Molo Audace, Wharf in Trieste, Italy

Molo Audace is a wharf in Trieste, Italy, that stretches from the city center into the sea, separating the San Giorgio and San Giusto basins of the old port. The wide, flat surface is paved with large rectangular stone slabs in irregular rows, mostly grey with some brownish and lighter patches, and along its right edge runs a line of dark metal lamp posts with fluted shafts and lantern tops, with a yellow line painted near the edge.

The pier was built between 1743 and 1751 on the wreck of the ship San Carlo, which sank in the harbor in 1740, and was originally named after that ship. It was later extended in stages and in 1922 was renamed Molo Audace to commemorate the Italian destroyer that docked there in 1918.

The end of the pier is a traditional meeting point for couples, who walk its length and kiss at the tip. The bronze compass rose at the far end bears an inscription that recalls the landing of the ship Audace, and its side reads "Fusa nel bronzo nemico", meaning cast from enemy bronze.

The pier is easy to reach on foot from Piazza Unità d'Italia and makes for a straightforward walk with no steps or barriers. It is open at all hours, but the stone surface can be slippery when wet, so watch your step if it has rained.

The anchor displayed at the base of the Victory lighthouse is often mistaken for that of the Audace, but it actually belongs to its sister ship Berenice. The Audace was converted into a torpedo boat and sank during World War II, and its wreck was found in 1999.