Miramare Castle, built between 1856 and 1860 on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, was intended as a private retreat for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium. The castle and park were designed by Carl Junker, reflecting Maximilian's artistic tastes and his acquaintance with the eclectic architectural styles of Austria, Germany and England. The castle still features original furnishings from the mid-19th century, and many coats of arms of the Second Mexican Empire decorate its walls.
The grounds were completely re-landscaped to feature numerous tropical species of trees and plants. Maximilian intended to create an intimate atmosphere in the castle in the area reserved for his family - an area which he wanted to be in contact with nature, reflecting both his own spirit and that of an epoch. The work, steadily supervised by Maximilian, was finished only after his departure in 1864 for Mexico; where after a brief reign as Emperor he was executed in June 1867.
After the death of Maximilian I in Mexico in June 1867, and Charlotte's departure for Belgium, the castle and the park continued to be a place where the Habsburgs spent short periods.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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