The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy.
Prior to 19th century
79 CE – Via Flavia (Dalmatia–Tergeste) built. 1203 - Captured by the Republic of Venice. 1320 – Trieste Cathedral built. 1352 - Public clock installed (approximate date). 1382 – Trieste becomes a Habsburg imperial free city. 1385 - Trieste Cathedral consecrated. 1680 – Castle built. 1682 – Church of Santa Maria Maggiore built. 1719 – City becomes a free port. 1753 – Nautical School founded. 1755 – Trieste Commodity Exchange established. 1756 – Canal Grande (Trieste) constructed. 1776 – Karl von Zinzendorf becomes governor of Trieste. 1783 – Jewish primary school opens. 1784 – newspaper begins publication. 1787 - Greek Orthodox Church of San Nicolò dei Greci built. 1793 – Pubblica Biblioteca Arcadica Triestina (library) established.
19th century
1801 – Teatro Nuovo (opera house) inaugurated. 1809 – Trieste ceded to the French as part of the Illyrian Provinces in the Treaty of Schönbrunn. 1810 Gabinetto di Minerva literary society founded. Population: 29,908. 1814 – Austrians returned to power in the Treaty of Paris. 1828 – Catholic Diocese of Trieste-Koper established. 1831 – Assicurazioni Generali insurance company in business. 1833 – Österreichischer Lloyd shipping firm in business. 1835 – Schiller Society founded. 1839 Caffe degli Specchi in business. Mutius von Tommasini becomes mayor. 1840 – Tergesteo built. 1842 – Civico Orto Botanico di Trieste (garden) and Savings Bank of Trieste established. 1846 – Civico Museo di Storia Naturale di Trieste (museum) established. 1848 May to Aug - Harbour blockaded by an Italian fleet. 25 October: Premiere of Verdi's opera Il corsaro. 1849 – Trieste becomes a Habsburg imperial free city again. 1851 – Trieste Astronomical Observatory established. 1853 – Trieste Chamber of Commerce and Industry established. 1857 Austrian Southern Railway (Vienna-Trieste) begins operating. Trieste Centrale railway station opens. Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipbuilding firm in business near city. 1860 – Miramare Castle built near city for Austrian archduke Maximilian. 1871 – Richard Burton becomes British consul in Trieste. 1872 – Revoltella Museum founded. 1878 – Politeama Rossetti theatre built. 1880 – Population: 144,844. 1881 – newspaper begins publication. 1882 September: Emperor of Austria Franz Joseph I visits city. Agricultural exhibition held. 1883 – Harbour constructed. 1885 – Saint Spyridon Church building inaugurated. 1887 – Trieste–Hrpelje railway begins operating. 1888 - Monument erected to commemorate 500th anniversary of connexion with Austria. 1891 – City ended being a free port. 1899 – Circolo di Studi Sociali (civic group) founded. 1900 – Population: 132,879.