Trieste is the capital of Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region, located near the Slovenian border along the Adriatic Sea. For centuries, it was part of the Habsburg Monarchy and became a crossroads of Italian, Slavic, and Germanic cultures.
Its character was largely shaped during the Austro Hungarian era, when Trieste served as a major port of the empire. The Grand Canal, built at that time, allowed ships to reach the heart of the city. Today, Trieste remains an important maritime hub with a rich multicultural heritage.
This diversity drew Ľuboš from Slovakia here 15 years ago. After working in Austria, he settled in Trieste, where he now works as a tour guide and helps his Italian husband run a ballet school. As he says, he has truly become part of this city.