Of Trieste's many famous landmarks, none stand taller (either figuratively or literally) than the Victory Lighthouse located to the north of the city centre on Gretta Hill. Built to commemorate those who died during the First World War, it was originally designed by the Triestine architect Arduino Berlam immediately following the end of the war, with it construction finally commencing in 1923, and is alternatively known as the Vittorio Lighthouse after King Vittorio Emanuele III, who was present at the official opening in 1927. Reaching nearly 68m into the sky, it's one of the tallest lighthouses in the world (the 8th tallest to be exact).

Beyond its functional and commemorative qualities, the project was also envisaged as a bit of one-upmanship of the Germans, whose own Victory Tower in Berlin stood at 62m at the time. Other than its impressive height, the structure's most distinctive feature is the 7-tonne copper statue of Winged Victory perched at its top, which is the work of sculptor Giovanni Mayer, who was also responsible for the 9m tall seaman statue affixed to the front of the monument. Below this is an inscription reading: 'Shine and remind of the fallen on the sea MCMXV - MCMXVIII'. And shine it does to this very day, with its 1000-watt halogen bulb visible to ships plying the waters of the northern Adriatic up to 41km away.