Trieste

Trieste - Triest

Our Italian tour starts in Trieste. We spent 2 nights  there, walking through the the city.  The first day, we got there just as evening was setting in. We walked the city, had an amazing dinner at Casa Pepe Pizze e Cucina and enjoyed the transition from Austria to Italy.

Trieste is a little bit of Austria and a little bit of Italy. At one point it was part of Austria and you can see the influence in the architecture.  Sometimes it is referred to as Vienna by the Sea. The city is surrounded by forest, grasslands and waterways. It is a deep sea port and a very important part of the water transit of Europe.

We love the city and the enjoyment of living the Italian lifestyle - out early in the morning, return home during the heat of the day and then back out at night.

 I also feel the need as an American Jew living abroad to not forget the past. In NC, we once had an older Jewish friend that grew up in Trieste more than 100 years ago now. She remembered walking the promenade with her father as a young child. Walking those same streets brought pause.

In 1938 Mussolini announced the introduction to racial laws on the square in Trieste.  In 2018 a plaque was erected to remind the world of the moment in history.

The history of the Jews in Trieste is long. The first recognition was in the 14th century. Today there are about 600 living in the city.

Onward to Venice.