This gorgeous Italian city is just as good a location for a city break as Rome or Venice, but without the crowds, and boasts the largest seaside piazza in Europe.

Trieste, Italy was named one of the “most underrated” cities in Europe, jam-packed full of history and culture, as well as delicious Italian food.

Visitors can wander the ancient Roman Amphitheater that still stands before making the walk to the Castle of Saint Giusto, perched upon the Capitoline Hill, offering fantastic views of the city.

There is also plenty of regional Italian food to sample, like the local goulash Triestino – a traditional beef and onion stew slow cooked to let the flavours marry – or some of the amazing seafood the city has to offer.

The Pizza Unita d’Italia in the city is the largest seaside piazza in Europe and Trieste’s main square. It features many stunning buildings of historical importance, and is the perfect place to people-watch while sipping a coffee or aperitif.

Trieste also features a lighthouse from the 1850s – the Faro della Vittoria on Greta Hill – a beacon over the Gulf of Trieste.

The city’s rich culture also makes it the perfect getaway for art lovers, who can marvel at the modern art in the Museo Revoltella.

The museum, founded in the 19th century, also features the house of the man who created it, famous Trieste resident Baron Pasquale Revoltella.

Trieste’s history has been shaped by a number of cultures and civilisations. It was once the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s main commercial port, and the German and Slavic influences can still be seen today alongside the Italian.

It’s also the capital of Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia autonomous region in the north, next to the Slovenian coastline and Adriatic Sea.

The city showcases a more diverse side of Italy as the distinctive character of this vibrant border town has been shaped by many different groups over centuries.

Trieste has a fairly small city centre, so it’s easy to walk around and explore during a short break, but it’s still full of sights to see and things to do.

Tourists can explore at a leisurely pace while enjoying the famous local coffee or seafood in between visits to the historical sites.