The Region Building

The Lloyd Triestino building was constructed between 1880 and 1883 by the Viennese architect Heinrich von Ferstel as the permanent location of the "Austro-Hungarian Lloyd" shipping company, founded in 1836, which since 1922 has taken the name of "Lloyd Triestino".

It is the most impressive building of Unità d'Italia Square, in eclectic style, considered to be one of von Ferstel's best interpretations of the Italian Renaissance.

The majesty of the façade is emphasized by accurate decorative elements, such as the central fastigium (with the Lloyd symbol flanked by two victories, two youths and statues of Aeolus, Mercury, Vulcan and Neptune) and the two beautiful feminine statues, placed at the foot of the façade within apse-shaped niches, the left representing Thetis, symbol of fresh water, the right Venus, symbol of sea water.

The façade facing the sea is characterized by a projecting section in the center, on which there are four giant pillars and two statues representing Leucotea, the goddess of sailors, and Urania, the patron of astronomical poetry.

All outdoor sculptures were conceptualized by two viennese artists, Pokorny and Haerdlt, and sculpted by the "Company of the workers of Trieste" in Grožnjan Istrian stone.

Two large marble sculptures, depicting Intelligence and Work, signed respectively by Ivan Rendic and Francesco Pezzicar, adorn the lobby of the main entrance. Inside, the following features are absolutely worth mentioning; the monumental carsian stone staircase, the chandeliers by Albert Milde and the beautiful hall for meetings and parties, where one can find two large portraits of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth as well as two precious Murano glass chandeliers hanging from a beautiful coffered ceiling. The walls and ceilings of the rooms and halls are embelished with fine stucco decorations by A. Pelolli from Trieste.

The rich endowment of art works includes large paintings by Giuseppe Barison (portraits of King Vittorio Emmanuele III and Queen Elena), two canvases entitled to Industry and Commerce, the manly portrait of Umberto Veruda and the bronze sculpture by Giovanni Mayer, depicting the allegory of the harvest and fertility.

After the construction in 1986 of the new corporate headquarters of Lloyd Triestino in the area of the former Sant'Andrea Machine Factory, the building was sold to the Regional Administration and from 1991 is the seat of the regional Executive.