Trieste’s various historical eras have left clear signs on the structure of the town. Next to the old town, of Roman and then Medieval origins, lies the new town consisting of Borgo Teresiano and the more modern districts.

The old town
The hill of San Giusto is where the city first arose and was certainly the centre of the Roman town. Narrow, clambering roads lead down from here and wind their way amongst the antique monuments. From the Cathedral of San Giusto to Piazza Unità d’Italia, the city has a distinct visible characteristic that makes up its heart. The delightful Piazza Cavana, the small Piazzetta Barbacan and Via di Crosada, where, in the play of light and shadows created by the alleys, you can catch a glimpse of the old town of Tergeste, rich and full of life, with paved roads and the remains of houses, wells and fountains.
The suggested route to visit this part of the town starts in Cathedral Square at the top of San Giusto Hill in front of the Cathedral of San Giusto, and proceeds along Via della Cattedrale. The road leads to Piazzetta San Silvestro, with its two extraordinarily beautiful churches (Santa Maria Maggiore and San Silvestro), and then to Via del Teatro Romano, where the well-preserved remains of a splendid example of a Roman Theatre live in the heart of the town. To the East, lies the old ghetto.
It is worth deviating slightly from this itinerary just before reaching the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore to see the Richard’s Arch, a Roman archway, very similar to a triumphal arch, in Piazzetta Barbacan.

The new town, Borgo Teresiano
The grid plan in the northern part of the town around the Grand Canal, the port of 18th century Trieste, was created by Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria, the much-loved sovereign who gave her name to the area (Borgo Teresiano - Theresian District). This part of the town developed between the 18th and 19th centuries, under the rigid urban planning regulations typical of the Habsburgs: the main roads were to be laid out perpendicularly, the buildings three flours high with the storage rooms and servants’ quarters at street level and the offices on the top floor, to enjoy the sun light. There were often internal gardens. As administrations changed over time, the layout also changed but Borgo Teresiano, closed in between Corso Italia, Via Carducci and Via Ghega, still preserves a sense of natural decoration and geometry.

The new town, the modern districts
This is the part of town that stretches from the northern most area right down to the most southern part. It includes Piazza Oberdan, Via Carducci, Via Battisti, passing through the Farneto Woods and the elegant Viale XX Settembre. Further on, lies the Nereo Rocco stadium and then the entrance to the Risiera di San Sabba.