Where to run in Trieste: best routes for jogging

With the arrival of summer, it is time to discover the best routes that Trieste has to offer for joggers and outdoor sports lovers. Whether for a complete running session or for a simple walk, with its landscapes that quickly pass from the sea to the hills the city has a path for everyone. If you are looking for a great place to go for a run in Trieste, you can start from these tips.

Running on the seafront of Trieste

When it comes to running in Trieste, the most popular path for those who live in the city is definitely its seafront. Along the coastal road of Barcola you can run for several kilometers on a flat path, even in the shade of the pine forest, with beautiful views of the Adriatic Sea. In short, it is the best option for those looking for a simple and very scenic route, with the presence of several fountains along the road. Once you arrive at the Castle of Miramare, if you still have energy you can run inside its park, one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy.

The waterfront and coastal road of Trieste are also the protagonists of the Spring Run, the half marathon which enlivens the city every year welcoming thousands of runners: starting from the castle of Duino, passing Miramare and reaching Piazza Unità d’Italia for a total of 21 kilometers overlooking the sea.

The Napoleonic Road

Another very scenic path for a run or a walk in Trieste is the Napoleonic Road. Built in the nineteenth century, it winds for almost four kilometers along the edge of the Karst of Trieste with an average height of 350 meters above sea level. It is called “Napoleonic” because people thought it was inaugurated by the Napoleonic troops. But you might also find it referred to as Strada Vicentina, with reference to the engineer Vicentini who took care of the project.

However you want to call it, the route is much appreciated for its panoramic beauty, with views that range over the Gulf of Trieste, from the city to the Lighthouse of Victory and Miramare. The access point is the square of the obelisk in Opicina, reachable by car or by public transport from the center of Trieste.

The old railway Trieste-Erpelle

If you are looking for a route to train for long distances, you can head to the Castle of San Giusto and take the pedestrian-cycle path “Giordano Cottur”. The path has recovered the route of an old railway that connected Trieste to Erpelle, abandoned in the sixties, and now offers a splendid path dedicated to runners, cyclists and walkers. Moving away from the centre of Trieste, you can immerse yourself in the landscape of Val Rosandra, cross a couple of tunnels, pass viaducts suspended over the Karst and see old abandoned stations. You even cross a state border, since Erpelle – Cosina is located in Slovenian territory.

In this case we are talking about a total of 12 kilometres in Italy plus 5 more across the border, with different uphill sections, therefore a good training is necessary. But the landscape will repay much of the effort making the experience of running in Trieste truly unique.