If you are planning a trip to Trieste you must include a day at Miramare Castle in your “to do list”: it is located just outside the city, and is a place of extraordinary beauty capable of combining art with nature and the surrounding sea .
The visit to the Castle, a place of great historical and cultural interest, also allows you to discover the park around it, full of rare and valuable plants, and to enjoy an exceptional panoramic view, overlooking the Gulf of Trieste.
The history of Miramare Castle
The construction of the castle dates back to the period between 1856 and 1860, at the request of Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg and his wife Charlotte of Belgium. The residence reflects a perfect synthesis between nature and architecture, designed by engineer Carl Junker in an eclectic style that harmoniously combines Gothic, medieval and Renaissance elements, following the architectural trends of the time.
The main inspiration of the Miramare project is inspired by the so-called “Romantisches Historismus”, a neo-medieval architectural movement developed by Theophil Hansen, known for his works in the Vienna Arsenal and the Villa Pereira, near the imperial capital, although perhaps the most significant influence comes from the works of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, in particular from Babelsberg Castle in Potsdam and from Kornik Castle in Poland, which represent the main model to which both the architect and the client of Miramare refer.
The castle also saw among its illustrious visitors the famous Princess Sissi, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph, and today the structure has been transformed into a museum. The interiors, preserved almost entirely intact, represent a testimony to the luxury and refinement of the time. The original furnishings, created by the well-known craftsmen Franz and Julius Hofmann, still decorate the rooms. On the ground floor were the private apartments of the Archduke, characterized by an intimate and intimate atmosphere, while on the first floor you can admire the splendid reception rooms, decorated with sumptuous tapestries and imperial coats of arms.
The park, the stables and the castle
The park surrounding the castle, equally fascinating, is a real botanical garden, with plants from all over the world. Decorated with sculptures and fountains, it also houses tropical greenhouses and the WWF centre, which manages the Miramare Marine Protected Area. Not far from the park entrance are the ancient Stables, now used as an exhibition venue, and the Castelletto, a small building originally intended for guests, but used by the royal couple during the construction works of the castle.
Who lived there?
Over time, Miramare Castle has been home to various illustrious personalities. Between 1930 and 1937, it was the residence of Duke Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta and his wife Anna d’Orléans. At the end of the Second World War, New Zealand troops entered Trieste and settled in the castle, modifying part of the interior. Subsequently, the structure was occupied by British troops, who established the headquarters of the XIII Army Corps there, and then by the Americans, who placed the command of the United States Troops in Trieste (TrUST) there. Only in 1954, with the end of the occupation, did the Superintendency start a long restoration process, based on period photographs and drawings, to restore the original interiors of the castle, the Castelletto and the park.
A look inside the museum
Once through the doors of the Castle, visitors can admire a good number of rooms, all furnished with original period furniture. The residence, once inhabited by Massimiliano and Carlotta, is a historical testimony of the life and tragic fate of the couple, with many paintings to tell the most significant events of those years. In fact, Maximilian left for Mexico to wear the imperial crown, but died in dramatic circumstances, shot on 19 June 1867 near Querétaro. Amedeo of Savoy, who lived in the castle for a period, also shared a similar fate, dying in captivity after having been viceroy of Ethiopia.
In addition to the private rooms of Massimiliano and Carlotta, the castle also houses the rooms in which Duke Amedeo lived, furnished in a rationalist style, typical of the 1930s. Among the most evocative rooms, we highlight the music room, where Carlotta practiced the piano, and the room which recalls the naval furnishings of the Novara frigate, the ship on which Massimiliano served when it was part of the Austrian Navy. Another point of great interest is the throne room, recently restored and brought back to its former glory.
The park and the protected area
As mentioned at the beginning, in addition to its historical-cultural value, Miramare Castle is a natural conservation center. Since 1986, in fact, the WWF has managed the Miramare Marine Reserve, located at the end of the karst promontory on which the castle stands. The protected area covers an area of approximately 30 hectares, with a further partial protection zone of 90 hectares. The protection activities of the reserve include the integral protection of the seabed, which is characterized by limestone rocks, pebbles and muddy areas. In addition to the conservation of the marine ecosystem, at the visitor center it is possible to participate in educational activities, such as virtual sea-watching or guided visits to the aquariums, which host native marine species.
The legends of Miramare Castle
Maximilian of Habsburg and Amadeus of Savoy, the two who lived in the castle the longest, were both victims of a violent death, the first in Mexico, the second shot in Kenya, from here the legend began to circulate about the alleged curse of Miramare Castle, that anyone who spends the night there is destined to die. According to other sources, however, the Castle is still haunted by the ghost of Massimiliano, who, having not been able to enjoy his property and the park, returned there in spirit.
Useful information
Miramare Castle is located in Viale Miramare – 34151about 8 km north-west from the city of Trieste, you can get there with a comfortable bus from Trieste station.
For visit the Castleknow that it is open every day and respect the following times:
The entrance to Park it is free all year round, with the following times:
As for the ticket prices:
Entire:
Reduced:
For further information, please refer to Castle site.
Don’t want to miss our news?
