Castello di Duino

The Castle of Duino rises upon the highest point of the area not only to visually control the territory, but perhaps also to be visible from all directions as a symbol of the power the Duino Lords held along the road to Triest. Due to the steep geographical contour of the land only a garden with small terraces was possible. The arrangement of the garden dates back to the 19th century, when the last Thurn heir decided to create a Mediterranean-style garden following the criteria of the Eclectic style.

Subsequently his daughter, who had married a Thurn und Taxis Prince, extended the green area into the surrounding territory to the disadvantage of the entire village, which was partly destroyed during World War I.

Here and there sculptures are positioned in the garden and the impressive entrance to the castle is adorned with graceful classical-style statues. The castle can proudly boast that Dante Alighieri once stayed there, and to immortalize this event a huge, massive rock which emerges from a spectacular Adriatic Sea inlet has been named after him.