities...

2/ Muggia:

In the heights, at approximatively 10 Kilometers from Trieste, this is a cool, calm place to relax, with some nice, very nice landscapes.

Here we almost are at the boarder with Slovenia.



The streets go very high and strong, I can't imagin how it can be in winter, with snow...



With a good car, you risk nothing...



You see? Trieste is at the other side of the Gulf:



3/ Carnia.

This is a part of Italy which is just after Udine, at 100 kilometers from Trieste, in the mountain... Just midway between Trieste and Villach ( Austria ).

Here, the air is pretty fresh, and sometimes rainy... Like the day we were there.

We were in two villages, here: Cavazzo, and Bordano.

In Cavazzo, you have a super Restaurant, held by a friend of my fathers in law... The food is excellent and each year, we at least pay one visit, there.

Cavazzo: Austria or Italy? Italy, but it looks a bit like Klagenfurt ( Austria ).





The famous restaurant:



Bordano. Here was the Butterflies House " a live exhibition of butterflies...

Which allowed me to test my skill with macro pics.















The lucky shot....



As you guessed, the butterflies come from all over the world. Impressive ballet of colors.

4/ Istria.

As I already said it, the road is not too long to go there. It was the ex part of Italy, now Croatian and Slovenian.



In the interior, never too far from the sea, some superb old villages, such as:

Bale:



Dignano, which looks a lot like Muggia, by the way, with is very colored and lovely old houses:











Charmful, isn't it? You're at only 100 kilometers from Trieste, which will take a road trip of about 2 hours, though, as the motorway is partial, and ... slow.

Verteneglio and the sea side, Karigador:

I have a strong love for Verteneglio, this small istrian village at 50 Kilometers from Trieste.

The calmness of the place, only " broken " by the melody of the rooster and the cicada, is an oasis of peace, a stmphony of colors and perfumes, too.

There is a small but lovely hotel, built from a typical istrian stone house, which is just the cherry on the cake, with a swimmig pool and an excellent restaurant.

Take the car, do 5 kilometres more, and you will land in Carigador, which is the sea side, for a small swim in the hot water.

Heaven is here, indeed.

Here are the pictures:

The Hotel:









A typical istrian house,



And certainly my favourite picture of the whole village, with this awesome red ground, typical from the region:



Let's end this trip with some pictures of Carigador, another charmful place:







Love a lot this last one, too, with the fisher in the middle of the sea....



Well, my friends, that is all for this year...

If you ever come in this place of the world, and if it is in August, please let me know.

We'll try to arrange a small GTG, between friends, with some superb landscapes, food, drinks, and maybe, who knows, watches?

Best,

Nicolas.