ITTSYU

In our planning of the IBRG SITEX-23 expedition, one of our main aims was to locate and visit the historic tripoint where Italy, the Free State of Trieste and Yugoslavia met. The historical maps we reviewed identified a likely location on the current Italy – Slovenia border. We however had no idea what would be there, how if at all it would be marked and how accessible it would be. Google maps suggested something might be there but with insufficient detail. The location was finally confirmed as 45°48’14.3″N 13°36’14.8″E

Visiting tripoints is for me the apex of being a border enthusiast. This would be my first historical tripoint. I visited this point as part of the IBRG SITEX-23 expedition.

The history

The Free Territory of Trieste was an independent territory in Southern Europe between northern Italy and Yugoslavia, facing the north part of the Adriatic Sea, under direct responsibility of the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath of World War II. For a period of seven years, it acted as a free city.

The territory was established on 10 February 1947, by a protocol of the peace treaty with Italy, to accommodate an ethnically and culturally mixed population in a neutral independent country. The intention was also to cool down territorial claims between Italy and Yugoslavia, due to its strategic importance for trade with Central Europe. It came into existence on 15 September 1947. Its administration was divided into two areas: one being the port city of Trieste with a narrow coastal strip to the northwest (Zone A); the other (Zone B) was formed by a small portion of the north-western part of the Istrian peninsula. The UK and USA were responsible for the administration of the free state.

The territory was de facto dissolved in 1954 and given to Italy (Zone A) and Yugoslavia (Zone B). This created a border dispute which was only settled thirty years later with the signing the bilateral Treaty of Osimo in 1975, which was ratified in 1977.

The city of Trieste and the territory which formed Zone A is today part of Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, the area of the former Zone B is today part of Slovenia and Croatia.

Currently, there is a small Independence that wishes for the free state status to be restored. They argue that the multicultural and linguistic nature of the region is being suppressed by being part of a wider Italian state.

Note: This website uses the ISO 3166 Country Code system. In this instance Italy is IT, and the code for Yugoslavia is YU. Regions within a country are also allocated a code and in this instance TS = Trieste.

Old number plates from the locality use the TS prefix.

The Tripoint

The walk in.

ITTSYU is no longer a tripoint but a point on the Italian – Slovenian border. We initially had attempted to follow a path from a border crossing point to the north (details here). Our second attempt was to use a track leading north from the Italian village of Medeazza until it reaches the border.

The path is marked by a dotted line. BM#66 which is the historical tripoint was not marked on this map. (Maps.Me)

Once at the border we followed a path to the tripoint. There were several supplementary border markers to locate. As we walked down the track there were signs indicating the end of the municipal limits, something I had not seen before.

Once we reached the border, we retraced our steps and headed west along a well signposted path. It was rocky and uneven and in parts overgrown. Pushing through the scrub and trees brought us closer to the tripoint. The last few meters were hard going, clambering up the rocks and pushing through the undergrowth. An added bonus however was the discovery of border marker 65/36 which was unexpected.

Near the tripoint itself there were a number of old shell casings from a previous conflict. Which one though?

ITTSYU Monument

The historic tripoint was marked by border marker #66. It was on a raised rocky mound which looked like it had been created artificially.

Is the RI covering a previous inscription?

Top of the marker

Close examination of the top of the marker shows where a third line once existed, confirming this as the location of the tripoint.

Celebrations…

Additional border markers

An added bonus in locating this tripoint was the access path went along the border which meant we found and recorded several additional border markers. Recorded here east to west in terms of location.