Having fun discovering the Napoleonic Road over the Gulf of Trieste (Italy)

Although we have been in spring for a while now, this was the first spring weekend, without rain and with spring temperatures, which made our Sunday's trip quite inviting. My family and I were in the mood for sunshine, sea breeze and the smell of pine trees, so we went for a short hike near the city of Trieste. It is called the Road (Strada) Napoleonica, a beautiful panoramic circular walking path near Trieste, 300 metres above sea level and 8 kilometres long. It is one of the most popular hiking trails in this area, offering magnificent views of Trieste, the Adriatic Sea, the Miramare Castle and the surrounding countryside.

The circular route took us three hours of easy walking, with all the stops for taking photos and admiring the scenery, and of course for enjoying the sun and fresh sea air.

The name Strada Napoleonica comes from the legend that this road was built by Napoleon's troops after the capture of Trieste in 1797. However, the road was built by the Italian engineer Vicentini in 1821 as an extension of the road between Opcina and Prosecco. This is why the road is officially called Strada Vicentina (Strada is the Italian word for road).

The trail starts at the highest point in the town of Opcina, at the obelisk, which is very remarkable, so it is not difficult to get to the trailhead, even if you are not from these parts. The obelisk was built in gratitude to the Austrian Emperor Franz I, who built the road between Opcina and Trieste.

The Napoleon Trail is a beautiful footpath suitable for all walkers. Walkers, runners and cyclists can be found along it. There are also many young families who take a baby stroller for a walk, as it is almost always on the flat.

The path is wide and easy to follow, starting on gravel and continuing on asphalt. The last part of the trail is a path through the forest, which leads back to the starting point. The last part can of course be avoided by going back the way you have just come.

The trail is well signed with maps and marked in the forest part, so it is difficult to stray from the trail.

The whole of the Gulf of Trieste, the city of Trieste, the Miramar Castle, and the Alpine peaks in the distance, which we unfortunately couldn't see because of the foggy atmosphere, are right in the palm of our hand.

On the way, at Borgo San Nazario near Prosecco, where the asphalt begins, we reach the natural climbing wall known as the Napoleonica climbing area, which attracts climbers from the wider area.

Here you will find high and steep rock walls, perfect for training your fingers as well as for a little more concrete climbing. We met a number of budding climbers who made the whole walk very enjoyable. There were even a few who were climbing the wall like mountain goats.

Here the asphalt path ended and we continued uphill on the forest path towards the lookout tower.

From the tower, we continue along a well-marked path to an unusual triangular concrete church known as the Tempio nazionale a Maria Madre e Regina. The church was built in 1966, on two floors, with several altars. The view itself and the unusual architecture make the sanctuary worth a stop. Because of its triangular shape, it is called "formaggino" or "little cheese", and also "iron" by the people of Trieste. The church is 45 metres high and can be seen from a great distance.

Even more unusual than the architecture is the fact that the church also houses a bar where you can enjoy a good Italian coffee and a snack.

On the platform in front of the church you will find the last, 15th, station of the Stations of the Cross.

From here, we continued along the asphalted forest road, which offered us a pleasant shelter from the hot sun that was shining high above us.

We finished the journey where we started it in the morning, at the obelisk. As a curiosity, the railway tracks are still clearly visible on the road, because until 2016, the tram that connected Opcina and Trieste used to run here. For almost 120 years. After a minor accident and due to the high maintenance costs, the tram was parked in a garage, waiting for better times.

But we were in for a pleasant surprise, because just as we were walking towards the car, a column of vintage cars past us.

Strada Napoleonica is beautiful in almost all seasons, but I don’t recommend it in the summer, because of the exposure to the sun and the heat. It is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, offering peace, quiet and unique views. In addition, during this spring period, there were a whole bunch of wild asparagus along the path, which, of course, we could not miss. So, as well as admiring the views of the Gulf of Trieste, we combined our family outing with picking wild asparagus, which ended up on the dinner table.

Thanks for reading,
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Best regards, @miljo76