Duino-Aurisina


Duino-Aurisina is a comune in the regional decentralization entity of Trieste, in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. As of 31 July 2025, it had a population of 8,159 and an area of 45.2 km². Lying near the border with Slovenia, it has a substantial Slovene minority. Duino-Aurisina is named after its two major settlements: Duino and Aurisina.
The municipality of Duino-Aurisina contains these frazioni, with Italian names followed by Slovene names in brackets: Aurisina, Ceroglie, Duino, Malchina, Medeazza, Precenico, Prepotto, San Pelagio, San Giovanni di Duino, Sistiana, Slivia, Ternova, Villaggio del Pescatore, Visogliano, Aurisina S. Croce, Aurisina Cave, Aurisina Stazione and Aurisina Centro.
Duino-Aurisina borders the following municipalities: Komen, Doberdò del Lago, Monfalcone, Sežana, Sgonico, Trieste.
WWW comune.duino-aurisina.ts....

Geography

The town lies on the Adriatic coast, about northwest of Trieste, on the border with Slovenia.
The territory includes part of the coastal Karst and the Trieste Riviera, overlooking the northernmost inlet of the Adriatic Sea, the Gulf of Panzano, acting as a connection between the Trieste hub and the Julian-Isonzo and Friuli-Udine areas, as well as between the inland Karst and the sea.
Nestled in a karst environment, the municipal area is characterized by the typical features of this environment: sinkholes, caves, foibe, scarcity of surface water, etc. The flora and fauna are also typical of the Karst. The highest point in the municipality is the 343-meter Ternova Hill. Along the coastal strip, the climate and vegetation are Mediterranean, and the Duino Cliffs Nature Reserve, established in 1996, is also located there.

History

Already inhabited in ancient times, the area was inhabited by various pre-Roman populations, such as the Euganean, Venetian, and Histrian peoples. With the founding of the colony of Aquileia, Roman power emerged in the region.
The period of Roman rule was very important, bringing great economic development thanks to the opening of the Aurisina quarry, the use of the coastal ports, and the spread of viticulture. The prized Aurisina stone was used to build Aquileia and the most important Roman monuments in Ravenna. The mouth of the Timavo River marked the boundary between the Aquileian and Tergestino countrysides, with the current municipal territory therefore falling within the latter.

Demographic evolution

According to the 1971 census, 37.5% of the population belonged to the Slovene ethnic group and about 60% to the Italian ethnic group

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Famous residents

The Slovene writer Alojz Rebula was born in San Pelagio, and the Slovene poet Igo Gruden was born in Aurisina. The Slovene economist Ivan Ples was born in Duino, where the composer Andrej Volarič also lived.
The poet Rainer Maria Rilke began his Duino Elegies while staying at Duino castle in 1912.
The physicist Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann spent his last year, 1906, in Duino.

Twin towns