Trieste, Italy

Capital City

Trieste is no tourist daydream - the tax burden is heavy, and the blustery bora winds can be a persistent headache. With a population of 198,668, the city has seen steady decline since its annexation to Italy, now ranking 15th largest in the country. Bureaucracy is a notorious stumbling block, and the risk of encountering partisan activity or getting caught in collateral damage from Allied bombings is an ever-present reality. But for those who can stomach the challenges, Trieste offers a unique, cosmopolitan hub straddling Italian, Slavic, and Germanic cultures, with prestigious research institutions and a thriving coffee industry.