Piazza Unità d'Italia (Unity of Italy Square), Trieste (must see)
The Unity of Italy Square in Trieste is today the largest sea-facing square in Europe. Located at the base of the hill of the castle San Giusto, it was once the most important seaport of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Originally it was Saint Peter Square (Piazza San Pietro). The indigenous Slovenes called it Great or Grand Square. Then the name was changed to Francesco Giuseppe, after Emperor Franz Joseph. In 1918, it became Unity Square (Piazza Unita) in honor of Trieste's annexation by Italy. On April 15, 1955, it was awarded the name Unity of Italy Square (Piazza Unita d'Italia).
The vast, elegant square opens on the Gulf of Trieste. It is lined on three sides by lavish Viennese-type government buildings. Leading off the square are the ancient meandering streets of the venerable Roman settlement of Trieste. The grid-fashioned Borgo Teresiano district is also an adjunct to the noted place.
The City Hall (Palazzo del Municipio), with its clock tower and bronze Moors, faces the sea. The imposing Lloyd Triestino Palace and the Government Palace (Palazzo del Governo) are on the sides. The building has a golden mosaic facade. The Fountain of the Four Continents, built between 1751 and 1754 by the sculptor Giovanni Battista Mazzoleni, stands in front of the City Hall. A lighting system with blue LEDs was installed to emphasize the connection with the sea.
The square has served well as a concert venue. The Green Day rock group performed there in 2013 with their show, "99 Revolutions." Some 12,000 people attended. The heavy metal group, Iron Maiden, performed, drawing as many as 15,000 enthusiastic fans.
Foreign heads of state have met in the square. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian PM Enrico Letta met here in 2013. In 2017, a trilateral meeting attended by Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, and Paolo Gentiloni was held there, as well as the fourth Western Balkans Summit.
Merchants, sailors, artists, visitors, and heads of state have called the square the "Front Parlor" of Trieste, and with good reason. It is a great place to enjoy a coffee on a Sunday and watch the sunset as children play and families stroll along the waterfront.
Originally it was Saint Peter Square (Piazza San Pietro). The indigenous Slovenes called it Great or Grand Square. Then the name was changed to Francesco Giuseppe, after Emperor Franz Joseph. In 1918, it became Unity Square (Piazza Unita) in honor of Trieste's annexation by Italy. On April 15, 1955, it was awarded the name Unity of Italy Square (Piazza Unita d'Italia).
The vast, elegant square opens on the Gulf of Trieste. It is lined on three sides by lavish Viennese-type government buildings. Leading off the square are the ancient meandering streets of the venerable Roman settlement of Trieste. The grid-fashioned Borgo Teresiano district is also an adjunct to the noted place.
The City Hall (Palazzo del Municipio), with its clock tower and bronze Moors, faces the sea. The imposing Lloyd Triestino Palace and the Government Palace (Palazzo del Governo) are on the sides. The building has a golden mosaic facade. The Fountain of the Four Continents, built between 1751 and 1754 by the sculptor Giovanni Battista Mazzoleni, stands in front of the City Hall. A lighting system with blue LEDs was installed to emphasize the connection with the sea.
The square has served well as a concert venue. The Green Day rock group performed there in 2013 with their show, "99 Revolutions." Some 12,000 people attended. The heavy metal group, Iron Maiden, performed, drawing as many as 15,000 enthusiastic fans.
Foreign heads of state have met in the square. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian PM Enrico Letta met here in 2013. In 2017, a trilateral meeting attended by Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, and Paolo Gentiloni was held there, as well as the fourth Western Balkans Summit.
Merchants, sailors, artists, visitors, and heads of state have called the square the "Front Parlor" of Trieste, and with good reason. It is a great place to enjoy a coffee on a Sunday and watch the sunset as children play and families stroll along the waterfront.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Trieste. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Piazza Unità d'Italia (Unity of Italy Square) on Map
Sight Name: Piazza Unità d'Italia (Unity of Italy Square)
Sight Location: Trieste, Italy (See walking tours in Trieste)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Trieste, Italy (See walking tours in Trieste)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Trieste, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Trieste
Creating your own self-guided walk in Trieste is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Trieste's Ancient Roman Sites Walking Tour
The Roman remains on Trieste extend along the northwestern slope of San Giusto Hill, overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. Wharves of sandstone slabs dating from the 1st century AD were found by the Roman Theatre. The city walls, ordered by Augustus, were converted to use as terraces.
The Propylaeum of the 1st century AD was the gateway to the sacred area of the Capitoline Temple. There are two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
The Propylaeum of the 1st century AD was the gateway to the sacred area of the Capitoline Temple. There are two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Trieste Introduction Walking Tour
Sub-tropical Trieste lies on a bit of land between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia. Savannas, forests, and karstic areas of sinkholes and caves surround the coastline. It is a deep-water port and a major gateway to northern Italy. It is called "Vienna by the Sea" by some or "City of Coffee" by others.
The ancient Veneti tribes called the town "Tergeste," which means... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The ancient Veneti tribes called the town "Tergeste," which means... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles