SAN GIUSTO Castle & Cathedral, Trieste

Still on the San Giusto Hill...
There should be a castle & a cathedral in this area; Either I walked passed them or I was too tired of looking for them !
I could see the walls though...
I took this photo for my mum. She always love seeing the crawling plants on a wall, taken in Europe. It's rare for us here because if there's crawling plants on our wall, we would spray pesticide on them as to kill the crawling insects/animals in them hence killing the plants as well...

The hill of SaintGiusto is where you can find the Basilica di San Giusto - andthe homonimous castle is. What is striking about the Basilica (basically a church) is that 2 churches were eventually blended into the present one, and if you look closely you can see how and where. Or else simply take a look at remains of roman pillars... of a 'foro romano' here on the hill. You can also visit the castle too for views over the busy port: it's really important to seek out this view.. just to be reminded that all that glitters isn't gold. In other words: Trieste might look charming superficially but deep down it still remains an ugly port city.

1 more image

San Giusto or Capitoline hill is the civil, moral and cultural heart of the town. It is the centre of the city, peaceful and a bit isolated, however very central and palpitating during the religious and pagan festivities.
The best way to reach San Giusto is by Scala dei Giganti from Piazza Goldoni. Once you are on the top of the hill your effort will be aworded by the spectacular view at the city.

1 more image

San Giusto Cathedral, which is situated on the top of the Capitoline Hill, is unndoubtely the most beautiful church in whole town. The church was completed at the end of the fourteenth century, when the two primitive churches of San Giusto and Assunta were joined together. At the centre of the front facade there is the big Gothic rosewindow in white stone composed by two halo of rays with 36 little columns. Do not miss to see the beautiful interiors of the church.

4 more images

The Capitoline Hill was already inhabited in the protohistoric Era. The fortified hilltop village, called TERGESTE was situated where the castle now is. From this ancient core rose the Roman city which was connected to Aquilea, by Via Gemina and to Istria by Via Flavia.

1 more image

The Castle overlooks the top of the hill and the town. It was built on the ruins of a pre-existing Venetian castle by the Venetians themselves between 1470 and 1630. It has a triangular massive structure and three ramparts at the top of the walls.

1 more image

Here, in the '30s an excavation brought to light the remains of the Roman Forum with its civil basilica, built on two storeys with two rows of columns, two of which have been replaced on the ground floor. The restoration that followed the excavation has also enhanced the dimensions of the Castle, which is the guardian of a long part of history as the works for its construction, based on the ruins of the previous castles, almost lasted two centuries.

1 more image

On the left side of the Cathedral is the bell tower which looks like a defense tower. It was built between 1337 and 1343 on a pre-existing Romanesque bell tower. Originally there was a round stone ornament on the spire, called "melon", which is now the symbol of Trieste. Above the entrance to the bell tower you can see a niche with a lancet arc with the statue of San Giusto, the protector Trieste.
On the left side of the Cathedral is a basrelief showing the papal insignia and the coat of arms of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Bishop of Trieste and then Pope with the name of Pius II. You can also see three bronze busts representing Pope Pius II and the Bishops Andrea Rapicio and Rinaldo Scarlicchio, who found the relics of the martyr Giusto.

1 more image

The facade is asymmetrical with two slopes and is made of sandstone. At the centre you can see the big Gothic rosewindow in white stone composed by two halo of rays with 36 little columns. This was completed at the end of the fourteenth century, when the two primitive churches of San Giusto and Assunta were joined togehter.

1 more image

Next to the Cathedral, on the left side, you will find the Chapel of San Michele al Carnale from the 13th c. It was used as a funeral chapel for the cemetery near the church. Under the chapel is the crypt, which is supported by arches basing on columns with Roman capitals.