Tom`s travels: Trieste (11/01/2018)

After leaving Ljubljana covered in clouds and rain we reached the Italian city of Trieste just an hour later with a clear sun shining over the city and sea. After getting out of the bus we were off to explore the city. We passed by the start of the Canal Grande, a large canal cutting through the center towards the Piazza Sant'Antonio Nuovo with the scenographic Church of Sant'Antonio at its end. A little further on we then walked along the Molo Audace, a large pier originally built during the 18th century on top of a sunken ship and later extended to its current length of 246m and built out of stone. We admired the beautiful view of the sea and the mountains in the background for a while and then headed back into the city. We entered the large Piazza Unità d'Italia, considered to be Europe's largest square on the sea, with impressive neoclassical buildings surrounding it, including the town hall, several palaces and the 18th-century fountain of the four continents. From the main square, a small street led to another square called Piazza della Borsa, surrounded by more interesting buildings and wit the fountain of Neptune at its center. Starting to walk uphill we passed by the Roman Theater, one of the vestiges of the Roman city of Tergeste. At the time of its construction, it was located outside of the city walls and right by the sea, which throughout the centuries has retreated to where the Piazza Unità ends. It was built around the first century B.C. but after the fall of the Roman empire, it fell into disuse and slowly got built upon. It was only in 1938 that the houses built on top of it were demolished that the theater came to light again. We then climbed some stairs and reached the Romanesque Basilica di San Silvestro, probably the oldest in the city. It was unfortunately closed, unlike the nearby church of Santa Maria Maggiore which we visited. Built during the 17th century in the Baroque style for the Jesuits it has a nice facade and interior. Outside, close to the apse, is the Arco di Riccardo, a Roman city gate dating to the first century A.D. We admired it and then headed further uphill to reach the highest point where the Cathedral, a beautiful Romanesque and Gothic example, is located. Unfortunately, the church was closed as it was lunchtime, as was the church of San Michele al Carnale next door. Right beside the Cathedral are the remains of the Roman forum, a few columns, and a rectangular area. Behind the forum stands, imposing, the Castello di San Giusto, a fortress which rebuilt several times reaching its present aspect due to the 16th-century refurbishment. After admiring the area, we descended all the way down the hill to reach the lower tower where we had lunch at a place called Genuino. After lunch we had a stroll around the city, then stopping at the Eataly where we browsed all the Italian food specialties and then walked along the seaside walk finally ending at the train station where we took our ride to Vicenza.