“Pensive and shy”, as Umberto Saba defined her, Trieste has been an important strategic harbour since the time of the ancient Romans and also the point where Western Europe meets the Centre-South. It is probably this charm that has enchanted so many writers, from Stendhal to James Joyce who claimed to have left his soul in the city. Several novelists grew up here, from Italo Svevo to Susanna Tamaro, and many directors have chosen to set their stories in the city, with its middle-European flavour, some explicitly identifying the locations, others transforming it into an imaginary place and amplifying its evocative nature.
