Discovering Trieste through its historic tram 2 or the Opicina Tramway

Trieste’s Tram 2, better known as the Opicina Tramway, is not just a means of transport: it is a journey through time and space, discovering the city and its surroundings from a unique perspective.

The tramway, which has been operating since 1902, departs from the heart of the Friulian capital, Piazza Oberdan, and covers a stretch of approximately 5 km, connecting the city centre with the town of Opicina, located on the Karst plateau.

The route offers travellers the opportunity to admire unique views of the Gulf of Trieste and to immerse themselves in an atmosphere that recalls the glories of the past.

The characteristics of Trieste’s Tram 2

What makes Trieste’s tram 2 so special is its hybrid nature: it is the only tram in Europe that is equipped with a mixed system that combines electric traction with a funicular railway. This ingenious mechanism is necessary to tackle the steep difference in altitude of almost 400 metres between the city centre and Opicina, with gradients of up to 26% in some sections.

More than just a means of transport, it is a true feat of engineering that has withstood the test of time and technology to become a symbol of civic pride.

The tram route, which winds through the streets of Trieste, becomes steep as soon as it leaves the city centre. It is precisely on these steepest sections that the funicular comes into play: the trams are hooked up to special support carriages that help them overcome the most inaccessible sections. Once they reach the plateau, the tram resumes its normal electric operation, allowing passengers to enjoy the view from above and breathe in the fresh air of the Trieste Karst.

A journey through history and nature

Along the route of tram 2, at each stop, there are paths and walks that lead to the discovery of hidden corners of Trieste and its natural surroundings. One of the most spectacular points is the stretch overlooking the gulf, from where you can admire the city in all its beauty, with the sea spanning the horizon and the green hills surrounding it.

The journey on tram 2 is made even more fascinating by the interior of the carriages: the wooden benches and the large windows overlooking the landscape offer passengers a nostalgic experience, as if they were in an early twentieth-century novel.

Italo Svevo and the Opicina Tram

Trieste’s culture is also inextricably linked to tram 2. Among its illustrious passengers was the writer Italo Svevo, the pseudonym of Aron Ettore Schmitz. Svevo used the Opicina tram to travel to Villa Letizia, his family’s summer holiday home.

The beauty and unique nature of the route inspired the writer, who evocatively described the panoramic stretch in one of his stories, “How not to drive”. Along this route, Svevo lost himself in reflections and memories, while watching the landscape slowly change, as if in a dream.

Tram 2, a symbol that has stood the test of time

Despite the technological changes and economic challenges that the city has faced over the years, Trieste’s tram 2 has managed to survive. The service has been interrupted and restored several times over the years, but the determination of the people of Trieste to preserve this symbol of their past has been stronger than any difficulties.

Today, the tram continues to transport not only citizens, but also tourists who want to discover the city in an original and authentic way.

Article translated by Jasmina Towers

Tag

Curiosities

Transport and Mobility

Travel

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