Miramare Castle was build from 1856 to 1860 for an Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and Charlotte of Belgium. Besides the Castle you can visit the lush gardens and a seashore park which feature tropical species of trees and flowers. If you are coming from the north on the coastal road you have to stop at one of the viewpoints – you can already see the castle rising up and the town of Trieste at the back.
If you want to park nearby you will have to pay for it, but then you can enjoy the gardens for free. Entry fee to the castle will be around 8€, you cannot miss the entrance. You can also walk down to the pier, the views from there are the best. In the park there is a smaller cafe serving snacks, drinks and also warm meals.
Inside, you can explore the ground and the first floor. The Archduke was quite an explorer himself, so he also eventually became the Emperor of Mexico – you can see the influence in all the decoration and patterns in the ground floor rooms. The main symbols are pineapple and anchor! After the death of Maximilian I in Mexico in June 1867 and Charlotte’s departure for Belgium, the castle and the park continued to be a place where the Habsburgs spent short periods.
If you have nicer weather as we did you could even jump into the sea for a swim at one of the nearby beaches! If not, just enjoy the views.
