Between La Serenissima, Napoleon and the Hapsburgs

It was a milestone period in all the spheres of social life in Istria, as three states followed one another, with each of them leaving a mark on Istria in their own way. After more than 500 years of ruling, the Venetian Republic (La Serenissima) reached its end in 1797, with the territory at first coming under the rule of the Habsburg Empire and then under French administration between 1805–1813, and eventually again under Habsburg Austria for well over 100 years.

Koper was for a long time, economically and culturally speaking, the head of Istria (Capo d'Istria), but it lost its leading role in the 18th century and was given the character of a province by being incorporated into the Habsburg Monarchy. Trieste instead became the administrative, economic and cultural centre.