“...the Milwaukee of the Adriatic.”

[j e l]

of possible interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rijeka#Regency_of_Carnaro

see also PIRATE UTOPIA by Bruce Sterling (2016):

https://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2016/11/16/pirate-utopia-by-bruce-sterling/

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/bruce-sterling/pirate-utopia/

--jel