About Italy & Trieste

  • In antiquity, the Italian Peninsula was inhabited by ancient Etruscans, Latins, Samnites, Umbri, Liguori, Celts and other ancient tribes. Around 31 BC, Augustus Cesar proclaimed himself the emperor of Rome and founded the Roman Empire, which dominated Europe for centuries, spreading its culture, laws, and engineering feats across the continent and beyond.

    In the Middle Ages, Italy saw the birth of the Renaissance, one of the most important cultural movements, profoundly impacting art, literature, science, and politics throughout Europe.

    The 17th Century, after much conflict, the Spanish Habsburgs, and Austrian Habsburgs, who ruled Milan, Sicily and Naples and northern regions of Italy. Eventually the Austrian Habsburgs became the sole power ruling for more than two centuries.

    In the 19th Century, the Revolutions of 1848 precipitated the unification of Italy as a single nation-state, a process that was completed in 1871 ending centuries of regional divisions and domination. 

    Italy played a complex role in both World War II and in 1946 the Italian Institutional Referendum abolished the monarchy became a republic, and reinstated democracy after fascism, leading to an economic boom. Italy co-founded the European Union, NATO, the Group of 7 and G20.  

  • Official Name: Italian Republic 

    Capital: Rome, since 1871

    Official Language: Italian, but there are regional dialects, such as Sardinian and Friulian, and other languages such as Slovenian in the Trieste region.

    Population: 58.79 million (71.9% urban – approximately 92% ethnic Italians, 5% other Europeans, 2.5% Arabs, Asians, Africans, and other minorities 3%)

    Median Age: 47.7 

    European Union: Italy joined the European Union in 1957

    Currency: Euro (adopted in 1999)

    Culture: Italy is renowned for its contributions to art, architecture, fashion, cuisine, and sports (football/soccer).

    Religions: Italy is predominately a Roman Catholic country, with mature Protestant and Jewish communities, and a growing Muslim immigrant community.

  • UNESCO: Only country with 50 World Heritage sites.

    Volcanoes: The three most active volcanos in Europe, Etna, Stromboli, and Vesuvius, are in Italy.

    Unlucky Number: 17 is considered an unlucky number, many hotels don’t have a 17th floor.

  • President: The President of the Republic is the head of state. They are elected by an electoral college comprising members of both houses of Parliament and regional representatives. The President's role is largely ceremonial, representing national unity and ensuring the Constitution is upheld. The current President is Sergio Matarella.

    Parliament: Italy has a bicameral Parliament consisting of two houses:

    • Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati): This house has 630 members elected by proportional representation.

    • Senate of the Republic (Senato della Repubblica): This house has 315 members elected by a combination of direct voting and regional representation.

    Leadership: The Prime Minister is the head of government and is appointed by the President. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers, which is composed of ministers who head various government departments. The current Prime Minister is Georgia Meloni.

  • Italy is divided into regions and municipalities, each with its own administrative structure:

    Regions (Regioni): Italy is divided into 20 regions, including five autonomous regions with special powers (Valle d'Aosta, Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Venice and Trieste are part of this region), Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Sardinia, and Sicily). Regions have authority over matters such as healthcare, education, transportation, and local policing.

    Provinces (Province): Italy was historically divided into provinces, but as of 2014, the provinces were reorganized into metropolitan cities and administrative regions. Some provinces, however, still exist in regions with special autonomy.

    Municipalities (Comuni): Italy is further divided into municipalities, each governed by a mayor and a local council. There are thousands of municipalities across Italy, varying greatly in size and population.

  • Autonomous Regions: As mentioned, five regions (Valle d'Aosta, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Sardinia, and Sicily) have special autonomous status, allowing them to legislate in certain areas independently of the central government.

  • Local Administration: Municipalities and metropolitan cities manage local services such as garbage collection, local transportation, urban planning, and public utilities.

    Regional Administration: Regions oversee regional healthcare systems, education, cultural policies, economic development, and environmental protection within their jurisdictions.

  • Trieste, located in northeastern Italy along the Adriatic Sea, has a rich and complex history shaped by its strategic location and diverse cultural influences. In ancient times, it was settled by the Illyrians and around the 2nd century BC it came under Roman control. The Romans developed it into an important port and trading hub.

    In the Medieval Era, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Trieste came under various rulers including the Byzantines, the Lombards, and the Franks, eventually becoming part of the Holy Roman Empire.

    In the 14th century it was ruled by the Habsburg Monarchy, which would dominate Trieste’s history for centuries. The city flourished under Habsburg rule as a major port and commercial center, for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Trieste briefly fell under French control during the Napoleonic Wars but was later returned to Austria by the Congress of Vienna in 1815.

    In the Austrian census of 1910, about two-thirds of the city’s population of 229,510 was made up of Italians (Austrian and Italian subjects), the rest were Slovenes, Croats, and other Austrians (including Germans). Trieste's history in the 20th century was marked by significant geopolitical changes. After World War I, it became part of Italy. However, after World War II, it was briefly administered by the Allied Military Government before becoming a free territory under the protection of the United Nations.

    During the Cold War it was divided into two zones: Zone A (under Allied control) and Zone B (under Yugoslav control). In 1954, after years of negotiations, Trieste and its surrounding region were officially returned to Italy, ending the territorial disputes. The other portion, Zone B, officially became part of Yugoslavia (present day Slovenia and Croatia).

    Today, Trieste is known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, cultural richness, and economic importance as a major port city, a diverse population influenced by Italian, Slovenian, and Austrian culture, setting it apart from other Italian cities.

  • Trieste is the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, with a population of approximately 204,234 people

    The Port of Trieste is the principal port for northern Italy, serving as a trade hub for Austria, and other Central European countries. It is considered a maritime “Silk Road” for its connections to the Suez Canal, Turkey, and Asia.

    Trieste is the city of coffee; it supplies more than 40% of Italy's coffee. Coffee brands, such as Illy, were founded and are headquartered in the city. It is home to historic, literary cafés that once hosted the likes of Italo Svevo, Umberto Saba, and James Joyce.

    Powerful winds, known as Bora Winds, can exceed 150 or 160 kilometers per hour. Throughout the city there are chains or ropes strategically placed to serve as railings for people to hold on to during particularly bad storms.

    Trieste has two independence rival movements - Free Territory of Trieste and Trieste Libera—competing flags and banners line the city’s center. Both argue that the city, is under unlawful Italian occupation and envision reclaiming the Croatian and Slovene parts of the former independent city-state.