Share the article
Last updated
Are you going to Italy this fall? You might be surprised to learn that prices in Rome and other tourist hotspots aren’t necessarily that way decreased as expected post-summer – and the crowds haven’t dissipated like normal either.
The record-breaking heat is now bringing a growing number of travelers active avoid July when planning a visit, so don’t fly all the way across the pond thinking it’s a low season for tourism: the lines of people outside the Colosseum can be just as long, and hotels still will average $195 per night.
Fortunately, there remains a lesser known Italian gem which is significantly less crowded, offers cheaper room rates, has delicious $5 pizzas, and, unlike Rome, is directly on the sea:
Get to know Trieste, the real pearl on the Adriatic Sea
Trieste, the capital of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region in the northeasternmost corner of the Italian peninsula, is one of the country’s most culturally distinctive cities.
To begin with, it does not fit in with the majority of its ocher, narrow houses and green shuttered, cobbled counterparts: in other words, aesthetically it not your typical southern European cityalthough it do spread over a turquoise Adriatic Sea.
The map of Europe is constantly changing, so it is not unusual for different cities to belong to different countries at different times, and Trieste is no exception:
Before Italy became a unified state, it was ruled for centuries by the Habsburg Monarchy, a polity that existed between 1382 and 1918 and included parts of Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, and other Central European countries.
That is a whole 536 years of built up Habsburg heritageand needless to say, Trieste resembles Austro-Hungarian and Slovenian influences more than Italian.
But anyway. We digress.
Like Central European cities, the urban layout of Trieste Also revolves around a medieval old town, attached to a lively seaport, while the ‘new town’ – still quite old by our American standards – is typically Austrianwith its stately neoclassical and baroque additions.
What we’re trying to say is that Trieste Italy may not be exactly as you idealize it: it’s a melting pot of cultures, from Mediterranean to Germanic to Slavic civilizations, and while it exists almost on a parallel plane to that of Italy’s stalwart Rome, that’s exactly what makes it fascinating.
What to see in Trieste
Trieste may not have a Colosseum or a temple-studded Palatine Hill, but it’s as old as the average Italian city, and it has an unusual high concentration of Roman monuments which – some might argue – are as impressive as those of Rome.
These include a first century gate, Arco di Riccardonow etched on a newer structure: a partially preserved Roman theater, which used to seat more than 6,000 spectators, making it one of the largest this side of Italy, and the ruins of a forum.
The Citta Vecchiaor Old Town, is equally so deeply historicalmade up of narrow streets lined with crooked, medieval houses, and it is almost completely closed to traffic, although Trieste’s greatest architectural delights are in the adjacent Austrian Quarter:
The ‘newer’ part of the city, built under Austrian rule, mimics the distinctive neoclassicism of the former capital Vienna (with the occasional foray into Art Nouveau), and includes the landmark Grand Canal and the Adriatic Sea Piazza Unita d’Italiathe largest beach square in Europe.
Beautiful Adriatic beaches
The Adriatic coast is known for its rocky beaches, and among the pebbly beaches of the Mediterranean, Trieste is no exception. But if you’re not exactly excited about those pebble beaches, there is quite a few sandy stains you could choose:
Our favorite stretch of sand – dark sand that is – near Trieste is Barcola Beach, equipped with a playground for children and lined with informal bars and restaurants (by the way, for cheap, high-quality seafood dishes ranging between $8 and $21, make sure make sure you pay JOIA a visit).
We also love Topolini, or ‘Mickey Mouse Beach’, for its… no-nonsense environment: Until October you can see people of all ages and social backgrounds sunbathing on the Mickey ear-shaped sand, provided the weather is good.
If you don’t mind some Pebbly – and the occasional nudist – the more remote Costa dei Barbari, a short walk down the small road from the café of the same name, is where you go for some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of Trieste.
Trieste Is Way Cheaper than Rome
We’ve already touched on that briefly, but one of Trieste’s biggest advantages over Rome is how affordable it can be, despite being, well, part of Europe’s most touristy and sometimes shockingly priced destination.
We’re telling you, you can eat delicious pasta for about $11 (check out Traktoria Rustiko), enjoy a seafood buffet from just $22 (Buffet Claiyou have our hearts), or a Marinara pizza for, we’re not kidding you, five dollars(La Pizza di Cittavecchia is your go-to spot for that).
Oh, and in case you’re wondering how the price of accommodation in Trieste compares to that in Rome: local hotels can be up to 38% cheaper, according to Budget your trip estimates:
It starts from $26 for a hostel bed, going up to $84-86 for a room in a centrally located hotel or B&B, and culminating in more expensive offers such as the Savoia Excelsior Palacewhere a night’s stay will cost you $236 – that’s just $41 more than the average hotel in Rome!
Travel to Slovenia and Croatia for just $9
Trieste is located in the most north-eastern tip of Italy and is connected to the country by a narrow strip of land: it is actually closer to Slovenia and Croatia than to other Italian destinations.
From Trieste to Lipica, a village on the Slovenian side a short 22 minute ride––crossing the short Slovenian coastline, it takes just over 40 minutes to reach Plovanija, Croatia’s first border town.
Fortunately, you don’t have to rent a car or resort to unreliable buses to visit all three countries: a new train route has recently been launched connecting Trieste to its neighbors, with the former Italian-controlled city of Rijeka (now in Croatia) as a final destination, and tickets from just $9.
Find out how to get your tickets here.
✈️Join our Travel Off Path community forum: Where travelers come together, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel companions!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
