CASTEL OF SAN GIUSTO

San Giusto Castle stands on the hill with the same name overlooking the city of Trieste. Its historical events are closely linked to those of the city and date back to the late Bronze Age and Iron Age, when a castelliere with a typical prehistoric shape occupied the top of the hill. Later the settlement of Tergeste developed around the hill. But the real history begins in the 15th century, when under Austrian rule, a fortified house with a tower was built to host the imperial captain, who was in charge of controlling the town. This early structure is known today as the “Captain’s House.”

In the following period, especially during the brief Venetian domination in the early 16th century and with the return of the Habsburgs, the castle was widened and fortified. The three bastions that characterize its triangular plan were added: the Round (or Venetian) Bastion, the Lalio (or Hoyos) Bastion, and the Flowered (or Pomis) Bastion, each built at different times and with different forms, following the evolution of military techniques.

The castle did not play a significant role in major battles, but was used mainly as the imperial captain’s residence and as a military garrison. Over the centuries, it underwent various interventions and modifications.

In 1930 the castle became the property of the Municipality of Trieste, and after careful restoration it was opened to the public as a museum in 1936. Today it houses the Civic Museum of San Giusto Castle-Armory and the Lapidarium Tergestino, offering visitors a journey through the history of the city and its territory, as well as enjoying a splendid panoramic view.