CAPODISTRIA, a town and seaport of Istria, Italy, in the province of Pola, 15m. S.W. of Trieste by rail but also reached by steamer. Pop. (1921) 8,192 (town), 12,654 (commune). It is situated on a small island, which occupies the end of a large bay in the Gulf of Trieste, and which is connected with the mainland by a causeway half a mile in length. Capodistria is an old town with small streets, and has preserved remarkably well its Venetian character. There are some good Venetian pictures in the churches. The most noteworthy buildings are the cathedral, the Palazzo del Podesta and the Loggia, all of them situated in the prin cipal square. There are extensive salt works near the town. Capodistria is usually identified with the town of Aegida, which received (in the 6th century A.D.) the name of Justinopolis from Justin II. When at the beginning of the 13th century Istria fell into the hands of the patriarchs of Aquileia, they made this town the capital of Istria (whence its name). It was captured by the Venetians in 1278.