by InTrieste
A historic carriage road once used to connect the Grignano railway station with Miramare Castle has reopened to the public following a major restoration project aimed at improving access to one of the region’s most visited cultural landmarks.
The road, originally built during the era of Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg, had fallen into disuse over time. Restoration work included the reconstruction of stone retaining walls, the reopening of tunnels, and the planting of 320 new trees and shrubs throughout the surrounding landscape.
The project, funded with approximately €2 million from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), is part of broader efforts to preserve and enhance the historic park that surrounds the 19th-century castle overlooking the Gulf of Trieste.
The restoration has created a new circular walking route, allowing visitors to explore previously inaccessible sections of the estate while moving through a landscape that combines botanical, historical and coastal features.
The project was overseen by architect Giorgia Ottaviani, curator of the Miramare Park and the official responsible for the intervention.
The reopening was marked by a site-specific performance by composer, pianist and performer Igor Longhi. The event unfolded in two stages, beginning near the park’s Lotus Lake and concluding on a seaside terrace overlooking the Adriatic. Titled Via del Mare (“Way of the Sea”), the performance was conceived as a journey through landscape, sound and memory, linking different areas of the restored park.
