For a joint production by Maserati and international magazine Monocle, Roderick Aichinger travelled to Trieste on Italy’s Adriatic coast. At the heart of the photo series is the Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo, captured against a backdrop of Mediterranean architecture, dramatic rock formations and the deep blue sea.

Under the title “Power and glory: Journey through Trieste with Maserati”, Monocle connects the city’s rich coffee culture and heritage with the Italian carmaker’s design philosophy. The journey leads from Trieste’s historic coffee houses along the coastal roads and into the vineyard-covered countryside.

The occasion is the 100th anniversary of Maserati’s iconic Trident, which first appeared on one of the brand’s racing cars in 1926. The emblem was designed by Mario Maserati, inspired by the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna.

Maserati’s Head of Design, Klaus Busse, describes the brand’s cars as “rolling sculptures”. At the Centro Stile in Modena, designers still create traditional plaster models to study shapes and surfaces firsthand. “It was important to create something that connects people through beauty,” says Klaus Busse.

A particular highlight is the matte Green Jupiter finish, whose shifting shades of green and blue interact with the light and colours of the surrounding landscape. Powered by a 590 hp Nettuno V6 engine, the GranCabrio Trofeo is presented as both a design object and a sporty grand tourer.

Roderick’s photo series captures natural light and the interplay between automotive design, architecture and the Mediterranean landscape.

GoSee: monocle.com & kristinakorb.com