From Trieste Centrale to the ICTP

If you landed in the Marco Polo Airport or the Treviso Airport, near Venice, and decided to take the train from Venezia Santa Lucia, Venezia Mestre, Treviso; or if you arrived by train from elsewhere in Europe; or if you took the bus from the Ronchi Airport (TRS) all the way down to central Trieste -- here you can find instructions for your arrival to the Adriatico Guesthouse on the ICTP campus, in Miramare.  The guesthouse is about 8 km northwest of central Trieste.  Here are some maps:


                           The whole route:  Trieste Centrale --> ICTP

           
 


                                              Near the Train Station:

 


                  Near the Adriatico Guesthouse (ICTP) in Grignano/Miramare:

 


There is only one train station in Trieste, known as “Trieste Centrale”. 


   
 


From the train station, there are two ways to get to the ICTP.  As soon as you get off the train, follow everybody to the end of the platform, and turn left (you will pass by a “Despar” mini-market).  Step outside to via Miramare and either:


  1. 1. Take a taxi.  Expect to pay around 10-15 euros, as indicated by the taximeter.  In general, tips are uncommon in Italy. Also, most likely, your driver will not speak English.  Ask your driver to take you to “il Centro di Fisica a Miramare, Albergo Adriatico” (Centro is pronounced “Chentro”). Below is a picture of the taxi queue (and the “Despar”), right outside Trieste Centrale:




  1. 2. By public transportation.  In that case, cross viale Miramare and take bus #6.  The bus will go north for about a half an hour.  You will get off at the last stop (the “capolinea”) in Grignano (Miramare), right at the Adriatico Guesthouse.  Visit Trasporti Trieste for the bus schedule (“partenza de Piazza Oberdan”, or “leaving from Piazza Oberdan”, is the direction you want; Trieste Centrale is two stops after Piazza Oberdan, in the direction of the ICTP).  On the schedule:


        “festivo”=Sundays + holidays.

        “feriale”=all other days.


    To get on the bus, as soon as you exit the train station, cross viale Miramare and walk a few meters to your right.  This is what viale Miramare looks like from the station (the exit next to the Despar), with the bus stop down the road (on the right side of the picture, across the street), adjacent to the yellow building with the “Francesco Parisi” sign:


           

  


                         
  


    Beware, you cannot pay the bus fare onboard (unlike the U.S. and other countries).  For Trieste and all of Italy, you must first get a ticket before boarding the bus.  This must be obtained at a tabacco shop (“tabaccheria”), which is marked by one of these symbols:


              
    
    


At the shop, request “un biglietto di bus, per favore”, which costs 1.35 euros (cash only), and is valid for 60 minutes.  The ticket looks like this (with the newer price, and the color may vary):


                           
 

PLEASE NOTICE:

* The big “convalida” arrow

* Ticket duration

* Ticket price

*Printed Date/time

  after “convalidation”

  on the right edge.

  (required, see below)

    


There are other options, ticket-wise, but this should suffice to get you to Miramare.  If you need more tickets later in the week, you can purchase them at the reception desk in the Adriatico Guesthouse. 


Be mindful that these shops are not open after hours, so you might have to take a cab if you arrive too late/early.  There is a magazine shop next to the stop on viale Miramare, but it is often closed or out of tickets.  Also, there are two tabacco shops inside the train station.  The first one is “Viavai”, a few meters from the platforms, and they are open all week:


          


The second one is farther away, at the opposite end of the station, where the main entrance is located:


                         


This tabacco shop is only open on week-days.  If neither is open, it’s best to head back to the DESPAR market near the platforms and get on a taxi.  Finding another open shop elsewhere in the city is tricky (especially if you are tired and carrying luggage) due to limited opening hours.  


Once you have a ticket, at the bus stop (near the Francesco Parisi building), wave your arm to let the bus driver know that you wish to get on.  You can only get on through the front and back doors, marked by a sign that says “ENTRATA”, or entry.  You are not allowed to enter the bus through the middle door, marked with the word “USCITA”, or exit. 


   


THIS IS IMPORTANT:  As soon as you get on the bus, you must “convalidate” your ticket at a machine like the one shown (below, left).  You must insert the ticket in the direction of the arrow, and wait for the machine to print the date/time on your ticket (see picture of ticket above).  Failing to do so will result in a 40-euro fine and a horrible time with a very angry officer (below, right).

                                

               
          


Remember that if you are riding the bus, you just need to get off at the last stop (the “capolinea”).  Whether you take the bus or a taxi, you will enjoy a lovely ride along viale Miramare, with nice views of the Adriatic sea.




Next, you’ll cross two tunnels on the ICTP campus, followed by some downhill turns in Grignano, as you approach your final destination, the Adriatico Guesthouse (the lobby is towards the right-end of the picture, at the back side of the building): 




Congratulations, you’ve made it!  See you here!