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Perched on the northeastern edge of Italy, on the border with Austria and Slovenia, where the Adriatic Sea meets Central Europe, Trieste feels like a true crossroads of cultures, histories, and landscapes. Graceful and vibrant, it blends Italian charm with Mitteleuropean elegance, creating a distinctive and captivating atmosphere.

Strolling through the city, visitors are naturally drawn to its majestic seafront. Piazza Unità d’Italia, the largest square in Europe facing the sea, opens stunningly onto the water, framed by stately buildings that echo the city’s imperial past. Coffee culture thrives here – a legacy of centuries of trade – and historic cafés invite visitors to slow down and soak in an unmistakable sense of Dolce Vita.

Trieste, Italy

Another part of Trieste’s appeal is the remarkable variety it offers within minutes, Neoclassical architecture gives way to rugged Karst plateau landscapes, where limestone cliffs plunge into the sea. Nearby, the enchanting white Miramare Castle, set within a beautiful park and built in the mid-19th century for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg, stands on a promontory overlooking the sea, offering breathtaking views over the Gulf of Trieste.

Beyond its own charm

Trieste is the strategic gateway to Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region rich in history and diversity. In fact, one of the region’s highlights is its rich biodiversity, offering a great variety of landscapes and natural environments: in less than 200 km, it is possible to travel from the mountains to the sea.

To the north, the landscape offers majestic views over the Alps and the Dolomites, where peaks, Alpine lakes, and pristine forests provide endless opportunities for outdoor activities year-round, surrounded by unspoiled and protected nature and dotted with ancient villages rich in traditions and authenticity.

Continuing south, travelers reach Udine, the region’s elegant and lively heart, where refined architecture meets the rustic charm of traditional osterie. Venetian-style piazzas invite visitors for aperitivo, while masterpieces by the famous painter Giambattista Tiepolo enrich the city’s heritage. The surrounding countryside is a paradise for wine lovers, with renowned DOC areas like Collio and Colli Orientali del Friuli, famous for wines such as Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Pinot Grigio.

Nearby, Gorizia offers a unique blend of Italian and Central European influences in both cuisine and history. Together with its neighboring city Nova Gorica in Slovenia, it was named European Capital of Culture 2025: a cross-border area once divided by a border, now representing a powerful symbol of 20th-century history.

Friuli Venezia Giulia’s heritage is also reflected in its UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

Cividale del Friuli, rich in Lombard history and medieval charm; Aquileia, renowned for its Roman legacy and the extraordinary mosaic floor of its Basilica, the largest in the Western Roman world; and Palmanova, the perfectly preserved star-shaped Renaissance fortress, a masterpiece of military architecture.

Ending in the south, the region opens onto a stunning Adriatic coastline, offering a rich variety of landscapes and experiences. From the golden sandy beaches of Lignano Sabbiadoro, perfect for sports, entertainment and relaxation, the scenery shifts across the evocative lagoons of Marano, a paradise for nature lovers. From here, the journey leads to Grado, a charming seaside destination with sunny beaches, a picturesque old town and a relaxed atmosphere, ideal for a waterfront stroll savoring a traditional Italian gelato. The journey continues along the Gulf of Trieste, where rocky coves, crystal-clear waters, and elegant seaside towns create an authentic Mediterranean setting, ideal for unwinding and enjoying breathtaking views.

Friuli Venezia Giulia, a borderland of diverse cultures and influences, fully expresses this spirit at the table. Its traditional dishes reflect a unique fusion where the Italian cuisine meets the Central European, Venetian, and Slavic ones: from the local rich cheeses of the Alps to the renowned PDO Prosciutto di San Daniele and the region’s fresh seafood specialties.

In this sense, Trieste is more than just a destination: it is the perfect gateway to Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region yet to be discovered, and to neighboring countries, all just a short journey away. Its blend of cultures, seafront beauty, and strategic position make it an ideal starting point for exploring one of Italy’s most fascinating regions.

Friuli Venezia Giulia: the whole world in one place.

“Perfect, relaxed, and still profitable, business wise…you have to come!!”

Ricardo Rodrigues

Aviation Marketing Manager, ANA Airports: Porto Airport

“CONNECT is more about meaningful conversations in a relaxed environment and less noise that distracts you from getting value from the meetings.”

Johan Laurberg Lund

“Connect is a conference where you can meet all your current and potential airline partners in a very relaxed way!”

Maarten Cooreman

Aarhus Airport

“Events like CONNECT highlight the importance of collaboration between airlines, airports, and destinations as we continue working to expand and strengthen our network across Europe.”

Pol de la Fuente Marín

“Very good organization. CONNECT helped to discover new opportunities, and for sure has been an interesting factor to operate new routes.”

Alice Ternisien

“A wonderful opportunity to get in touch with the top Airports Worldwide.”

Gibson Preziuso

“CONNECT event is the opportunity to see some new companies and new trends in the airline industry.”

Mihajlo Zdravković

“CONNECT is a great format to network with industry professionals and decision-makers. Through our connections at the event, Flyadeal launched 3 routes to Tbilisi International Airport, with 9 frequencies per week.”

UAG Team

United Airports of Georgia

“The experience was excellent before and during the event; thank you very much for your effort. Keep going!”

Andres Fernandez

La Romana Airport

“Easy format to meet people & good conference programme”

Gonzalo Pernas

“Thank you for the event organisation. As always excellent organisation, quality meetings, transfers worked well, and the food was great during the event (which makes a massive difference). Thank you, we look forward to next year’s event!”

Janice Mather

Head of Airports & Tourism Organisations, Jet2.com & Jet2holidays

“CONNECT New World provided an incredible platform for passionate individuals like myself who desire to connect different corners of our planet. The event brought together like-minded professionals in the industry.”

Pierre-Hugues Schmit

Vinci Airports

“A very good event with meeting back-to-back”

Frederic Revel

“One of the best airline industry events, combining efficiency and organization with French style and flair!”

Luigi Vallero

General Manager Italia, Danish Air Transport

“CONNECT delivered a well-structured and insightful experience, aligning closely with my expectations. The event successfully brought together key players in the aviation sector, fostering meaningful discussions on route development and market trends.”

Alexandra Pacurar

“For Air Nostrum, it’s always successful to come to CONNECT as we value a lot the networking atmosphere here.”

Miguel Oliver

“Great opportunity to catch up with industry topics during the conference and to keep the relationship with airline customers.”

Marta Sabin

“We've forged valuable connections and explored potential partnerships that will be instrumental in expanding air connectivity to Saudi Arabia.”

Mohsen Abduljawwad

“Organization was great. Attendance by airports was outstanding, this is what we value the most.””

Ignacio Martinez

“From insightful discussions to high-impact networking, we connected with industry leaders, forged valuable partnerships, and secured game-changing business opportunities.”

Emilia Andreeva

“CONNECT is the event of the year for me where to meet colleagues and peers. The event brought together hundreds of aviation industry decision-makers to discuss current and future air routes, making it one of the most important route development events.”

Marja Aalto

“A great event to catch up with existing and new business partners and talking about route opportunities”

Mathias Richter

“CONNECT is a great event, well organized as always”

Anthony Lori

“Always a great opportunity to explore airline strategies, exchange with airport peers, and discuss the future of our industry”

Victoire Totah

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