For centuries Trieste was the great seaport of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and that legacy gives the city a distinctly Central European character - grand neoclassical avenues, Viennese-style cafes, and a cosmopolitan mix of Italian, Austrian, Slovenian and Jewish heritage. Perched between the Adriatic and the limestone Karst plateau, it has long drawn writers and thinkers, from James Joyce to Italo Svevo.

Italian is the language and the euro is the currency. Many cruise itineraries now use Trieste as the embarkation port for the Venice region, since large ships no longer enter the Venetian lagoon. The city makes a rewarding stop in its own right, while Venice, the towns of the Veneto, and even Slovenia all lie within a comfortable day trip.