Going Coastal

Literary Legacy

Trieste has long been a haven for writers, intellectuals, and artists, earning it a reputation as one of Italy’s most literary cities. The city has been home to renowned writers such as Italo Svevo, Umberto Saba, and James Joyce, each leaving an indelible mark on its cultural landscape.

The Irish writer James Joyce lived in Trieste from 1904 to 1920, where he wrote parts of “Ulysses” and “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.”  Piazza Attilio Hortis houses the Joyce Museum, which offers a comprehensive look at Joyce’s life and work during his nearly eleven-year stay in Trieste, making it a key attraction for literature enthusiasts visiting the city.

Italo Svevo was an Italian novelist born in Trieste, best known for “Confessions of Zeno.” He was a friend and student of Joyce, who modeled the character Bloom after his friend and helped Svevo gain recognition. Umberto Saba is celebrated for his lyrical and autobiographical poems. 

Statues of these literary giants dot the cityscape, serving as poignant reminders of Trieste’s intellectual past. You’ll find Italo Svevo’s statue in Piazza Hortis, James Joyce on the Canal Grande bridge, and Umberto Saba on Via Dante. These bronze tributes invite visitors to pause and reflect on the profound impact these writers had on world literature.

Museo LETS (Letterature Trieste) located in the Civic Library in Piazza Hortis highlights Trieste’s vibrant literary history. Both the James Joyce Museum and Italo Svevo Museum, are now in the Museo LETS.

In 1772, after escaping prison in Venice, Casanova sought refuge in Trieste. During his time in Trieste, Casanova was engaged in espionage uncovering secrets of the Austrians, which helped him regain favor with the Venetian state after years of exile.

Sir Richard Burton, the renowned British explorer and scholar, was assigned as the British consul to Trieste in 1872, a position he held until his death in 1890, where he wrote “The Arabian Nights”.

 In 1876, Sigmund Freud, then a 19-year-old medical student, was in Trieste continuing his studies in zoology at the Zoological and Zootomical Institute in Vienna. In Trieste, Freud dissected hundreds of eels to investigate the reproductive organs of eels. At the time, the reproductive biology of eels was a mystery that had puzzled scientists for centuries until it was proven that eels only grow male genitalia in the Sargasso Sea where eels travel to reproduce   This research was an important part of Freud’s scientific education and demonstrates his early commitment to empirical investigation before he turned his attention to psychology and psychoanalysis.

Rainer Maria Rilke spent time at Duino Castle near Trieste from October 1911 to May 1912, where he found inspiration for his famous work, the Duino Elegies. The stunning coastal landscape and dramatic cliffs profoundly influenced his poetry during this period. Today, the Rilke Trail commemorates his connection to the area, offering visitors beautiful views of the Gulf of Trieste.

Stendhal, the pen name of French writer Marie-Henri Beyle, was appointed as the French consul in Trieste in 1830. However, his appointment was blocked by Metternich due to Stendhal’s liberal and anti-clerical views, preventing him from taking up the position. Despite this, Stendhal’s connection to Trieste highlights the city’s historical role as a diplomatic and cultural hub during that period. His experiences and observations in Italy significantly influenced his literary works.