I got off the train to Venice last summer in Trieste, planning to spend a few hours there, but was so knocked over by its beauty that I stayed for a few days. Tucked away in the north-east of Italy, it’s a crosscultural cocktail of Hapsburg, baroque and Slavic views and vibes – with a slice of Latin lemon thrown in. Piazza Unità d’Italia is an elegant square full of classy art nouveau cafes with the sea on one side – locally known as the Living Room of Italy.
I strolled along Barcola for the evening passeggiata after checking out the nearby Miramare castle . There are beaches on the edge of the city that are easy to walk to – I had a swim one day. The food is hearty – Germanic meaty stews and spicy pizzas - while the coffee is strong.
Joyce and Hemingway loved lingering over meals and drinks here – and I could see why. Nigel Gijón is halfway along Spain’s northerly coast. Not as regal as its neighbour Santander but a place where generations of the same families have spent summers escaping the torrid heat of the interior.
Few cities can boast two city centre beaches where visitors pitch up at their same chosen section each summer. The beaches are in strolling distance of the famed sidrerías (cider houses), which serve great seafood washed down with the tangy local cider. All this plus great independent shops, good-value hotels and massively improved transport links.
Oh, and home to Spain’s greatest soccer team ...
Sporting Gijón! Ciaran Not often ment.
