1413 A momentous year for Contovello. That’s when the Trieste city council decided to build this very village. Imagine a time before Contovello existed. Before its charming narrow streets wound their way uphill.
Contovello isn’t just a village. It’s a testament to a carefully planned settlement. A place born from a strategic decision. Trieste needed to expand its control over the Carso plateau. They needed farmers. They looked beyond their city walls. They sought out Carso inhabitants. They called them Slavs. These families became the founders of Contovello. The exact date 1413 is recorded in official documents. This makes Contovello unique. It’s the only Triestine village with a precisely known founding date.
The records detail the acquisition of vineyards near the Chapel of St Jerome. Near the Castello di Moncolano. This was renamed the Torre di Prosecco. The tower gave its name to the famous wine. The land was purchased for the incoming settlers. This isn’t just about land. It’s about a deliberate act of community building. A snapshot of history revealing early city planning.
Later a wall called the centa was added. This protected Contovello from Turkish raids. Over time this wall became integrated into the village itself. Its remnants are still hidden in Contovello’s streets. They whisper tales of this unique Triestine village. These walls and streets tell stories. They’re living history.
Contovello boasts two important churches. The parish church dedicated to St Jerome. Also the Church of Santa Maria della Salvia. This is located slightly outside the village center in Moncolano. These buildings aren’t just places of worship. They’re cultural landmarks. Each carries history within its stones.
Contovello’s history isn’t solely about walls and churches. It’s about people. People who built a life here. A predominantly Slovenian community. Before 1918 over 95 percent spoke Slovenian as their mother tongue. Even today that heritage remains strong. This is a village that embraces both its past and present. It stands proudly on its hilltop overlooking the world. This is Contovello. A place you will never forget.