Miramare Castle, Gothic Revival castle on the Gulf of Trieste, Italy
Miramare Castle is a white limestone residence standing on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Trieste in northern Italy. The building combines Gothic Revival windows and towers with an extensive park full of exotic plants that extends down to the sea.
Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian commissioned the residence between 1856 and 1860 and spent a few years here before becoming Emperor of Mexico. After his execution in 1867, his widow Charlotte never returned, and the estate later passed into Italian state ownership.
The name comes from the Italian phrase meaning 'look at the sea', which captures the position of this residence on a cliff above the gulf. The rooms still display personal items belonging to the archduke and his wife Charlotte, including paintings, furniture and maritime collections reflecting their passion for seafaring.
The museum opens daily, and guided tours through the furnished rooms are offered in several languages. The extensive park can be explored freely and offers paths along the coast as well as shaded areas beneath old trees.
The archduke had his bedroom designed like a ship's cabin, with portholes and wooden paneling that reflect his love for the navy. A smaller residence called Castelletto stands at the edge of the grounds, where he lived during construction.
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