If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Friuli-Venezia Giuli region of northeastern Italy, abbreviated as Fruili, bordering Austria and Slovenia. Depending on your interests, Friuli may be an ideal vacation spot. You usually won’t have to fight crowds to see what you want. This article explores the capital Trieste. A companion article examines other regional tourist attractions.

Trieste, Friuli`s largest city, was settled thousands of years ago and went from one occupier to another over the centuries. The Austro-Hungarian Empire`s major port; Trieste was part and parcel of Central Europe. It only joined Italy in 1954. Given its unique history Trieste is a unique place to visit.

Coffee houses are everywhere; some are centuries old. Look for the Antico Caffè San Marco, and ask for a Bicerin, coffee served in a glass. Trieste’s most famous expatriate was James Joyce, a long-term resident during the early 1900s.

Trieste hosts historic religious buildings representing many faiths. The mid-Nineteenth Century Serbian-Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Spyridion shows a strong Byzantine influence. View its beautiful frescoes and icons. The century-old Israelite Temple of Trieste is Italy’s largest synagogue. The Cathedral is dedicated to the city’s patron saint, San Guisto, a Fourth Century martyr. Constructed in the Sixth Century on Roman ruins it was rebuilt several times. Excavations during the 1930s revealed the remains of a Roman forum and other buildings. The Cathedral is adjacent to a castle. Its ramparts provide a great view of the city and its surroundings.

Trieste museums include the City Museum of History and Art with Egyptian, Greek, and Italian antiquities and the Revoltella City Museum and Modern Art Gallery. Don’t miss the Museum of the Sea, one of the best such museums in the Mediterranean.

The Gratta Gigante about 9 miles (15 kilometers) north of Trieste is the world’s biggest tourist cave. It’s big enough to contain Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, the largest religious building in the world.

Trieste cuisine includes many foreign influences: Hungarian goulash, Austrian coffee and pastries, Yugoslavian grilled meat, and German wurst and sauerkraut. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy – Trieste for a sample menu and more information on its wines plus an in-depth examination of local tourist attractions. Carso DOC is a red or white dry white wine from a small region near Trieste on the Slovenian border.