Piazza Unità d'Italia, the “drawing room” of Trieste, is the longest seafront square in Europe. The modern-day centre of city power, its history and its name link it to WWI, in commemoration of its annexation by the Kingdom of Italy.
The piazza features many buildings, including: palazzo della Luogotenenza austriaca, now the Prefecture, with mosaics of the Savoy crest which replaced those of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; palazzo Stratti, which houses the famous caffè degli Specchi; palazzo Modello; the town hall whose tower features the two bronze mechanical figures Mikeze and Jakeze which ring out on the hour; palazzo Pitteri, the oldest on the square; palazzo Vanoli, now a prestigious hotel; and the building which previously belonged to Lloyd Austriaco Shipping company, later Lloyd Triestino, and now houses the Regional government.
The square features the fountain of the Four Continents built between 1751 and 1754 by the Bergamasque sculptor Giovanni Battista Mazzoleni. Facing the square and jutting into the gulf of Trieste, the 18th century molo Audace was named for the Italian warship that docked on 3 November 1918 after the end of the war and Trieste’s consequent annexation by Italy.
Friuli Venezia Giulia Film Commission
Piazza Duca degli Abruzzi 3 — 34132 Trieste
Phone: +39 040 3720142
Email: info@fvgfilmcommission.com
