TRIEST – AUSTRIAN AMBIENTE IN ITALY

Trieste remains a hidden gem among the splendid cities of Italy. Nestled at the border of Slovenia, this city was once merely a fleeting sight for those traveling the motorway en route to holiday destinations in Croatia and the ex-Yugoslav regions. However, it holds a charm that unquestionably merits a pause.

Comprising two distinctive segments at its core, Trieste reveals a tale of contrasts. One section boasts the touch of Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and her descendants, resulting in a truly Austrian-styled urban expanse with grand mansions and broad, orderly avenues. In juxtaposition, an ancient city perches above this Austrian grandeur, showcasing narrow alleys, diminutive residences, and a hill-crowning castle and cathedral.

Dubbed Borgio Theresania, the Austrian-inspired quarter proudly embraces its multicultural essence and its Austrian-Habsburg history. Among the treasures are awe-inspiring churches representing a spectrum of denominations—the Lutheran Church discreetly nestled in..., and the Greek Orthodox Church majestically surveying the bustling.... Of course, a plethora of Catholic churches punctuate the landscape, with the most imposing being the... situated at the canal's end, evoking echoes of Venice. Notably, the Jewish synagogue rests a few blocks away, a lesser-known fact being its current status as the third largest synagogue in Europe.

A personal favorite of mine is the Serbian Orthodox Church on.... If limited to a solitary church visit in Trieste, this would be my choice. Its golden roof, shimmering blue tiles, and lavish adornments remain unparalleled.

The historic district, Citta Vecchia, boasts buildings with origins stretching back to the Middle Ages and beyond. Nestled beneath this neighborhood, an ancient Roman theater whispers of times gone by. Within its medieval folds, one can discover fragments of temples and Roman columns. Atop the hill, adjacent to the castle and cathedral, Roman artifacts continue to peek through the ages.

The churches that grace this quarter primarily bear the Catholic imprint, with the notable exception of... Standing right beside it, an erstwhile chapel now serves as a gathering place for Reformed Protestants.

Ancestral ties intertwine with various corners of the city. German and Austrian roots led my forebears to reside mainly in Borgio Theresa and other Borgios established during the Austrian reign over Trieste. Many of my Protestant ancestors were baptized in the Lutheran Church, leaving imprints in marriage and burial records. A smaller fraction of my Protestant ancestors found a home in the Reformed Protestant Church, nestled in the ancient heart of the city.

On my father's side, Italian roots trace back to baptisms in the Cathedral of.... Meanwhile, the Triestine branch of my maternal lineage originated from Udine, Sutrio, and Venzone. They thrived within the Citta Vecchia, and their names are etched into the annals of... Some of my Jewish Triestine ancestors settled in Via Giuliana. Others might have resided in the Jewish quarters or beyond, for Trieste's Jews were not confined to a singular enclave or ghetto.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The persons in the story are historically documented persons. The story is based on true events.

Charlotte Durighello was born November 24th, 1809 to the Venetian merchant Angelo Durigello and his Dutch-French wife Celeste Vailhen in Aleppo. She married Félix Guilliume in 1829 in Paris. Charlotte died June 27^th, 1875 in Paris. She was buried together with her third husband Gustave Adolphe Haagein the Père-Lachaise Cemetery, in which many celebrities have found their final peace.
Felix Guilliume Jorelle was the son of Francoise Jorelle and Marie Piérette Merlot born in 1804 in Paris. He died in 1859 in Alexandria, Egypt after more than 30 years in the diplomatic service.

Jean Joseph Antoine Derché was Charlotte’s first husband. The couple had a son Jean Joseph Antoine Derché (1828 – 1878).

The couple's son Ange Francois Jorelle (1830 - 1877) followed in his father's diplomatic footsteps. Other sons of Charlotte and Félix Guilliume were Richard and Guilliume. Richard worked as an agent of the Austro-Hungarian Lloyd in Jeddah in the 1870s. Nothing is known about Guilliume.

Their daughter Stéphanie Jorelle (about 1854 - about 1931) married Percy Sinnett-Smith (1850 - 1904), son of William Sinnett-Smith, a British Doctor of Medicine and Harriette Eliza Oates in Naples. Percy was a merchant and Egyptophile.

Alphonse Lemartine was a well-known French poet and politician. He was married to an English artist. Their daughter Julia died on the way to Palestine. His wife returned home after their daughter's death. Lemartine himself finished the journey as planned. His book "Pilgrimage to the Holy Land" was written after the trip. He wrote the poem "Daughter of the Orient" during his stay with the Jorelle family.