SAN GIUSTO Castle & Cathedral, Trieste

In the fifth century this church was a basilica which was built in place of a Roman temple. It was probably destroyed in the IX century. Between the IX and the X century two churches were built on the site of this basilica. These were joined to form this cathedral in the XIV century.

Inside the basilica many elements deserve attention: the twelfth and thirteenth cntury adsidal mosaic of the Assumption and San Giusto, urn with the relics of San Servolo, the treasury etc.

The nave; foreground of the holy-water font with the statue of the Saint.
The nave joins together the aisles of the two churches mentioned previously. The ceiling is made of painted wood and is like the hull of an overturned boat. A precious Bohemian chandelier made of gilded copper hangs from the ceiling. The monogram of Maximilian and Charlotte of Austria is engraved on it.

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What we see today is a large construction built between 1468 and1636. It is thought there was an early bronze age hillfort (around 2000 BC) at the place of this castle. In the Middle Age the Venetian built another building. It was destroyed in the XIV century. Between 1468-1471 Fredrick III of Absburg built another constuction on that site. Other works were made by the Venetians from 1508 to 1509. The castle was completed in 1630 with the buildings of the bastions and the walls.

The museum inside the castle is made up of a furnished room and the Casa del Capitano. This is the oldest building in the castle. It houses a collection of weaponry, some furniture and other things. Temporary exibitions are held at the castle.

Once you visited the museum you can stroll on the ramparts on the castle to enjoy a beautiful landscape over the city.

Inside the large courtyard various concerts and shows are held.

The current fortifications that sit above the city of Trieste are actually the second structure (possibly the third) to be erected in that spot. The castle was constructed between 1470 and 1630, although there were earlier Venetian battlements here and perhaps even earlier fortifications. Today, there are plays in the courtyard of the Castle during the summer, and part of the city's Civic Museum is located here. The Sala Veneta, inside the Castle, is a reconstruction of a 17th century room complete with Flemish tapestries. Apart from this, and the Museo Civico, visitors can also enjoy views from the battlements and (self-guided) tours of the kitchen and loggia.

At the top of the hill is the castle of San Giusto (15th century). The castle is pretty and you can roam the grounds (great views) or go inside to the museum, which offers a collection of arms, armory and other period items.

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The Basilica of San Giusto is really two churches that were joined in the 14th century from earlier churches dating back to the 1st and 5th centuries.
The Basilica has several styles including Roman and Byzantine. Inside you should check out the frescoes depicting St. Justus, the town’s patron saint, the mosaics and the lovely rose window.

Duomo ( cathedral ) di San Giusto which is situated atop Capitoline Hill, at the highest elevation in old town Trieste. The duomo was created by connecting chiesa di San Giusto and chiesa di Assunta by a large single nave from 600 to 700 years ago. The campanile ( bell tower ) shown on the left of the photo which looks like a massive castle rook, was completed in about 1340. It is the widest campanile that I have ever see. To give you an idea of how large the duomo is, the gothic arched campanile doorway shown is 5 meters high. The ornate rosette window centered above the main entrance is a masterpiece that should not be missed. The interior of the duomo is beautiful and filled with art treasures.

The ruins of the Roman forum shown in the photo foreground are located on virtually the same spot as Duomo San Giusto, on the crest of Capitoline Hill. The forum was the most important structure in the Roman city of Tergeste, which was centered around Capitoline Hill.

A little more than 700 years ago a project commenced to assimilate the older churches of San Giusto and Assunta into an enormous duomo ( cathedral ) which was to become the center of religious activity in Trieste. Be sure to see the art treasury inside of the duomo as well as the campanile ( bell tower ) museum.

Actually thanks to pillages during the early middle ages, there is not much remaining of the forum. Teatro Romano, near the base of Capitole Hill, is largely intact, much more interesting, but ignored by most tourists. ( Tourists can be confusing, hard to understand critters ). See my tips on Teatro Romano.

An additional treat in the same complex, is the magnificent castel ( castle ).

High on the hill sits the Castle and Cathedral of San Giusto. The day I was there some kind of military ceremony was in progress. Men in uniform carried a huge flag to the top of the castle, ran it up the pole and a trumpeter played. Then they took the flag back down and everyone left.