Barcola

If Rome has Ostia, Naples Posillipo, and Milan... well, the Idroscalo, shifting the converastion to Trieste, we can speak of Bàrcola. The waterfront immediately north of the city centre is where the people of Trieste go for a swim. You can swim here from Easter, they say, until the beginning of November, counting on a few parking spaces being left free along Viale Miramare, or simply by taking a city bus to Miramare Castle. On the karst slopes, which are immediately green towards the hinterland, one can find a few organised bathing establishments, but the main attraction of Bàrcola lies in the fact that it is largely a seaside promenade on the water with no obligation to book umbrellas and deck chairs. In addition to the Barcolana, the regatta that takes place every second Sunday in October and attracts droves of tourists.

Once past the white Victory Lighthouse, built when Trieste became part of Italy, stretches of pine forest, small boat harbours and, on the other side, clubs, shops and hotels alternate along the avenue.