Trieste

Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy, the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It lies at the head of the Gulf of Trieste, on the Adriatic Sea near the border with Slovenia, and is set between the Slovenian coast to the east and the Karst plateau inland. The city has a cosmopolitan heritage shaped by centuries of trade and governance by various states.

From the 14th century until 1918 Trieste grew as the main port of the Habsburg Empire, becoming a major commercial and maritime center within the Austrian Littoral. After World War I it passed to Italy. In the postwar era the Free Territory of Trieste (1947–1954) governed the city before sovereignty was affirmed for Italy in 1954. Today Trieste is the administrative center of the region and a major Adriatic port with significant logistics and shipbuilding activity.

Culturally, Trieste is known for its Austro-Hungarian architecture, coffee-house tradition, and a multilingual history with Italian, Slovenian, and German influences. Notable landmarks include Piazza Unità d'Italia, one of Europe’s largest sea-front squares; Miramare Castle, overlooking the sea; and the medieval San Giusto Cathedral and castle. The city has a rich literary legacy, associated with authors such as Italo Svevo and, briefly, James Joyce during his time in Trieste.

The economy centers on the port, logistics, and a growing service sector. Trieste is connected by road and railway to Central Europe and Slovenia and hosts an international airport at Ronchi dei Legionari.

Population is about 200,000 in the city.