Welcome to Trieste

Best known for its five centuries as the main port of the Austrian Empire, which gave the city its strong Central European flavour, Trieste has forged strong links with the Americas, the Middle East and the Far East through the shipping trade.

Named Shaar Zion due to the large number of Jewish people who embarked at its port on their way to Palestine and the ultimate goal of the Race for Trieste between the New Zealand troops and the Yugoslav Liberation Army during the final months of WW2, the city saw some ten percent of its inhabitants leave for Australia amid the uncertainty of the ensuing years.

A multicultural trading city that now hosts the highest ratio of scientists versus inhabitants in Europe in its 20+ research centres, Trieste offers a very unique way of life. You can enjoy downtown seaside and swimming spots as well as the nearby mountains, while you can get to cities such as Venice or Ljubljana in under 1.5 hours. This makes it a perfect starting point for your personal Grand Tour.