by InTrieste
A new ranking of Italy’s provincial capitals based on climate-related quality of life places Trieste among the top ten, reinforcing the city’s reputation for mild summers and coastal breezes—despite its famously strong winds.
The analysis, compiled by Il Sole 24 Ore‘s research division, draws on a decade’s worth of meteorological data from a variety of national and regional agencies, including Italy’s environmental protection agency (ARPA). The data, aggregated by 3bmeteo, were assessed across 15 climate indicators to evaluate the degree of environmental comfort across 107 Italian cities.
Trieste, located on the Adriatic Sea near the Slovenian border, ranked seventh overall. Its placement was bolstered by its top performance in the “summer breeze” category, which helps moderate heat and enhances outdoor livability. However, the city also ranked last for wind gusts, due to the infamous bora, the cold northeasterly wind that sweeps through the city, illustrating the double-edged nature of its atmospheric conditions.
The climate diversity within the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region was also highlighted in the rankings. Gorizia, which sits between the Vipava and Isonzo river valleys, placed 41st, benefiting from natural ventilation and mild temperatures. Udine, positioned in the heart of the Friulian plain, was ranked 63rd, with higher exposure to intense rainfall and lower air circulation. Pordenone, located on the edge of the Po Valley, came in at 72nd. Its low ranking was attributed to frequent atmospheric stagnation and weaker ventilation, common in cities near the valley.
The broader trend across Italy reflects a changing climate, with fewer than five cold days per year, on average, and a marked increase in extreme weather events. Rising temperatures—particularly in northern cities where daily averages have climbed nearly 2.5 degrees Celsius since 2010—have led to more frequent heatwaves, tropical nights, prolonged droughts, and intense summer rainfall. These conditions have contributed to increasingly erratic weather patterns, such as the destructive hailstorms that struck northeastern Italy two years ago.
As climate continues to reshape urban life across the country, studies like this offer a snapshot not only of present-day comfort but also of the challenges cities may face in adapting to a rapidly warming world.
