The Lanterna di Trieste is a historical and architectural symbol of the city, located at the western end of the old port, at the top of the Molo Fratelli Bandiera. Its construction was desired during the Habsburg period, precisely on the order of Governor Carlo Zinzendorf, and was designed by the architect Matteo Pertsch; it came into operation on February 11, 1833.
In the Context of the Habsburgs
In the context of the Habsburgs, the Lanterna did not only have the function of a lighthouse for navigation, but was also conceived as a defense structure for the port. This is evident in the architecture:
- The tower features elements of a torre massimiliana merlata with two orders of gunports
- A solution that combines the functional component of guiding navigators with the military one
- The foundations rest on what was once the Scoglio dello Zucco, an important natural element in the Triestine port history
Decline and Changes
With the passage of time and the change in port needs, the Lanterna progressively lost its centrality. In 1927, with the construction of the Faro della Vittoria on the hill of Gretta – intended to commemorate the fallen sailors and to perform control functions and as a symbol of the new Italy post-World War I – the Lanterna became less relevant for navigation. It was definitively deactivated as a lighthouse on November 25, 1969, and today it is inactive according to the Istituto Idrografico della Marina.
Role in the Post-War Period
In the post-war period, in addition to its symbolic value, the Lanterna has also assumed an associative role:
- Hosting since 1992 the Trieste section of the Lega Navale Italiana
- The lighthouse has become a cultural and commercial icon, used as a logo by Theresianer, a historic Triestine beer brand founded during the Habsburg era
From an Architectural Point of View
From an architectural point of view, the Lanterna is composed of a cylindrical stone column that supports the optical group, emerging from the crenellated tower body. This combination of military and nautical functionality represents a significant example of the strategic policy of the Habsburgs in Trieste, the port-city on the sea of the empire.
From a Cultural and Social Point of View
From a cultural and social point of view, the Lanterna has traversed the transition from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the first Italian post-war period, representing a red thread in the port and urban history of Trieste. The Habsburg heritage is tangible in its structure and in the historical context of its realization, while its decline as an active lighthouse tells of the transformation of the city in the post-war era.