Walks & Hikes
Discover Trieste's naturalistic hinterland! Here are some easy walks and hikes πΆββοΈ you can take close to the city.
All tours require you to leave Trieste either by bus π or by car π.
The tours are organized by thematic/geographical area.
For each of the hikes, we provide a link to a Komoot tour (link on title of each tour). We highly suggest the use of some GPS tools like Komoot or OpenStreetMaps clients (or, alternatively, use a local as a guide π) to avoid troubles during these hikes.
β οΈ The Karst is full of caverns, caves. Wandering outside of the paths may be hazardous as foibe (natural gorges, which might be hard to see, with possibly hundred of meters of falls) might be present around the corner. All of these caves are identified and tracked inside Catasto Grotte. If you wanna know more about a cave, you may search the database by either querying with the name of the cave, which you can quickly recover on OpenStreetMaps, or with the cave number, which you will notice near the entrance.
βΆοΈ Hiking paths are generally tracked by CAI FVG. In Carso, paths have a CAI ID from 1 to 99. Here you can see info on all of the marked paths in Carso. The great majority of paths, though, are unmarked and may not even be recorded in OpenStreetMaps. Be wary when picking an unmarked path, as it might be unmaintained, as is the case for many country ruts where the nearby fields have been abandoned, or might end in a cul-de-sac. If you don't know the area, use a map, like Tabacco's ones, or a GPS app, like Komoot.
UNI-CAMPUS
MONTE VALERIO (a.k.a. Monte Fiascone)
β 0.30 hours
πΆββοΈ 1.5 km
π No hiking equipment required
Not many people know that a nice short walk in the nature exists starting from the university campus of Piazzale Europa, which is perfect for a break after lunch or during studying. The walk starts between building N (Castelletto) and building Q. Close to building N, you'll see that there's a small path going uphill. You can follow this path to quickly gain height. Be careful: at the first intersection, go left. After this crossing, it doesn't really matter which path you'll take as, eventually, all paths get close to the top. From the top you'll enjoy a nice view of the sea. For the way back, if you don't have proper shoes for hiking, we suggest you head east from the top (i.e., go on the opposite direction from the university) till you reach a large gravel road. Turn left, then you'll reach Via Fleming. Turn left, going downhill, and after a while you'll be back at the campus.
Panorama from Monte Valerio
THE southern karst ridge
π 2, 2/, 4, 64 (to Opicina π stop "Obelisco"); 42 (to Prosecco π stop "Strada Vicentina")
π Park at "Obelisco" or "Quadrivio" in Opicina, "Napleonica" in Prosecco-Borgo San Nazario
β 2.30-3 hours
πΆββοΈ 9 km
π No hiking equipment required
Strada Napoleonica (officially known as "Strada Vicentina") is maybe the most iconic easy hike in Trieste. It offers breathtaking views on the gulf of Trieste and is one of the main destinations for a Saturday or Sunday walk for Triestini.
The road starts in Opicina at the obelisk or in Prosecco at the end of Via San Nazario. We will describe it in the direction from Opicina to Prosecco. From the parking "Obelisco", avoid taking the upper paths, keep on the main gravel road that starts at the end of the parking. From there, the road proceeds in a wood, constantly going downhill. After a couple of kilometers, the wood this up, letting the panorama open up towards the sea. Then, the gravel road will be replaced by a larger asphalt road going slightly uphill and carved into the ridge. This place is renowned for its climbing walls and often you will see climbers of all ages and expertise trying out its various ways. Eventually, we will reach the parking on Prosecco's side. The
π If you want a quieter path in the woods, you can alternatively follow one of the many paths parallel to Napoleonica climbing the mountain ridge.
π Napoleonica is also a wonderful location for running, given the absence of cars and the gentle slopes.
π From the Napoleonica parking in Prosecco, just before the road becomes closed to traffic, a path starts which leads you uphill to the Sanctuary of Monte Grisa. It's a (weird) church dedicated to St. Mary, pilgrimage destination, and one of the paramount panoramic spots in Trieste. You can also reach it directly with the bus line 42, but note that it seldom stops there.
π From Prosecco you can easily reach, in 5-10 mins of walk, the historic village of Contovello. It's one of the rare Karst villages which has conserved a historic center. Noteworthy is the neighbourhood of the Church of St. Jerome (San Girolamo) and its nearby alley (ΓΌlca). Also, Contovello hosts a few osmize, so you might conclude your tour there.
The obelisk in Opicina
Panorama from the Napoleonica
π 2, 2/, 4, 64 (to Opicina π stop "Obelisco"); 3 (to Conconello)
π Park at "Obelisco" or "Quadrivio" in Opicina
β 2.30-3 hours
πΆββοΈ 9 km
π No hiking equipment required
Route 1 is the longest contiguous route tracked by CAI (Italian Alpine Club) in Trieste. It spans the whole Karst ridge, roughly from Muggia to Duino, and it offers breathtaking views toward the city and its gulf.
Out of the 63 km of length, we selected a small portion of the route, maybe the most spectacular in terms of views, and one of the easiest and most accessible.
The tour starts from Opicina, more specifically from the obelisk. From there, we reach the entrance of the camping "Obelisco", from which we can follow the incoming route 1. The route proceeds in a slight ascent. After ~30 minutes, you will reach the paved road connecting Conconello and Banne. Follow the road uphill for ~100m, then you'll notice a parking on the right. Enter the parking, and look for the trail marker nr. 1. After a slightly steeper climb, we'll reach the top of the ridge, just below some television antennas, after which the road will be roughly flat with some ups and downs. Keeping the marker nr. 1, we will reach the top of Monte Calvo, on which the famous Vedetta Alice is located. It's a small panoramic turret on which a compass rose is placed marking the main landmarks visible from it. From here, we can go back to Opicina following the same road from before.
π Shorter variant: start from Conconello (reached with bus nr. 3 or at the parking close to Via Bellavista 79) and head directly towards Vedetta Alice.
Panorama of Trieste from Sentiero 1
VAL ROSANDRA
π 40, 41 π stop "Bagnoli"
π "Rifugio Premuda" parking spot
β 1.30-1.45 hours
πΆββοΈ 5 km
π No hiking equipment required
Val Rosandra is maybe Triestini's favorite hiking spot. The base for all hikes and walks there usually start at the village of Bagnoli della Rosandra. If you have your own car, you may park (most of the working days) directly in front of Rifugio Premuda, which, at 50 m.a.s.l., is the lowest official mountain hut in Italy (also a good restaurant, BTW). If the road to Rifugio Premuda is closed, you can park in Bagnoli's main square (possible paid parking!), where the terminal of bus 41 is located.
Starting from the square, walk along it towards the gap between the two ridges, on the opposite side of the bus terminal. Follow the directions to "Val Rosandra" (brown signs). A narrow road will lead you to a single-street smaller hamlet (Bagnoli Superiore). A road block will soon indicate the start of the hiking path (NB: to reach Rifugio Premuda, just turn left a few meters before the road block). Stay on this main path, avoiding the smaller paths, which can be quite challenging without the proper gears. Along this path, you will eventually stumble upon the majestic waterfall formed by Torrente Rosandra. Walk along the steps circling around the waterfall area and you'll reach the hamlet of Bottazzo, abandoned till a few years ago. It's now being rebuilt. A small trattoria is also present here, although in the last years it has frequently changed owners and, as of spring 2022, it seems to be closed. For the way back, follow the same road as before.
β οΈ Although you might be tempted to get closer to the waterfall (and you might see other people standing, or even bathing, right below it), the access to the waterfall area is forbidden and migth also be dangerous due to the steep screes all around it. Enjoy it from the path!
π Variants: Val Rosandra offers plenty of easy, intermediate, and harder hikes. From Bottazzo, there are some intermediate paths going south towards Monte Carso or north towards the cycling path Cottur (see "Ciclopedonale Cottur" itinerary). If you have a GPS (and an ID card) with you, you may cross the border with Slovenia, which lies immediately east of Bottazzo, and take the "Sentiero dell'Amicizia" (friendship path) towards the hamlet of Beka, which lies on top of a hill overlooking the valley, see the itinerary "The Slovenian Val Rosandra: the Friendship Trail and the Tigrovska Pot" A more difficult path is the one to Cippo Comici, a memorial to the famous Triestine rock climber Emilio Comici. More info on the itinerary "Monte Carso and Cippo Comici". For the most hardcore mountaineers, Val Rosandra offers also a via ferrata called "Rose d'Inverno", although you'll probably need to start the hike from San Lorenzo (see next itinerary). Finally, the valley offers many opportunities for climbers.
π If you have proper hiking shoes, you might make a really small deviation before the waterfall to reach the church of Santa Maria in Siaris. This very small church, which lies completely isolated on the side of the mountain (on top of which Cippo Comici is located, BTW), was built in the 14th century and is a destination of pilgrimage. It offers nice panoramas on the valley down below.
Val Rosandra
The waterfall formed by Torrente Rosandra
π 51, TS on Demand π stop "localitΓ San Lorenzo"
π San Lorenzo - church parking spot
β 1.15 hours
πΆββοΈ 3 km
π No hiking equipment required
This is a fantastic hike if you're not experienced (or lack the proper gear) as it has no substantial height gain, the paths are easy and accessible, and the panorama is fantastic. You start off from the hamlet of San Lorenzo, which lies some 3 km from Basovizza. The hike starts at the church of the village, where the bus stop is also located and a somewhat large parking spot lies as well. From here, walk behind the church on the parking spot's ground till you'll reach a path with a road barrier. Basically, you just need to go straight ahead, following the signs toward Monte Stena, and enjoy the panorama π.
β οΈ The very panoramic top of Monte Stena has some steep ridges if you walk too far ahead. Be careful when getting outside of the main road!
π From the top of Monte Stena, you can walk straight ahead following the main path to reach the Ciclopedonale Cottur (see next itinerary). Once there, you can turn right (on the downhill direction) and reach San Lorenzo following one of the many paths going back up toward the hamlet.
π The hike may also be started from the center of San Lorenzo (instead of the church). The path starts just close to the restaurant "Al Pozzo". This variant is a bit more panoramic but has some small sections which might result more difficult than the main itinerary.
Panorama from the top of Monte Stena
π 1, 10 (to Ponziana π stop "via Ponziana angolo via Orlandini"); 37, 48 (to Altura π stop "via Alpi Giulie scuola"); 41, 49/ (to San Giuseppe π stop "SP11 di Prebenico bivio San Giuseppe")
π Ponziana: "Ciclopedonale Cottur Park"; Altura: "Palestra don Milani" parking; San Giuseppe: "Parcheggio per ciclopedonale Cottur"
β 4h (one-way)
πΆββοΈ 12km (one-way)
π No hiking equipment required
π‘ Headlights might be required for the route from Altura to San Giuseppe
This itinerary follows the Ciclopedonale Giordano Cottur, a bike/pedestrian road built on the tracks of the old railway Trieste-Kozina (Slovenia). For this characteristic, the road is going constantly uphill on a very slight slope and is, thus, very easy to travel, both by foot and also by bike.
Here we will be describing the whole itinerary from Ponziana to the former station of Draga S. Elia, close to the border with Slovenia. For a smaller itinerary, you may start midway through in Altura or a bit further uphill in San Giuseppe della Chiusa.
The Ciclopedonale Cottur starts in Via Ponziana on the corner with Via Orlandini. There's a large parking spot and the beginning of the route is well-marked by road signals.
From here, the road crosses the whole boroughs of San Giacomo and Campanelle till reaching Altura (marker "1" in the GPS track).
If you start the itinerary from here, you'll need to locate the bridge in Via Alpi Giulie which passes over the Ciclopedonale, then reach it through a path close to the bridge.
After some galleries which might not be illuminated (π‘ headlights might be required!) you'll pass over the village of San Giuseppe della Chiusa (marker "3" in the GPS track).
If you start from here, you can join the Ciclopedonale from the village itself (the main road crosses the ciclopedonale and there are also some parking spots nearby) or from the larger SP11, which connects the highway RA13 with Dolina, just above San Giuseppe (you'll notice road markers and a large-ish parking spot). The Ciclopedonale, now with a gravel bed, will snake its way up the hills getting close to the hilltop of Monte Stena (see itinerary "Monte Stena", the top can be reached in ~15 minutes) and the hamlet of Draga Sant'Elia. After a large inward curve, you'll reach the former station of Draga Sant'Elia, which marks the end of this itinerary.
You may go back to Trieste also by bus, by booking a TS on Demand bus from Draga Sant'Elia, Pesek, or San Lorenzo.
π You may proceed further out along the route, crossing the border with Slovenia (be sure to have your ID with you!). The path arrives to Kozina and further on yp Klanec (may be bike-only path there though).
π As previously cited, this road connects almost seamlessly to other itineraries, like "Monte Stena" or "Along Torrente Rosandra".
π 40, 41 π stop "Bagnoli"
π "Rifugio Premuda" parking spot
β 2 hours
πΆββοΈ 4 km
π₯Ύ Hiking shoes suggested
This small itinerary must not be overestimated as some portions of it are difficult, steep, and also exposed. Sure-footedness is required to reach Cippo Comici. From Rifugio Premuda (see how to reach it from the itinerary "Along Torrente Rosandra"), instead of heading on the main path along Torrente Rosandra, head right just before the road block following the directions toward Monte Carso. The path is part of "Sentiero 1", the main path of the Province of Trieste, whose section from Opicina to Monte Spaccato we already covered in a previous itinerary. A noteworthy landmark is the "Grotta delle Antiche Iscrizioni", a cave whose entrance lies directly on the path, which seldom hosts wild animals sleeping inside. After the cave, turn left and left again immediately after, you'll be on a path overlooking two other caves, after which you'll need to turn right after some 500m. The path will be mainly flat, as the top of Monte Carso is as well. A slight descent will start, after which you'll reach a very flat gap, called Sella di Monte Carso. From here, follow the directions toward Cippo Comici (be careful to take the correct path, as this is a 5-way intersection!). From here, the descent will get steeper and steeper, and the path more difficult and ragged. After some 500m, you'll se an intersection with signs to Cippo Comici. Head right, soon you'll notice that you'll need to cross a narrow crest (be careful especially in case of wind: Bora here blows very strong!), after which the extraordinarily panoramic Cippo Comici is located. It is a memorial to Emilio Comici, famous rock climber from Trieste who modernized climbing techniques in the 30s and early 40s and unfortunately died very young when climbing in Val Gardena. From the Cippo, you may walk back along the crest, reach the main path which we left before, turn right and follow along the path, which will now flank the mountain side (location of climbing paths as well) until you'll reach the main path just above Torrente Rosandra. Turn left to return to the start.
π If you're feeling more adventurous, from Cippo Comici you can head left (you'll see a small track skirting the mountain on its western side) and quickly reach the church of Santa Maria in Siaris (see notes for "Along Torrente Rosandra" itinerary for mroe info). This part of the path is quite steep and ragged, so sure-footedness and good hiking shoes are a must. From the church, you can either turn left and join the main path above Torrente Rosandra, or turn right to reach the hamlet of Bottazzo.
Panorama of Bagnoli and Trieste from Cippo Comici
Cippo Comici
THE SLOVENIAN VAL ROSANDRA: THE FRIENDSHIP TRAIL AND THE TIGROVSKA POT
π 40, 41 π stop "Bagnoli"
π "Rifugio Premuda" parking spot
β 5 hours
πΆββοΈ 15,5 km
π₯Ύ Hiking shoes suggested
π ID card or passport required
This itinerary explores a part of the Slovenian side of Val Rosandra (called Glinscica in Slovenian). The Slovenian side is completely different with respect to the Italian counterpart, as the landscape, which in Italy is barren and rocky, in the Slovenian part becomes quite lush and green, due to a different soil composition.
Despite its length, this tour is not difficult as it would seem, as the paths are usually well-beaten and there's no particularly steep ascent or descent.
The first part of the tour is the same as the "Along Torrente Rosandra" itinerary, which ends in Bottazzo. From here, you can cross the Slovenian border (you'll still notice a bar interrupting the road and an abandoned Police hut). Follow the marker to the Friendship Trail. This trail was created in the 80s to commemorate the friendship between the Italian and Slovenian communities of the area, and was used in the past centuries as a trade route between the various local villages. The path leads to the Slovenian village of Beka, which has a small square with benches perfect for eating a packed lunch or snack. From the square, head on downhill on a gravel path which is part of the Tigrovska Pot. TIGR was a local partizan antifascist organization, whose fighters' hideouts were scattered around this area. The path is renowned for its beautiful natural landmarks, very rare in Karst, like waterfalls and rivulets. This first part is shaped by the passage of Griza, a hudournik (stream existing only after heavy rainfalls), which will probably have water only in spring or autumn. A handful of caves and a bunker are present on this path. After reaching the village of Ocizla, you can loop back to Beka following the Ocizla stream, which exists all year long instead. Here you'll find some waterfalls, wooden bridges, and abandoned watermills. Once in Beka, you can go downhill to Bottazzo by following a slightly different path (see GPS track) then connecting to the Friendship trail we saw before.
Wooden bridge along the Ocizla stream
One of the many waterfall you can encounter on the Tigrovska pot
MONRUPINO and the slovenian border
π 42 π stop "Monrupino" β οΈ limited bus rides reach this destination
π Park close to former "Hotel Furlan" or at the "Rocca di Monrupino"
β 1.30 hours
πΆββοΈ 5 km
π₯Ύ Hiking shoes suggested
From the bus stop "Monrupino", we proceed uphill following the signs to the "Rocca di Monrupino", which we will reach in 5-10 minutes. The "Rocca" is a church on a hilltop which was fortified during the XV century for protecting from the Turks' raids. From here, we can enjoy an astounding 360Β° view over Karst (both Slovenian and Italian) and the nearby mountains. After going back to the bus stop, we can cross the main road and pick the alley on the other side of the street, keeping right at the first fork. After having passed along a few villas, there'll be another fork (keep right) and then immediately another one (keep left). We will be coasting along an abandoned quarry, after which the path will again bifurcate, and we will turn left uphill. After the climb has finished, we will be on an old military gravel road which will slowly crawl with hairpins on the top of the hill, Monte Orsario. It housed some barracks (now demolished) last used after WWII, from which the flat hilltop is derived. The top has a small wooden tower which can be climbed on to enjoy the wonderful view. The descent follows the same road from before.
Monrupino
Monte Orsario
MONTE LANARO
π 42 (to Repen π stop "Monumento Rupingrande") β οΈ limited bus rides reach this destination
π 46 (to Rupinpiccolo π terminal in Rupinpiccolo)
π Park anywhere in Repen, Rupinpiccolo or Sagrado
β from Repen: 2.45h; from Rupinpiccolo: 2.30h; from Sagrado: 2h
πΆββοΈ from Repen: 7.7km; from Rupinpiccolo: 7.1km; from Sagrado: 5.6km
π₯Ύ Hiking shoes suggested from Repen and Rupinpiccolo; from Sagrado, no hiking equipment required
Monte Lanaro is one of the highest hilltops in the province of Trieste and it is a quite popular destination for an easy hike. The 360Β° panorama from the top is especially to be enjoyed during/immediately after windy days or in the eveining for a beautiful sunset.
Basic tour from Sagrado
The tour from Sagrado is the most basic one, but the hamlet can be reached only via car. Park just outside the village (you'll see a large gravel clearing some 50m before the first houses). From the parking, you'll easily spot a path lazily going uphill. Follow it all the time being careful to pick the markers on the crossings.
Intermediate tour from Repen
The tour starts from the main square of the village. You'll recognize it by the presence of a large meadow in the middle. If you come from the main road (where the bus stop is located), go through the whole of the square keeping the left. Go uphill through the old houses until you reach the topmost road of the town. Go left. You'll encounter another parking and a playground with a small basketball court. Keep on this road until it'll become a gravel path. From here, basically continue going uphill on the same path until you'll reach the main rut coming from Sagrado. For the way back, you can take an eastern variant which requires the use of a GPS π°οΈ due to the unfrequency of markers on the crossing. If you don't have a GPS, go back from the same road. From the hilltop, head east on a path skirting the border with Slovenia. This path is quite characteristic as you'll encounter several elements of the "primordial" Karst oakwood and the doline.
Intermediate tour from Rupinpiccolo
This itinerary is better enjoyed with a GPS π°οΈ, especially on the way up, as we will not be following the directions to Monte Lanaro, but we will be taking a slightly longer detour west of the hilltop. Start from the northernmost part of the hamlet of Rupinpiccolo. If you came from Sgonico (e.g., with the bus nr. 46), that would be the location of the first houses of the village. From here, take the asphalt road going uphill. If you don't own a GPS, just follow the directions to Monte Lanaro from here instead. Quickly, the asphalt will give way to gravel of a country road with small fields on both sides. At the first second crossing you'll meet, go left disregarding the markers to Monte Lanaro. The road will get steeper, then going slightly downhill after you'll reach another crossing where you'll again turn left. You'll be in a beautiful, large and quite flat dolina (you'll notice it by the change in temperature, humidity and vegetation). Now, keep on this path, you'll exit the dolina environment, the path will bend right. After 1 km, you'll see a small path climbing uphill with a marker to Monte Lanaro. Now, finally, follow this road as you'll quickly elevate to the top of Lanaro. For the way back, instead of following back this path, instead, go downhill from the main road, following the directions to Rupinpiccolo.
Panorama from Monte Lanaro's west side (towards the sea)
Panorama from Monte Lanaro's east side (towards Slovenia)
the northern karst ridge
π 39/, 44 π stop "Aurisina Centro (Piazza)" or "SP1 del Carso 125 (Aurisina)"
π "Palestra Comunale Savo Usaj" parking in Aurisina
β 1 hour
πΆββοΈ 2.3 km
π No hiking equipment required
Sentiero dei Pescatori (Fishermen's path) is a path connecting the town of Aurisina with the beach of Cannovella de' Zoppoli. It is the path that, in the past, fishermen from Aurisina used to reach their boats. The GPS track starts at the "Palestra Comunale Savo Usaj" gym, which has a large parking where you can leave your car. Since the gym is not served by any bus line, you'll have to get off the bus in the center of Aurisina and walk some 500m to reach the gym (brown road signals to "Sentiero dei Pescatori").
The path is well-marked all the way, so there's not really a need for directions here. Once you reach the Cannovella de' Zoppoli beach, you can enjoy a bath there, then go back uphill to the start.
π For a longer hike, you can easily connect Sentiero dei Pescatori and Sentiero della Salvia (see below).
π 39/, 44 π stop "Aurisina Centro (Piazza)" or "SP1 del Carso 125 (Aurisina)"
π "Palestra Comunale Savo Usaj" parking in Aurisina
β 1.45 hour
πΆββοΈ 5.35 km
π No hiking equipment required
Sentiero della Salvia is an easy walk, almost flat, from Aurisina to Santa Croce. The hike starts in the same place as the Sentiero dei Pescatori, so refer to that tour for indications on how to reach the starting point.
From the gym, head on until the roadbed becomes gravel and the proper Sentiero dei Pescatori starts. On your left, you'll see a "no vehicles allowed" road sign with a path marker: path 2 is on the right and refers to Sentiero dei Pescatori, while path 3 is Sentiero della Salvia. Follow marker 3, then the path is following this main flat road for 2.5 km. The path is renowned for its typical vegetation (cluster pines, smoketrees, deciduous bushes...) and wonderful panoramas on the gulf.
Once you reach the asphalt road to Santa Croce, Sentiero della Salvia ends. You may go back to the start, or walk a bit uphill along the road to visit the typical Karst Village of Santa Croce.
π For a longer hike, you can easily connect Sentiero dei Pescatori and Sentiero della Salvia.
π If you own a car, you may start the walk from the intersection between Sentiero della Salvia and the road going downhill from Santa Croce (small parking close by, may be full on weekends or festivities).
Sentiero della Salvia towards Aurisina
duino and monte ermada
π 44, G21, G51 π stop "SS14 Campeggio" or "Duino sentiero Rilke"
π "Parking Rilke Trail" or parking area of Bowling Duino
β 1.15 hours
πΆββοΈ 4.5 km
π No hiking equipment required
Sentiero Rilke (Rilke Path) is one of the most famous trail in Trieste and it was named after the Bohemian poet Rainer Maria Rilke and inaugurated in 1987. It is 1700 meters long and is almost completely flat. It connects the Natural Reserve at Sistiana and Duino, giving an amazing view of the white cliffs precipitously facing the sea (falesie di Duino) and the whole Trieste gulf. After the hike, you can either enjoy a bath in Sistiana Mare or in Duino, or visit the Duino Castle, one of the two visitable historic castles in the Trieste area.
Sentiero Rilke starts just above the harbor of Sistiana Mare. Two pebble beaches surround the harbor.
The path ends in Duino, where the beautiful Duino Castle (on the left) is located.
π 44, G21, G51 (to Duino π stop "Duino supermercato"); 43 (to Ceroglie π stop "Ceroglie" - β οΈ inactive on Sundays)
π Duino: parking area of Bowling Duino; Ceroglie: anywhere in the village
β 3.30 hours
πΆββοΈ 9.5 km
π₯Ύ Hiking shoes suggested
π°οΈ Use of GPS suggested due to missing markers along the route
Historical intro: Monte Ermada (also spelled Hermada) was the location closest to Trieste where the WW1 was fought. Trieste, which at the time was under the control of the Austro-Hungarian empire, was one of the Austrian cities which Italians were targeting for annexion. The Italian eastern front was starting from Duino and continuing along some low hilltops in Carso (with Hermada being one of them) until it reached river Isonzo and continued north along the river to the Alps.
On Ermada and the hilltops around it, hard battles were fought without victors, as the two forces went on and on gaining, and losing back, few hundreds of meters of ground without real advancements. The war here ended with the Italian defeat of Caporetto (narrated also in "A farewell to arms" by Ernest Hemingway), when the Austrian troops broke through and the Italians retreated towards Veneto. For more info on the battles in Carso, read the book ("Carso" by Kornel Abel, in German "Karst, ein buch vom Isonzo").
The itinerary starts from the parking of the Bowling near Duino. Skirting the main road going towards the center of Duino, reach the semaphore and turn right. A smaller road will lead you below the A4 highway and above the train tracks, at which point the roadbed shifts from asphalt to gravel. After the railway bridge, turn right, then, at the next crossing (~250m afterwards) turn left heading uphill. Follow the directions toward Coisce/Kohisce, turning again left and left at the next crossings, then you'll find yourself on a somewhat wider rut. Again, turn right after ~500m, till you'll reach the abandoned hamlet of Coisce/Kohisce. Despite the village being in ruins, the location is used for open-air events like festivals and marriages. From here, follow the directions towards the top of Monte Hermada. Along the way, you'll encounter trenches and caves used by the Austrian troops which are a testimony to the hard times of WWI. From the top or Hermada, which is unfortunately not that panoramic, continue along the way, without turning back, till you'll reach the "Anticima Ermada" in ~600m. Turn left twice, heading on to the rut skirting the border with Slovenia (white markers indicating the border), then be careful (GPS needed) when reaching the next major crossing, as just left from the path lies a cave called Grotta Zita or Grotta Karl which was used as a hideout by the Austrian troops during the war. The cave is easily accessible (π‘ headlights strongly suggested!) via rock and metal stairs. Be careful of the dry foliage in autumn and winter and, all year long, of the wet slippery floor inside the cave.
Back to the main path, follow it to Coisce/Kohisce, exit the hamlet from the same path you used to reach it, then, at the next crossing, instead of following the wide tin the direction taken before, turn right, then, after ~400m, pick the path on the left, which will start going downhill somewhat steeply. Keep left twice more as the path will become narrower. You'll be able to enjoy beautiful sights on the gulf and the Castle of Duino. As you reach a rut skirting the railway, turn left once again, until you'll reach the bridge from the start of the hike. Proceed along the same road till the parking spot.
Variant from Ceroglie
A shorter hike (π No hiking equipment required) exists from the village of Ceroglie. Be careful that the village cannot be reached by bus on Sundays and festivities. See the π°οΈ GPS track for the details about the hike. It's a fairly easy route with only one mid-steep slope in the way up (just after the entrance to Grotta del Motore), which can be easily worked around by taking a loop towards Anticima Ermada. It is quite easy to make a loop roundtrip by picking Thaone of the many paths, ruts, and roads leading downhill towards Ceroglie, one example of which is showin in the GPS track.
Panorama towards Trieste from below Monte Ermada hilltop
On your way to the top, you'll encounter Austro-Hungarian trenches and caves, which you can still visit (with the proper hiking/caving gear!)
outside trieste
These next itineraries take place in Slovenia and require a car π (or a car is highly suggested) to reach the starting point. These hikes are all well-beaten and popular between Triestini and Primorci (i.e. Slovenes from the Primorska-Littoral region). All tops reached have an altitude which is higher than 1000 m.a.s.l. Hikes are generally more difficult than those in the previous section.
π Razdrto (see GPS track for exact location of parking spot)
β 4.00 hours
πΆββοΈ 8 km
π₯Ύ Hiking shoes suggested
π Vojkova Koca na Nanosu
π ID card or passport required
Mount Nanos is one of the most recognizable mountain ranges around Trieste. Its prominent southern flank, which culminates into the Plesa top, is visible pretty much everywhere from Karst and also from the gulf and from beyond Monfalcone and Grado.
The itinerary here proposed is not the easiest one, as the ascent follows the pretty steep main path from Razdrto, so this tour is not suitable for beginners.
From the village of Razdrto, follow the signs towards Nanos (Plesa). After passing a bridge crossing the higway, there will be an abundance of parking spots along the road, where you may leave your car.
The first part of the ascent follows a steep path making its way along trees, pastures, and fields. When this first climb gets flat, there will be a bifurcation: the right path, which we will choose, goes up toward toward Plesa, while the left path goes towards the church of Sveti Hieronim (Saint Jerome), which we will use on our way down.
From this point on, the wood slowly makes place to rocks and shrubs, typical of the Karst landscape, while the path crosses some challenging ascents, some also equipped with steel cables (no ferrata equipment required). After some time, you will exit this rugged part of the trail onto a grassy meadow, marking the final part of the ascent. The path goes steeply up these meadows (be careful at Bora, that here blows almost all year long) until you'll reach the top of Plesa, which is marked by a handful of TV antennas. Behind these antennas, a trail ventures into the nearby wood, where the Vojkova Koca (hunting cabin) is located in a clearing.
For the way down, proceed along the main gravel road (there are also some paths parallel to the road) until you will come into sight with the church of Sveti Hieronim. Here, the path makes a sharp u-turn toward the western flank of Nanos, slowly snaking down the mountain.
π For an easier hike, you may go up and down the mountain from the same path to Sveti Hieronim. Be wary that you may easily add an additional 45-60 minutes to the travel time.
Mount Nanos is pretty visible from all around Trieste. This hike ascends its steep right flank.
The ascent to the top has some steep and exposed parts which require care and sure footing
π Skadanscina, parking spot for Mt. Slavnik located immediately before the hamlet
β 3.45 hours
πΆββοΈ 8.75 km
π₯Ύ Hiking shoes suggested
π Tumova Koca na Slavniku
π ID card or passport required
Mount Slavnik (It. "Tajano") is another landmark of the Triestine skyline. The mountain is located to the south-east of Trieste and is part of the Histrian region, specifically marking the northern border of the Ciceria: a very poor land whose inhabitants in the 19th century, called Cici, were masters in woodworking and in producing charcoal, which was later sold in the rich markets in Trieste.
The hike is easy and does not really have any difficult part, although, given its length, it is suggested to have hiking shoes or anyway shoes suitable for the activity.
It starts from the village of Skadanscina, which can be reached easily from Hrpelje. The village has a large parking spot located just outside of it. From here, go towards the village center, where you will notice the markers towards Slavnik. The path is well-beaten and well-marked all the way to the top, so there's really no need for directions here. After 30 minutes, you will need to leave the gravel road for a smaller path which has one steep climb (fortunately not very long). After a while, you will start noticing the wood making space for smaller shrubs, then a large grassy meadow marks the area around the top. Be careful as Bora may strike hard especially in autumn and winter! 15 minutes still and we reach the top, where a mountain hut stands just below of it (Tumova Koca). On the top, there's also a compass rose marking all of the landmarks you can see from this beautiful 360Β° panorama.
For the way back, you may walk on the same road from before.
π The top of Slavnik may be reached also from the village of Podgorje, which lies on the opposite side with reference to Skadanscina. This is surely the most popular way of reaching Slavnik, although the paths to the top are more direct and duller than the ones from Skadanscina.
Panorama from Mount Slavnik towards the sea
Vremscica (It. "Auremiano") is another popular destination in the Slovenian Karst, although not as famous as the previous two. The itinerary starts from the parking spot located outside the village of Volce, which you can reach from Divaca, later following the directions for Pivka. Be careful when parking the car that some of the spots are actually reserved as a landing platform for helicopters.
The way up is pretty easy as the path makes its way in the deciduous forest, reaching, after a while, a gravel rug which will arrive almost to the top. Just before the top, exactly at 1.000 m.a.s.l., a small church is located, and, after 10 mins, the top will be reached with a fantastic all-round panorama on the nearby valleys and mountains such as Slavnik and Nanos.
From here, you may go back from the same path greatly reducing the travel time.
You may also continue on this path following the directions for the mountain hut, where sheep are raised for producing cheese, then go back on the same road.
π Another popular trail to Vremscica starts midway through Divaca and Senozece, although the path follows a gravel road not closed to traffic sed by many off-road aficionados to reach the previously mentioned mountain hut.
π» The woods around Vremscica are famous for the abundance of bears. Be very careful to only use the main, popular paths and not to wander outside of these. When in group, talk loudly and continuously to each other as to signal your presence to the bears.
The top of Vremscica is usually very panoramic... unless a foggy day occurs.
The first part of the ascension to Vremscica is in a beautiful deciduous wood.