The Hotel's Hystory

The old Via San Nicolò

The Hotel Continentale is the only remaining hotel on Via San Nicolò. This dignified building, located at no. 25 (cadastral registry 705) Via San Nicolò, was designed by architect Giovanni Righetti and built between 1875 and 1880. The hotel replaced an old building owned by a number of Jewish families, with the Guetta family apparently being the final owner.

As for the hotel, by 1905 a restaurant, the Berger, already occupied the ground floor. This restaurant was owned or managed by Luigi Toniatto (written Toniato), who later opened the hotel giving it his own name. The name remained unchanged until World War I (or slightly before), at which point it became Continentale. Beginning in this period, the restaurant was run by Carlo Zanon, probably until the end of World War II. The hotel building, on the corner of Via San Nicolò and Via San Spiridione (in the heart of the city centre), is four stories high, has second-floor balconies (two on each side) and features large windows on the corners. The double lancet windows opening onto the balconies are surmounted by exquisite medallions with graceful figural busts depicted in profile. During the period immediately following World War II, the hotel hosted eminent figures, including the future Chairman of Assicurazioni Generali Enrico Randone, Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff, the famous radio host Nunzio Filogamo and many others. These illustrious names only added to the fame that the hotel had acquired during so many years of honourable service.
 
From the book by: Pietro Covre
L'antica via San Nicolò (The old Via San Nicolò)
Published by: Il Ramo D'Oro

Other references

• From the book by Halupca e Veronese
  Trieste Nascosta (Hidden Trieste)
  Published by: Lint
   
  The Hotel Continentale, once named “Al Buon Pastore”, is located on Via San Nicolò. Although in 1878 the establishment was not the elegant hotel it is today, it was more than acceptable for a "clandestine couple". The couple in question was Giosuè Carducci and his muse "Lina" (in the world Carolina Piva née Cristofori, mother of three children and wife of a government official from Rovigo).
   
  The two lovers organized a secret journey to Trieste on July 7, 1878, after furtively exchanging many letters; naturally, they travelled under assumed names...
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• From the Book: Le Insegne dell'Ospitalità
  Due Secoli di esercizi pubblici a Trieste
  Published By: Lint
  
Birreria Berger (o Bierhalle). Già nominata nel 1880 con sede in via S. Nicolò n. 17 (angolo via S. Spiridione). Questo famoso locale in quell'anno era gestito dalla vedova Maria Koller. Nel 1908 sotto l'insegna di Grand Restaurant Berger, la birreria prosperava sotto la direzione..
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