DUINO
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and where Attila began his harrying of rich Roman territory, which incidentally led to the foundation of Venice. The land has been fought over since then by Venetians, Germans, Hungarians, French, Austrians, even by Turks, and abundant traces of the last great war may still be seen in ruined villas and new-built townships. Just after leaving Villa Vicentina, where the train crosses the Isonzo and whence can be seen the massive Campanile of Aquileia, to the right, towards the sea, the line begins to climb up to Monfalcone on the rocky limestone formation known as the “ Karst Monfalcone was once a Roman watering-place, and before the War it was rising rapidly as a shipbuilding yard; now its gaunt cranes and empty docks look forlorn and desolate.
   Immediately after leaving Monfalcone the Castle of Duino, magnificently planted on a rocky headland whose cliffs plunge straight into the Adriatic, comes into sight. Duino’s walls used to show the round shot from (Sir) William Hoste’s ships, when the English commanded the Adriatic, and, from their base at Lissa, captured Grado in 1808-1809. During the last war Duino was completely demolished by Italian gunfire ; but is to be rebuilt. From Duino the line climbs ever higher up the Karst,