ICE_SKATING The ice-skating rink set up each year for Christmas in Piazza Verdi opens on Thursday 4 December.  Open daily from 10-23 until 11 January 2009.

MUSEUMS The following website gives details of all museums in Trieste and the surrounding region: http://www.museifriuliveneziagiulia.it/ www.turismo.fvg.it

MUSIC AND CONCERTS
Seventh concert in the programme of ‘Mattinate Musicali’ in the Auditorium of the Museo Revoltella (via Diaz 27) on Sunday 7 December 2008 at 11:00.  Ticket 6 Euro which also gives entrance to the museum’s collections.  This week’s concert will be a performance of music by Schubert and Schumann by a female choir from the Cappella Civica di Trieste accompanied by a pianist.  More info on the site: www.museorevoltella.it.

An evening of poetry by Emily Dickinson, entitled “Gli Angeli”, performed (in Italian) by Ariella Reggio with piano accompaniment, at the Caffé San Marco (via Battisti 18) on Friday 5 December at 18:00.  Free entrance.

On Monday 8 December at 20:00, at the Teatro Rossetti (viale xx Settembre 45), there will be a concert by two choirs and the Fanfare of the “Alpini” of the Brigata Alpina Julia entitled “Aspettiamo il Natale con gli Alpini”.  Tickets cost 2 Euro and the proceeds from sales will be donated to missionaries working in Iriamurai in Kenya. Tickets available from the theatre box office and the Ticket Point in Corso Italia.

As part of the pre-festive celebrations taking place in Muggia, there will be a concert by the choir from Obervellach (Muggia’s twin town in Austria), at 10am on Sunday 7 December 2008 in the Duomo in piazza Marconi.

On Sunday 7 December at 11am, there will be a puppet show in Piazza della Borsa in Trieste performed by the Teodor Marionettes.

On Monday 8 December from 17-19:30, in Piazza Goldoni in Trieste, there will be a performance of music and dancing by the “Holzhockar” group from Sappada.  Roast chestnuts and ‘ribolla’ wine will be available.

EXHIBITIONS
Until 7 January 2009, in and around the “ghetto” area of Trieste there is an exhibition of contemporary art, entitled “Nativitas-La luce della Maternita” on show in the bars and shops of the zone who display the logo “Voci dal ghetto”.

New exhibition entitled “L’Arte al femminile” which displays works by female artists opens Saturday 6 December in the Sala Arturo Fitke (piazza Piccola 3).  Daily until 17 December from 10-13 and 17-20. Free entrance.

Photographic exhibition in the Sala Comunale d’Arte (piazza Unita, 4) by Silvia Persi entitled “Trieste a 360°”. Open until 14 December 10-13 and 17-20. Free entrance.

Photographic exhibition at the Caffé San Marco in via Battisti, 18 (closed Monday) entitled “Bosnia Erzegovina – Uno sguardo al futuro” by Ljubisa Selic, a Serbian photoreporter and the triestine journalist and writer Erika Mattea Vida. Open until 7 January 2009 from 8:30-23:00.  The images are also on display in “La via degli artisti viaggi” in via degli Artist, 2 from Monday-Friday 9:00-19:00, Saturday 9:00-12:30. Closed Sunday.

Until 11 January 2009, an exhibition at the Acquario Marino (Molo Pescheria, 2) entitled Lussino: vivere tra mare e cielo, explores the fauna of the island of Lussino in the Adriatic Sea. Daily until 9-13. Closed Mondays. Entrance costs 4.50 Euro, children over 5 years 3 Euro, up to 5 years free. The entrance ticket also gives access to the rest of the acquarium’s exhibits.

Exhibition at the Immaginario Scientifico in Grignano until 28 December 2008, entitled Space Art.  Open every Sunday from 10-20.

Exhibition at the Civico Museo del Mare in via Campo Marzio 5.  “I Cosulich: una dinastia adriatica”, tracing the history of the great local shipping family.  Daily until 1 February 2009 from 8.30-13-30 and 16-19. Closed Monday. Tickets €3.50.

CINEMA and FILM CLUBS
Cinecity, Shopping Centre Torri d’Europa, Via D'Alviano 23. Bus 29, 8 and B. Check the movies at http://trieste.cinecity.it/. Earphones are available so you can listen to the original language for some films; please ask before buying your ticket.

FAIRS AND MARKETS
Until Monday 8 December, the traditional Fiera di San Nicolo’ is taking place in viale xx Settembre in Trieste.  On Saturday 6 December at 16:00, St. Nicholas will be at the Gazebo Informazioni in Largo Bonifacio to distribute sweets to children.  On Monday 8 December at 16:00, there will be the St. Nicholas parade, starting from the teatro Rossetti.

Sunday 6 December, as on every first Sunday in the month, there is the flea market in the “Il Giulia” shopping centre in via Giulia (bus number 6 stops right outside).  From 9.30-19:30.

TOURS IN TRIESTE AND SURROUNDINGS
Guided Tour on foot of Trieste’s historical monuments (in Italian and English) at 10:30 and at 16:00 on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (for this Fri and Sat see the above mentioned tour), Sundays only at 10:30.

The tour lasts 2 hours and costs Euro 5,00 (children under 12 go free).  Advance booking is necessary, please call the Tourist Bureau in Piazza Unità. Tel. 040-3478312. Email: info@turismo.fvg.it

Grotta Gigante – Giant Cave: This year the Grotta Gigante, the largest tourist cave in the world, is celebrating it’s centenary of opening to the public with an exhibition until 31 December in the visitor’s centre open 10-18 daily except Monday.  Visits to the cave itself take place every hour from 10-16.  Take bus 42 from Piazza Oberdan and get off at Borgo Grotta Sgonico.  It takes 5mins on foot, following the signs, to reach the cave. More info online: www.grottagigante.it.

Faro della Vittoria – Lighthouse visits: Trieste’s lighthouse in Strada del Friuli has just re-opened to the public.  You can visit it until March from 10-15 each Sunday and public holidays.

Val Rosandra Valley: If the weather is fine, it’s nice to take a walk along the paths of the Val Rosandra Valley midst the typical Carsic vegetation.  There are paths for varying abilities of walker, from the very easy up to those suitable for hikers.  There are easily accessible caves for speleology and archaeology lovers.  You can reach Val Rosandra by taking bus 40 from the railway station in Trieste and get off in Bagnoli della Rosandra.  A new visitors’ centre has recently been inaugurated.  Info Point has maps of the area if you require one.

Muggia
The boat linking Trieste with Muggia, a charming Istro-Venetian fishing village, runs all year. You get a great view of Trieste from the sea.  Catch the boat from Molo Pescheria on the seafront in the centre of Trieste, near Piazza Unita’.  Check schedules on www.triestetrasporti.it, under ‘servizi marittimi’. A return tickets costs Euro 6.05.  You can get information on Muggia here: www.muggia.info. 

CASTLES
Miramare Castle is very close to the ICTP and is open every day from 9:00 to 19:00. Entrance ticket to the Castle costs Euro 4.00 (Euro 2.00 up to 25 years). The park is open from 8:00–17:00.  Please note, if you opt for a late tour of the castle, the only route open to exit the park is ‘viale dei lecci’, leading towards the youth hostel. For more info: www.castello-miramare.it

Duino Castle, take bus nr. 51 (the airport bus) or bus 44 (city bus 44 from Piazza Oberdan). Visiting times: 9:30 to 16:00 at weekends only and on public holidays.  Entrance ticket to the castle Euro 4.50 for ICTP badge holders.  Children up to 6 do not pay, from 7-16 years Euro 3.50, full price Euro 7.  To arrange a guided tour phone: 040 208120. For more info: www.castellodiduino.it / info@castellodiduino.it

San Giusto Castle, take bus nr. 24 from the railway station.  Built between 1470 and 1630, the castle rises up from the hill in the heart of the old city. You can enjoy a full view of Trieste, visit the museum, the armoury and the lapidario tergestino. Outside the castle walls lies the cathedral built in the 14th century and in the surroundings, the remains of the ancient Roman city dating back to the first and second century. Until 25 January, there is an exhibition which focuses on life in Trieste during the Middle Ages. Visiting times: 9:00–19:00. Check the following website for a comprehensive list of opening times and entrance prices:

http://www.retecivica.trieste.it/triestecultura/new/musei.asp?pagina=musei_storia

Useful Websites
Restaurants in Trieste: http://www.vivalapappa.it/ristoranti/elenco.php/provincia=Trieste
Bus schedules in Trieste: www.triestetrasporti.it
Train timetables: www.trenitalia.it
Map itinerary: www.mappy.it
Ticket purchase for concerts in and out of Trieste: “Ticket Point” in Corso Italia 6/c tel: 040.3498277
Buses for trips outside Trieste: www.autostazionetrieste.it
Films on Trieste: http://it.youtube.com/triestecity