Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is located towards the end of a narrow strip of Italian territory lying between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia, approximately 10–15 km southeast of the city. Croatia is some 30 km to the south.
Trieste is at the head of the Gulf of Trieste and has a long coastline, is surrounded by grassland, forest, karstic areas and has free sea access in Barcola. The city enjoys a subtropical climate, rare for its relatively high latitude, due to marine breezes. In 2018, it had a population of about 205,000 and is the capital of the autonomous region Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Trieste belonged to the Habsburg Monarchy from 1382 until 1918. In the 19th century the monarchy was one of the Great Powers of Europe and Trieste was its most important seaport. As a prosperous trading hub in the Mediterranean region, Trieste became the fourth largest city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the fin de siècle period it emerged as an important hub for literature and music.