Castelletto di Miramare reopens after restoration, video reveals its history

A video released by Artribune showcases the Castelletto di Miramare, a miniature castle built by Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg as his residence in the Trieste park while awaiting completion of the larger Castello di Miramare. Designed by Carl Junker in 1856, the Castelletto was completed in about a year and inhabited sporadically until 1860. After serving as a guesthouse, museum, and WWF headquarters, it closed to the public in 2016. A restoration led by architect Francesco Krecic began in 2022 and concluded in March 2023, aiming to recover original features and ensure conservation and public access. The first floor will serve as a museum and host small events, while the ground floor will house a bookshop and visitor reception. Museum director Andreina Contessa described the building as treated like a single collectible piece, preserving its elegant, simple, intimate atmosphere. The restoration followed respectful conservation and sustainability principles, part of a broader recovery of the Miramare complex.