Walking is good… even for real estate!

Looking at our sales statistics, it is clear that apartments in the city center continue to attract great interest.

And we are not making particular distinctions between large, small, luxurious or modest apartments—we are simply talking about the city center, especially if it is near the pedestrian area. For years, the Municipality has been redeveloping the entire historic center, creating more restricted traffic zones, repaving streets, and restoring building facades. An ongoing restyling that makes city walks increasingly pleasant every day. Not least the Old Port, which is literally being reborn and enhancing the entire city. A walk, a bike ride, or even rollerblading lets you savor, meter by meter, an urban area that gives off an “international” vibe.

It is not unusual that choosing a home comes at the expense of the car, and Trieste is certainly not known for its abundance of parking spaces. Yet, although it is convenient to have parking nearby, the atmosphere resembles that of major European cities where people walk a lot, use public transport if necessary, and only take the car when truly needed. Moreover, the city center of Trieste is not that large or sprawling, but rather compact and accessible.

Many streets that just a few years ago were hard to place on the rental or sales market are now in great demand. The first that comes to mind is Via XXX Ottobre, which, since becoming pedestrian, has gained a completely different appeal.

The Austro-Hungarian style period buildings are not only charming but also extremely spacious. Many of our clients have deliberately chosen apartments to renovate, designing and personalizing the perfect balance between tradition and modernity.

In this sense, paradoxically, the pandemic—by forcing people to walk and especially to use bicycles—has shed a completely new light on the city center. Nowadays, a bicycle spot is sometimes more sought after than a parking spot. Yet only a few years ago, Trieste was known as a city unsuited for bicycles, and its residents were often irritated by them. Both the city and its people were underestimated.

Let’s give some concrete examples: we have a beautiful apartment for rent in Via Genova, a pedestrian street behind the lovely canal at Piazza del Ponterosso, which is in great demand even though the parking space is not right under the house. Or again: two apartments for sale just a few steps from Piazza dell’Unità—in Via Cadorna and Via del Mercato Vecchio—where the strong point is certainly not the parking but the location and the internal layout, made up of spacious rooms with high ceilings and parquet floors, allowing for incredible renovations.

Not to mention major investors. Many companies have, for example, purchased entire period buildings, skillfully restored them, and then put modern-concept apartments up for sale in an old-world atmosphere, such as Casa Romano overlooking Piazza della Borsa.