The Portici di Chiozza are an elegant architectural complex located in the center of Trieste, connecting the Viale XX Settembre to the pedestrian area behind the Grande Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Nuovo and the Canal Grande. They take their name from Carlo Luigi Chiozza, a Genoese industrialist active in the soap sector, who in the XIX century owned the area and promoted the construction of the original building.
The Original Building and the Caffè Chiozza
The original palace, dating back to 1801, featured two orders of arcades that housed the famous Caffè Chiozza, a meeting place for artists, intellectuals, and the Triestine bourgeoisie.
- Here, the “Sabatine” of the Circolo Artistico were held.
- Illustrious patrons like Italo Svevo met painter friends like Umberto Veruda.
- The writer Scipio Slataper observed the Austrian soldiers passing by.
Development in the 19th and 20th Centuries
During the course of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, the Portici di Chiozza became one of the most bohemian and lively places in the city, animated by cafés, shops, and cultural activities.
- Renovated in 1857.
- Purchased in 1910 by the Assicurazioni Generali, which promoted further restoration and expansion interventions.
Architectural Features
Architecturally, the Portici di Chiozza are characterized by the neoclassical facade with rustication on the ground floor, seven full arch openings, and giant order Ionic columns on the upper floor.
The decorations include mythological and symbolic bas-reliefs, created by the Genoese sculptor Luigi Supino in the 1920s, which celebrate historical events related to the Italian Risorgimento and national identity.
Importance Today
Today, the Portici di Chiozza represent an important historical and architectural heritage of Trieste, bearing witness to the cultural and social vitality of the city between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They are often cited in Triestine literature, particularly in the works of Italo Svevo, and remain a reference point for walks, meetings, and discovery of local history.