A City Shaped by Harmony and the Bora Winds
Trieste/Trst lies at the crossroads of cultures and trade routes, where the Adriatic meets the continent and languages blend together.
This city, with its striking landscape between the sea and the Karst Plateau, has a distinctive charm and has been home to Slovenes since the early Middle Ages. From 1619 onwards, its busy port has attracted people from many different nationalities and backgrounds, creating a dynamic environment full of opportunities for those seeking a fresh start. Many Slovenes have established businesses here, making this coastal city their home. In recent years, Trieste has also become a hub for Slovenes from the mainland and for those from nearby areas who commute daily for work or study.
Trieste: A City of Timeless Appeal
Over time, Trieste’s thriving port brought prosperity to the city, evident in its diverse architecture that reflects the ambitions of its investors. Slovenes were actively involved in the city’s maritime activities, alongside marine insurance firms, banks, and the stock exchange, making Trieste so influential that, in 1856, Marx compared it to New York. The coffee industry, still an integral part of Trieste’s identity, continues to enchant visitors with its charming cafés and various methods of preparing the aromatic drink. In the 1970s and 1980s, for much of Eastern Europe, Trieste became synonymous with shopping trips and a glimpse of Western consumerism.
Through the Streets That Inspired Srečko Kosovel’s Poetry
Trieste’s rich cultural life played a crucial role for the entire Slovene national community. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city had a Slovene population of 60,000, while Ljubljana had only 40,000 inhabitants. At Audace Pier, formerly known as San Carlo Pier, one can still feel the melancholy of the poet Dragotin Kette. In the narrow streets of the old town, one can explore the places where Srečko Kosovel was deeply moved by the struggles of ordinary people. Today, Trieste remains a significant administrative, cultural, and educational hub for Slovenes, who continue to shape the city’s life and identity.
