One of Trieste’s most emblematic landmarks, the medieval Castle of San Giusto, stands on the hill of the same name that dominates the city, its gulf, and its hinterlands. 

As an inseparable part of the city’s millennial history, the fortress-museum unites a rich cultural background with a powerful natural prospect. So, let us once more take you to Italy, where marvels always come in bundles.

Location and history

Castello di San Giusto stands on a critical location that has been used for strategic purposes for thousands of years. The top of the hill had been initially inhabited as far back as at the end of the Bronze Age and the entire Iron Age. 

The first historical data relating to the castle that remains standing today dates back to the 15th century. That’s when Emperor Frederick III ordered the construction of a fortified residence, margined by a tower, on top of the San Giusto hill.

Later on, the structure of Castello di San Giusto was developed further, and many additional elements were appended to the original building: three bastions, a redesigned defensive system, a forepart enclosing the vestibule, and more.

Castello di San Giusto was never at the heart of any notable military events. Thanks to this, it has been remarkably well-preserved until today.

At the beginning of the 20th century, with Trieste’s annexation to Italy, the entire area became a state’s property and the Trieste municipality. Throughout the 1930s, the whole complex underwent a total renovation to become a hub of artistic-cultural activity. 

Nowadays, Trieste’s popular tourism leisure attraction features a Museum, a vast open-air theater, a spacious courtyard, and many outdoor spaces suitable for visitors of all types.

Planning your visit to Castello di San Giusto

When visiting Castello di San Giusto, you will be touring numerous indoor and outdoor sections of the area, including:

• The Atrium
• The first rooms
• The Armory
• The Caprin Room
• The staircase and the Caprin antechamber
• The Chapel of San Giorgio
• Tergestino Lapidary

Tourists and visitors can enjoy a friendly, well-arranged accommodation, as the area has a spacious parking place, stalls for people with disabilities, and convenient public transportation options. 

Guided tours around the castle and its surroundings are available, along with numerous additional shopping and restoration points. Those include cozy restrooms, a wardrobe, a bar, and a bookshop.