The Castle dominating Trieste was built on the site of an older fortress; it was enlarged and restored many times between the 16th and 17th centuries. This building was never used for defence purposes but was most probably used as a barracks.
Today the castle is open to the public, it con be used for conferences, as a cinema and as an open-air theatre. In the centre of the castle can be found the Civic Museum, housing interesting works of art and a collection of firearms. Along the road that links the Cathedral to the city centre are the Orto Lapidario (housing ancient stone fragments discovered in the area) and the Civic Museum of History and Art.
