What to do on a Bora day?

Length

1 day

Description

Trieste and the Bora: An Inseparable Duo

Trieste, among its various attributes, is globally renowned for its legendary wind that, unimpeded and fierce, lashes the sea and weaves through the alleys of the old city: THE BORA. Anyone encountering it could be left impressed, hence we strongly advise preparing to face the gusts that, in certain areas of the city, can reach significant speeds. The Bora is an integral part of Trieste to the extent that it's associated with certain aspects of its inhabitants, initially rough and fleeting just like the beloved wind that, when it blows, purifies the air from impurities and humidity, granting chilly yet bright days with incredible vistas.

In this guide, we will delve into activities to enjoy in Trieste during a Bora day, pinpointing areas sheltered from the wind and those more exposed. It's crucial to note that the Bora predominantly blows from the East-Northeast, invading the city and sweeping away everything in its path!

In some parts of the old city, you can still see the "chains" attached to sidewalk poles, particularly near the windiest intersections, where the Bora, on its most imposing days, continues to pose significant challenges for pedestrians who literally cling to these handholds to remain standing.

Although the Bora, as we've mentioned, can move unimpeded throughout the city, there are unexpectedly sheltered zones, true "safe zones" where the Bora struggles to penetrate. These zones particularly exist beneath the karst cliff near some of the most beautiful walks that Trieste offers its tourists!

Routes

The first 3 routes we'll explore are urban routes. As we mentioned, the Bora descends from the Karst and channels from the east-northeast until it reaches the city. The entire seafront area is particularly windy, the shores, Piazza Unità d'Italia, and the bold pier are some of the most beloved spots by the Bora, with gusts easily exceeding 120 km/h. How to behave in these cases? If you spot a Triestine, follow their steps and movements. The Triestine is accustomed from birth to anticipate the "Bora gust," they feel it coming and their body prepares to face it... The "master" level is reached when we add rain to the Bora! In this case, you can forget about sheltering under an umbrella because it will become unusable at the first gust. On Bora days, the only solution is to equip yourself with a good waterproof jacket, visualize your goal, and reach it as soon as possible!

If the first 3 urban routes are suitable for those who want to challenge themselves and experience being "slapped" by the wind, the other 3 routes we've included are extremely panoramic walks (outside the city), completely sheltered from the wind. In particular, the "Napoleonica", reachable by tram, can be easily traversed in its first part of the journey. However, when we reach the sanctuary of Monte Grisa and lean out over the ridge, we may once again be at the mercy of the wind, but if we avoid the point on the slope and venture into the woods, we should escape the dreaded gusts from the Carso. The "Sentiero della Salvia" and the "Sentiero Rilke", on the other hand, have no windy points, they are always covered and sheltered.