Trieste: Italy's Unique Border City – A Solo Traveler's Paradise! 🇮🇹🇦🇹

#summervacay When I travel, I absolutely dread crowded tourist cities. They just make me irritable! So, I'm always on the hunt for those quiet, off-the-beaten-path spots with fewer visitors. My curiosity about border cities, combined with my fascination for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, led me on a six-hour train journey across Northern Italy – from Genoa in the northwest to Trieste in the northeast. This is the very city mentioned in Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, a place steeped in history. Because of its border location and its past as a major port city for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Trieste's architecture stands in stark contrast to typical Italian styles. Having visited Vienna, I can attest that the buildings here truly echo that Austro-Hungarian grandeur, mixed with a hint of Eastern European influence. Even the demographics are different from mainland Italy; you'll see fair-haired individuals here, likely from Eastern Europe, unlike the predominantly dark-haired Italians. There are very, very few Chinese visitors in this city, so locals were quite curious when they saw me. Yet, even in such a place, I incredibly found a Chinese noodle shop (and confirmed it was delicious!). The entire city feels incredibly peaceful and tranquil. The streets are remarkably cleaner and tidier than other major Italian cities. Compared to my experience the next day in Venice, Trieste was an absolute dream. I even found a hotel near the train station that was cheap, comfortable, and clean without even trying too hard. Trieste truly offered a unique and serene Italian experience, unlike any other. #trieste #italy #solotravel #hiddengem #bordercity #austrohungarian