Trieste

It's not Venice, but a beautiful city in its own right. A city and seaport, Trieste was one of the oldest parts of the Hapsburg Monarchy and became the fourth largest city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This would account for the ‘not so Italian’ feel and architecture of the city.

Trieste - Piazza Unita

It does however hold the title (according to me) for our best pizza in Italy to date, and now after my second visit and helping of ‘Pizza Buffalina’ (tomato, buffalo mozzarella, olives and basil) at Il Barattolo, the title remains!

We spent our first day with Zio Marino and Zia Aurora, (Marino's mother's brother and wife) 5 hours with them solely in Italian, followed by dinner with them that evening, another 3 hours, all in Italian. Hard work for us both! They always take us somewhere different and on this trip we visited the cemetery where Marino’s Nonno and Nonna are buried. We both enjoy a visit to a foreign cemetery (not meaning to sound spooky) they are full of history and fascinating little stories.

Graziella, Ilaria & Marino

 

 

The view across to Miramare

The next day a quick coffee with cousin Elena before she heads off to Australia, then dinner that night with cousin Graziella and her daughter Ilaria. We also managed to slip in a few touristy things for ourselves. A trip to the castle and cathedral of San Giusto, a visit to the Jewish holocaust museum and a walk from the town of Opicina to the town of Prosecco (nothing to do with the bubbly drink) to visit the 1960s monstrosity, theTemple of Monte Grisa (although Marino liked it!)

The monstrosity of Monte Grisa

 

Another short but sweet visit to Marino’s family home town.

Time to pick up our hire car and hit the road – we’re off to the Prosecco region!