Trieste is situated on the gulf of the same name near the first ramifications of the Carso Triestino or Karst. This plateau is famous for its many caves, both in the Italian parts as in the parts in neighboring Slovenia and Croatia. So is therefore that the speleology was born here in the late 19th century.

It is the most northerly located harbour of Italy. It’s idyllically placed on the slopes of a limestone plateau as they say: where the Mediterranean touches the heart of Europe. Up till the 18th century, walls surrounded the town and pressed it in it’s orthogonal structure. The centre was gradually expanded beyond these limits after the demolishing of these walls from 1719 on, when by imperial decree; the town became a free port, assuming the role of main seaport of the Austrian Empire. Today the port is still the basis for the town's economy and it’s one of the largest in Italy.

Trieste now makes a bit of a rundown impression, as many of the 19th century buildings and villas are in a deplorable state. If you see past this, you can still visualize the beauty the city must have hade a century ago. When visiting, you should not miss the Cathedral of S. Giusto: two Romanesque basilicas joined together in the fourteenth century are now the symbol of the town. Also visit the castle, originated in the 14th century, but with quite some baroque extensions. For those interested in archeology the Roman theatre is the most impressive site.

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