6. Castello di Miramare, Trieste
Compared to many fortifications across Italy, this one was built in the 19th century. The Miramare Castle is unrivaled not only because of its appearance but also because of its history. Having been erected by the House of Habsburg, it was the home of Ferdinand Maximilian, the younger brother of Franz Joseph. This last name should sound familiar in relation to WWI.
While Maximilian was the original owner of the place, he found his end in Mexico, where he was sent to become an emperor. After having sojourned in the same building, many ladies and dukes had the same fate, which seems to be one of the reasons why the castle isn’t used as a guest house any longer. Just two months prior to being assassinated in Sarajevo, the Archduke Franz Joseph stayed here with his wife.
Fortunately, visiting the Castello di Miramare isn’t a bad omen nowadays, as none of the tourists have been involved in any mishap. The residence is the home of a museum and a park of which the beauty are unparalleled.
