Trieste’s Neighborhoods

Choosing a Trieste Neighborhood: Trickier than it seems!

Trieste is beautiful inside out and yes that means there are many neighborhoods to choose from when looking for the one. To buy or rent your place in, that is. Trieste is very territorial, every neighborhood has its own way of doing things. If you’re looking for a further away from downtown Trieste neighborhood, you’ll need to use public transport (Trieste is very well connected through a great bus system).

Home to about 250,000 residents, the municipality Trieste is made up of 28 neighborhoods in 7 Districts.

Here’s the Ultimate Triestine Neighborhood Guide for all Incoming Expats!

San Vito

San Vito, an almost downtown neighborhood (10 minutes downhill, 15 minutes uphill) is comprised of the area of Campo Marzio that encompasses the end of the Rive, including the new Port, Pedocin beach, the old train station now home to the Train Museum, Passeggio Sant’Andrea (a pretty pedestrian walkway & park overlooking the bay between Trieste & Muggia) and the upper area of San Vito which is home to some beautiful green parks – Bazzoni and Rosmini- and elegant neighborhoods, like Via Bellosguardo. It is the place to be if you want to be central, but still live in a nice and quiet residential area.

Città Vecchia

Citta’ Vecchia is the artsy and old (literally vecchia) part of the city, which reaches from Piazza della Borsa, the old ghetto, Cavana, Castello St Giusto, Arco di Riccardo, the Roman Amphitheater, Museo Revoltella. It is full of art galleries, antiques shops, vintage and used book, clothing and furniture stores, funky eateries and bars and small local designer shops and is the site of a trendy designer pop-up market called Barbacan Produce. If you’re looking for a place here, the prices go up but you don’t need to (meaning, there are no uphill here).

Città Nuova

Citta’ Nuova is made up of Borgo Teresiano (name for Maria Theresa of Austria) which encompasses the Via Carducci, Corso Italia, the train station in Piazza Liberta’ and the Rive including Canal Grande, San Spiridone, the Shmidl Theater, Verdi Opera House, Piazza Unita’ and Molo Audace and Borgo Giuseppino (named for Franz Joseph of Austria) which is made up of Piazza Venezia, the Salone degli Incanti (which was the set for Ellis island in The Godfather), Stazione Marittima and Via del Lazzareto Vecchio. Very central, very trendy, could be very pricey to find a place here.

Barriera Nuova

Barriera is in the central part of the city and includes the famous Viale XX Settembre home of the Rossetti theater and is the drag where Trieste’s cinemas are concentrated. It also comprises of the Ospedale Maggiore, Via Giulia, the Synagogue, Caffè San Marco, the Courthouse, and Kleine Berlin (ex nazi air raid tunnel).

Barriera Vecchia

Barriera Vecchia is notable for the Mercato Coperto (covered market) the literary hotel Victoria, Pirona the now defunct pastry shop once frequented by James Joyce, as well as the Henriquez War Museum.

San Giacomo

San Giacomo is an extension of the Chiarbola neighborhood, sprouted from an outcrop of businesses that set up shop in mid 1800s. Eventually the Church of San Giacomo was built which serves as an anchor to the community. The area is also home to the children’s hospital Burlo-Garofalo known locally as “il Burlo”. It’s a city within a city. Here you have everything: shops, restaurants, churches, cafes, even a cinema. The prices for apartments here are cheaper and the characters are plenty.

Rozzol (Melara)/ Cattinara

Rozzol/ Melara is the area near the main hospital, Cattinara. It is also distinguished by a large low-income housing project called “Ater” which was designed following the architectural theories of Le Corbusier. It was planned in 1979 to be a self-contained community with shops, schools for 2500 residents occupying 500 apartments. Apartments here are cheaper and you will need to use public transportation to get to downtown Trieste.

Chiadino

Chiadino is just southeast of Cattinara in a very wooded area. It is home to Villa Revoltella (the summer residence of the Baron Revoltella with an expansive park), the Ferdinandeo, a Villa built in honor of Emperor Ferdinand I and now home to the Inernational Business School of Trieste (MIB). Also home to the Via del Cacciatore, a foot trail and road that runs through the Bosco del Farneto (also called “Boschetto”), and finally, also the location of the Botanical Garned of Trieste. A nice area to live in, apartments here are definitely cheaper than in other areas but you’ll need to use public transport to move around.

Guardiella

Guardiella is a tiny neighborhood flanked by Trebiciano to the north, Longhera to the east, Cologna to the west and Chiadino to the South. The historic and traditional Triestine restaurant, Trattoria Suban, is located here. The area is nice but a little remote. Prices many cheaper (some houses as opposed to apartments are available). You’ll need to use public transport to move around.

Longhera

Longhera is a small neighborhood behind the Cattinara hospital and nestled between the Via Carnaro and Strada per Basovizza. It is known for its produce farms, vendors and Osmize. A beautiful yet remote place to live. Sometimes you can find deals on houses as opposed to apartments in this area. You’ll need a car/ use public transport.

Chiarbola

Chiarbola is an area marked by the old sports arena and situated between Servola, Campo Marzio and San Vito. Not downtown yet not too far from downtown, thus the prices here are lower. You’ll need to use public transport to get downtown Trieste.

Servola

Servola is famous for its “donne del pane” bread making traditions, renown even beyond Trieste. In 1756 it won the award for the “best bread in the Austrian Empire”, with their trademark “Servolane’.

Valmaura

Valmaura is marked by the presence of several low-income housing units, the area is also home to Trieste’s 3 largest sports arenas, the Nereo Rocco Stadium, the Grezar Stadium and the PalaTrieste of basketball team ALMA. The infamous Risiera di Sansaba is also located in the area which is now a national monument and testament to the horrors carried out by the Nazis in Italy’s only crematorium.

S.M.M. Superiore & S.M.M. Inferiore

S.M.M. stands for Santa Maria Maddalena and they are the parts of town leading through cemetery district on down through to the industrial district before you arrive to Aquilina.

Scorcola

Scorcola is a historic hillside neighborhood, part of the original settlement by the Romans Tergeste and later the headquarters for the Venetian forces of the Serenissima in the late 1200s. It was the first area of urbanization for the city of Trieste, principally going from farms and manors to an upscale area of villas. A nice place to live, although remote, has majestic views of the sea.

Cologna

Cologna takes up an area from the pubic garden Muzio Tommasini on Via Giulia up to the University of Trieste, adjacent on the waterfront to Barriera Nuova and Roiano. A good neighborhood, central and you can walk to downtown (40 minutes).

Roiano

Roiano is home to famed astrophysicist Margherita Hack until her death in 2013, home also to the STOCK brandy distillery and bottling until it was moved to the industrial district. The old building is now a commercial center and home to some offices of the public health administration. A great neighborhood with reasonable housing prices. Walking distance to downtown (about 30 minutes to Piazza Unità), or just take one of the many busses.

Gretta

Gretta – a neighborhood above Roiano. American troops built several low income homes in the area in the 1950s. It is also home to the main lighthouse, Il Faro della Vittoria A very nice neighborhood to live in, prices mid-high, great views of the harbor.

Barcola

Barcola is the beach of Trieste, dotted with yacht clubs, restaurants, and parks. In the summer it is packed with locals and visitors alike enjoying the seaside. Miramare Castle is located at the end of Barcola adjacent to the tiny port of Grignano. A great location, right by the beach, apartments and houses are not easy to find here. Parking can be an issue, will need to use public transport. But what beats living right by the sea?

Opicina

Opicina is home of the famous Tram of Opicina, the beautiful Napoleonic trail, and the Zinzendorf Monument marking the Road to Vienna. Bucolic Opicina is a popular bedroom community for young families (many ex-pats) and home to the International School of Trieste. Many Triestini move up here to escape the city and buy a bigger place (usually, a house). You will need to use the public transport or your car to get to downtown Trieste.

Banne

A small, mostly residential village near Opicina.

Trebiciano

Located halfway between Padriciano and Opicina, it is home to the Abyss of Trebiciano, a grotto that measures 329 meters in depth. It is also home to the beekeepers Settimo & Ziani whose Marasca honey is quickly becoming famous worldwide.

Padriciano

Home to Area Science Park (a National Research Center focusing on developing innovative technologies), the 120yr old Tennis Club Triestino and the Golf Club of Trieste, built by the Allies in the 50s. It was also the site of the Centro Racolta Profugi, a refugee center that housed many of the “esuli” coming from the Italian territories annexed to Yugoslavia.

Gropada

A small village famous for its many grottoes is a known destination for many spelunkers. It is also the home of an “orienteering without borders” race between Italy and Slovenia.

Basovizza

A small village that is home to the Sincrotrone Elettra and the Observatory of Trieste. Sadly it is also home to the eponymous Foiba di Basovizza (in this case abandoned mineshaft) where hundreds and possibly thousands of prisoners, soldiers and civilians were thrown into (many still alive) by Yugoslavian loyalists (but also possibly Nazis or Fascists).

Santa Croce

This is the western most village of Trieste, and it is famous for its leather work and its proximity to the new luxe resort Porto Piccolo.

Prosecco

Birthplace of the eponymous famous sparkling wine. Prosecco is a small village, with picturesque views.

Contovello

A small mountain town overlooking Miramare and location of the Miramare train station.