Castello di Miramare e il Parco (Miramare Castle and Park), Trieste (must see)

In the 1850s, 18-year-old Ferdinand Maximilian, sailing enthusiast and younger brother of Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria, was caught in a storm in the Gulf of Trieste. He took shelter by a rocky spur of limestone in the tiny harbor of Grignano.

In 1854, Ferdinand, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Navy and the future Emperor of Mexico decided to make the limestone height the site of his new home. The entire complex was to be called Miramare after the residence of a relative, Prince Ferdinand of Pena, Portugal.

The Miramare was designed in 1856 by Austrian architect Carl Junker. Construction was completed in 1860. The castle's style is eclectic, inspired by the architecture of Austria, Germany, and England. Artisan craftsman Franz Hofmann and his son Julius handled furnishings and decorating. Sadly, the house was finished after Maximilian left for Mexico in 1864.

Maximilian's reign as Emperor was cut short by his execution in June 1867. He had intended to create an intimate atmosphere of nature for his family in the castle and its environs. On the ground floor are the bedroom of Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, and the archduke's office.

The office features the wardroom of the frigate NOVARA, Maximilian's command in the Imperial Navy when he circumnavigated the world in 1859. Furniture, ornaments, and objects of the Second Mexican Empire decorate the castle. There are Japanese and Chinese drawing rooms.

The first floor includes guest reception areas and the Throne Room. All the rooms still have the original furnishings. The music room still has Charlotte's pianoforte. In two commodious rooms are paintings by Cesare dell'Aqua showing the history of Miramare.

While the castle was being completed, Maximilian had a small house in an open, panoramic area. The castle grounds include a cliff and 54 acres of the seashore. The park was landscaped to contain several tropical species of trees and plants.

Today, the park has two distinct areas. The first, to the east, features trees, delightful ponds, and paths in the romantic style of English gardens. The second faces southwest, protected from the wind; it houses an Italian-style garden and several flower beds, including the daffodil garden blooming in spring.