Two hours east of Venice, near the Slovenian border, I found myself on a beautiful trip to marvelous Trieste as part of a high school reunion cruise I took on with my old friend Kartika.
I must admit that though I’ve never heard of the city of Trieste before, any excuse to go back to one of my favorite countries is most definitely a good enough excuse for me. We were undoubtedly grateful that we had allowed ourselves to venture off to this city this past summer as it proved to be one of the most splendid places we’ve ever visited.
Trieste certainly has a very enigmatic past. Filled with Viennese-style architecture and cafes off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, this city gave off a certain kind of romance that only a half Austrian, half Italian kind of city can ever emanate.
The thing to know about Trieste is that for approximately 400 years, the city was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Therefore, this is the only city in Italy where you can expect a diverse culture exhaling from the influence of the Venetians, the Austrians, the Greeks and even the Jews who all thrived in this quaint little city.
A taste of the splendor it once had was certainly quite visible during our trip to the famed neo-gothic Castello di Miramare. Sitting off an exclusive rocky cliff and seashore park just 7-km. from town, this castle was once home to the younger brother of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria, and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium.
“Girl trips are always important because it gives a chance for old friends to reconnect while revitalizing in a new destination.”
Since Kartika and I haven’t seen each other in almost a year, we spent a lot of time catching up while traversing the winding stairs of the castle and reveling in all of its grandeur and antiquity.
Style Details
Outfit | HOUSE OF FRASER
Bag | GIVENCHY
Sunglasses | CELINE
Shoes | SCHUTZ
Jewelry | c/o LILIES & CROWN
Our time here inspired me to make a short but sweet photobook through a new photobook platform that I recently discovered: http://www.saal-digital.co.uk/
Photobooks from Saal-Digital.co.uk are incredible because you can do it all in one sitting with their easy to download software that automatically uploads and arranges photos on the digital book. Easy to administer themes and templates allow uniqueness and a sense of customization — no photo book comes out the same and each has its own tone and mood. I was a longtime user of Shutterfly before I tested Saal-Digital.co.uk and I can confirm that their photobooks feature better quality images and material. Of course, you could order an upgraded cover and an array of superior photo paper if you prefer a more luxe feel. A range of available sizes also enabled me to order a medium sized hardbound photobook that I carry with me in my purse if I wanted to bring it along and show my travels to friends and family whom I’ll be visiting soon. It also arrived within days of my order. Top winner!
Girl trips are always important because it gives a chance for old friends to reconnect while revitalizing in a new destination. Photobooks are the perfect medium to keep these memories forever. I recommend Trieste for those who are seeking exquisite architecture amidst sublime seascapes of the Adriatic. Our memory of Trieste, Italy is one for the books – quite literally! Ciao ciao!
Miramare Castle | Viale Miramare, 34151 Trieste, Italy | A 19th-Century Castle on the Gulf of Trieste, Italy