REDIPUGLIA – MONFALCONE – TRIESTE – CARSO

REDIPUGLIA is a small town not far from the Adriatic coast and is especially known for its Sacrario: a very long flight of steps running along the side of Mount Sei Musi. Here are preserved the mortal remains of one hundred thousand soldiers who died during World War I. The next stop is in MONFALCONE, which is wet by the Adriatic Sea and is the major town near the mouth of the Timavo, a river which disappears underground for several kilometers and resurfaces just before flowing into the sea: a typical Karstic feature, yet unusual for this area. DUINO is only a few kilometers away. It is dominated by an imposing Castle, which rises at the top of a cliff in front of a wonderful bay. The Rilke promenade - named after the renowned German poet, who had been literally captured by the beauty of the area - serves as a link between Duino and SISTIANA. This path offers an extraordinary view of the Sistiana Bay, a beautiful seaside resort where the Adriatic Sea and the Karstic area meet. About twenty kilometers separate Sistiana from Trieste: apparently a long drive, but the chances of getting bored are null: the panoramic view of the sea leaves visitors mesmerized every time. MIRAMARE is just outside of Trieste. Everyone should visit this beautiful white castle, surrounded by a spectacular park, where the Duke Maximilian of Habsburg and his charming fiancé Charlotte cherished their love many decades ago. BARCOLA is the first neighborhood visitors come across when entering Trieste. It develops along the coast and therefore serves as a beach for the locals, who make good use of it from April through October. Trieste's most important sites are: the Cathedral and Castle of San Giusto, the Roman Theatre, Corso Italia and Piazza della Borsa, Via Carducci, the Rive and Piazza Unità, a true drawing room overlooking the blue Adriatic sea. The Faro della Vittoria (lighthouse) in Barcola offers a breathtaking view. Numerous are the Musems in Trieste: the Civic Museum, the Morpurgo Museum, the Museum of the Sea, the Railway Museum in Campo Marzio, the Marine Aquarium and the Revoltella Museum, featuring exclusive modern art exhibitions.
Slovenia is just a few kilometers away, but before reaching the border there is MUGGIA, an enchanting Venetian-style town. The 15th century Duomo, featuring a white stone façade, and the neighborhood of Old Muggia with the ancient Church of S. Ermacora are only two out of the many beautiful sights.
The trip back to Monfalcone takes visitors across the unique Carso plateau covered with sharp stone slabs and Mediterranean brush. Plentiful are the villages where locals speak Slovene and do their best to keep traditions alive (like the famous karstic wedding). Caves and dolinas are spread all over the Carso plateau. The GROTTA GIGANTE or Giant Cave, offers visitors the view of wonderful stalactites and stalagmites with their ever-changing shapes. The cave is large enough to accommodate St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The tour ends at the SANCTUARY OF MONTE GRISA, which overlooks Trieste and its bay ever since the 1950s