Our favourite Italian museum east of Venice, the Revoltella owes its existence (and name) to the baron Pasquale Revoltella, who bequeathed his palace, art collection and other personal effects to the city upon his death in 1869. Born to a wealthy Venetian family, the baron did quite well for himself in Trieste, making a fortune in the timber industry, and later serving as one of the driving forces behind the construction of the modern Suez Canal. Several of the palace's rooms, including the baron's private residence, have been preserved with their original furnishings and make up part of the impressive collection. In 1907, the adjacent Brunner Palace was purchased by the city, which allowed for museum to be greatly expanded, while further renovations have brought the current exhibition space to more than 4000 square metres.

The museum's collection of art includes both paintings and sculptures, primarily comprised of works from the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as more recent works from artists from the Friuli Venezia Guila region and elsewhere in Italy. While you won't find any of the art world's biggest names here, the diverse selection on display provides a fairly comprehensive overview of Italian art from the past two centuries, and offers plenty of priceless works to feast your eyes on. Additionally, the building itself is a stunning architectural specimen, and in the summer months the top floor café and terrace stay open late from Thursday to Sunday.