TRIEST, trO-Ost'. or TRIESTE. The prin cipal seaport of Austria-Hungary. situated at the northeast extremity of the Adriatic Sea, on the Gulf of Triest, 367 miles by rail southwest of Vienna (Nap: Austria, C 4). Triest and the adjoining district form an Austrian crownland, and the city is the general administrative seat of the Austrian Kiistenland (q.v.). The city, which is strongly fortified, extends somewhat in the manner of an amphitheatre along the acclivity of the Karst (q.v.). The old town, with its narrow, crooked. and steep streets, lies at the base of the Castle Hill and between it and the gulf. In its northwestern corner, close to the water, is the Tergesteo, whose cruciform arcades, roofed with glass, are used for the ex change. Near by are the two leading squares, the Piazza della Borsa and the Piazza Grande. From this vicinity the Corso, the principal street, extends eastward, separating the old town from the new quarter, broad ave nues lead up toward the inclosing hills. On the west side of the Castle Hill, in the old town, the cathedral occupies a conspicuous site where a Roman temple once stood. It is a composite structure, dating from the fourteenth century. It was formed by joining three ecclesiastical edifices, which had stood there since the sixth century. On the Piazza Grande are the splendid new municipal buildings. Triest has a Mnseo Lapidario, an open-air museum of !finnan an tiquities, occupying an old cemetery. The town possesses a nautical academy containing the municipal museum, with Roman antiquities, and the Ferdinand-Maximilian _Museum, remarkable for its collection of Adriatic fauna.
Toward the southern end of the city is the Museo Civico Revoltella, in the palace of that name. Near by stands the fine bronze monument to Maximilian of Mexico by Schilling. From this point leading south and following the curve of the gulf extends the Passeggio di Sant' Andrea, affording fine views for more than three miles. and
reaching the vast wharves of the Lloyd Company. The public gardens are on the northeast of the city. Among the attractions of Triest is the fa mous Chateau of Miramar. situated on the sea to the northwest, which belonged to Maximilian. It has a lovely park and offers beautiful sea views. The city contains a Greek church with rich decorations, a Jesuit church, and a Capuchin convent. There are a university, a royal acad emy with an observatory, a public library with over 50,000 volumes, and the literary Societa della Minerva.
The harbor, the main attraction of Triest proper, has been greatly extended and improved. There are a number of moles and an immense breakwater. The Canal Grande (only 400 yards long) penetrates the city north of the Corso, and permits vessels to load and unload at the ware houses. Triest has a naval arsenal and is the storehouse for the Imperial Navy. Since 1891 time whole town, except the harbor proper, has been inside the customs limit. Triest has of late years found a dangerous rival in the Hun garian port of Fiume. but its commercial preem inence is vigorously supported by the Austrian Government. Nearly 20.000 vessels visited the harbor in 1901, with a total tonnage in and out of 4,500,000, with cargoes valued at $127,000,000. Corn, oil, wine, and many other products are heavily dealt in. The local mercantile fleet is large. At the Austrian Lloyd shops many ves sels are annually constructed, and over 3000 men are employed. Triest builds ships of all varieties. and manufactures marine steam engines, cables, furniture, silks and cottons, clothing, liquors. wax-lights, soap. etc. The population in 1900 was 134.143. The Italians largely predominate.