Valmaura

Why is Valmaura called Valmaura? Some say the name comes from a dark-feathered bird, the Eurasian hoopoe, nicknamed “maura” for its black plumage. Imagine these striking birds flitting through the small valley between the hills of Servola and San Pantaleone. This valley is Valmaura, a suburb of Trieste, stretching south towards Istria. Valmaura isn’t just a picturesque valley though. It’s a sporting hub. Here you’ll find the Nereo Rocco Stadium, the Giuseppe Grezar Stadium, and the PalaTrieste arena. These venues create a vibrant sports city within the city. Valmaura also holds a darker piece of history. Near the Nereo Rocco Stadium stands the Risiera di San Sabba. This former rice mill became a Nazi concentration camp, a sobering reminder of the past. Beyond the sports and history, Valmaura has a spiritual heart. The parish church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Sorrows, was built between 1947 and 1948. Its construction marked a new chapter in the suburb’s life. Valmaura is also well-connected. The Via Flavia and Via Istria, once part of the old state road to Pula, run through it. The area is served by several bus routes. These connect it to the city center and surrounding neighborhoods. Valmaura even had a railway line, the Parenzana, which operated from 1902 to 1935. Finally, a curious anecdote: In 1982, the fugitive banker Roberto Calvi hid in an apartment in Valmaura’s “Le Agavi” residential complex. This unexpected event adds another layer to Valmaura’s story.