Faro della Vittoria

The Faro della Vittoria stands on Trieste's Gretta hill, combining a lighthouse with a memorial to those who died at sea in the First World War. Its monumental tower rises over the remains of the Austrian Forte Kressich.

Why it matters

Arduino Berlam's project joined a navigational purpose with commemoration after the war. Inaugurated on 24 May 1927 in the presence of King Vittorio Emanuele III, it also expressed the city's incorporation into Italy. Building on the former fortress gave that message a prominent architectural setting.

What to notice

Giovanni Mayer modelled the winged Victory at the summit, executed in hammered copper by Giacomo Sebroth. Openings in the wings reduce wind pressure, while the crown conceals a lightning conductor. Mayer's figure of the Unknown Sailor stands below. The anchor of the destroyer Audace recalls its arrival in Trieste on 3 November 1918; chain and shells from the Viribus Unitis add another naval reference.

Context and history

Construction ran from 1923 to 1927. The tower's engineering and sculptural programme were conceived together, making the maritime memorial part of the lighthouse rather than a separate addition. Its elevated position above Barcola connects the monument with the port, coastline and wider gulf.