The Cathedral of San Giusto is the most important Catholic religious building in Trieste and stands on the top of the homonymous hill overlooking the city.
The current appearance of the Cathedral derives from the unification of two pre-existing churches: the Church of Santa Maria and the Church dedicated to the martyr San Giusto, patron saint of the city of Trieste. The union was made by the then Bishop Roberto Pedrazzani da Robecco between 1302 and 1320, thus giving the city a majestic cathedral. In the fusion operation an aisle was demolished; the plan of the Cathedral thus became five aisles.
The hut-shaped façade is characterized by a large rose window with a double wheel, a statue of St. Just, coats of arms and a portal derived from the cut of a Roman funeral stele.The bell tower, with a square plan, was originally higher, but in 1422, following a lightning strike, its height was reduced to the current one.
The interior offers interesting traces of 5th century mosaic flooring in front of the presbytery, while the apse is decorated with modern mosaics. The frescoes depicting the life of the Saint date back to the 13th century.
The high altar of the cathedral was consecrated on 27 November 1385 by the first German bishop of Trieste, Enrico de Widenstein, appointed by the then Austrian Emperor Leopold III.
