View from Duino castle

Castles

In the background on the right you can make out Duino Castle, and on the left is the shipyard in Monfalcone. In the foreground is Miramare Castle.

(for more photos see labels)

Rilke path

"It may not be by chance that the Duino Elegies came to life in a castle perched on a bluff, which, much like human existence, looks out of a few windows, my own included, over an immeasurably open stretch of sea, onto Everything" (from a letter from Rilke to Hedwig Fischer, 1911)

One of the many illustrious guests of Duino castle was the Prague-born poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who found the inspiration for Duino Elegies during his stay here.

In memory of this event, a panoramic path of about 2 km has been named after the poet. The path runs high up along the sheer rocky cliff between Duino and Sistiana bay. In this photo, taken from one of the castle windows, the rocky cliff is easily visible. The path runs right along its top edge. The view is breathtaking.

(part 1 - 2)

Duino Castle (part2)

The castle's elegant spiral staircase designed by Andrea Palladio (1508 – 1580), a Venetian architect widely considered the most influential architect in the history of Western architecture.

Here's a link to other works by this ingenious architect (it's in Spanish but photos are universal)

(part1)

Duino Castle

We have already glimpsed Duino castle in this old post, but we were really a long way away. This time we are in the castle courtyard.

The new castle of Duino dates back to about the year 1400, when the family Wallsee commissioned the construction of a strong fortress. Over time, the Wallsee family disappeared and the castle, after being used as a prison, became the residence of the Luogar and Hofer. At the end of the 19th century it became the property of Prince Alexander Johann Vincenz Rudolf Hugo Karl Lamoral Eligius von Thurn und Taxis from the Czech Branch of the House of Thurn und Taxis. It remains with the family to this day with his great-grandson Prince Carlo Alessandro della Torre e Tasso, Duke of Castel Duino the current owner. The castle has been opened to the public as a museum and park (wiki).

Duino

The small harbour of Duino, a coastal village in the province of Trieste. The two castles are its main attraction. The older castle, dating back to the eleventh century, is in ruins, while the newer castle is inhabited to this day and can be visited by tourists, and we will visit it in the posts over the next few days.

Duino Castle

Mussel farm and Duino Castle in the background.