The Savoia Excelsior Palace is one of the most prestigious historic hotels in Trieste, located in a privileged position facing the sea, near Piazza Unità d'Italia.
Historical context and birth during the Habsburg period
The hotel was designed by the Austrian architect Ladislaus (Leopoldo) Fiedler and was inaugurated in 1911, with the first guests welcomed in 1912, after the placement of the statues of Nettuno and the City of Trieste on the top of the building, work of the sculptor Ambrogio Pirovano.
The construction, realized with cutting-edge technologies for the time, such as reinforced concrete, represented a model of elegance and modernity, conceived according to the criteria of a grand hotel typical of the late XIX century.
The Excelsior soon became the most important and luxurious hotel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, frequented by:
- aristocrats and diplomats during official stays;
- artists and an international elite visiting Trieste during the Grand Tour of Europe.
Among the illustrious guests is also the Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, who appreciated stays in his suite equipped with a private bathroom.
Period of the first post-war and name change
November 3, 1918, marks a fundamental date in the history of the hotel and the city: the Italian destroyer Audace arrived in Trieste – abandoned in the previous days by the Austro-Hungarian governor – representing the Kingdom of Italy.
On this occasion, in honor of this event and the new Italian sovereignty, the prefix Savoia was added to the original name, with the structure officially becoming the Savoia Excelsior Palace.
Events of the second half of the XX century
During the Seconda Guerra Mondiale, the hotel was:
- occupied by German troops;
- partially transformed into a military hospital.
It also suffered serious damage due to a fire caused by cannonades during the conflict. In the 1970s, partial restorations were carried out, but it is with the conservative restoration of 2009, promoted by the Starhotels chain, that the building has returned to its former splendor, recovering elements of charm such as:
- velvets and Italian silks;
- period porcelains;
- Murano chandeliers;
- 1200 meters of boiserie.
Architecture and charm
The design of the hotel, with its majesty and attention to detail, reflects the splendor of the grand hotel of the early twentieth century. Its seafront position facing the port made it known as the Ocean Liner Hotel, a crossroads for both sea and land travelers.
Even today, with 144 rooms and high-level services, it maintains its historical charm with prestigious events, such as hospitality during the G8 of 2009.
The Savoia Excelsior Palace thus represents a fundamental architectural and cultural heritage for understanding the history of Trieste from the late Habsburg period up to the changes of the first post-war period and beyond, bearing witness to the social and political transformations of the port city.