WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

11-14 December 2008

ICE_SKATING The ice-skating rink set up each year for Christmas in Piazza Verdi is 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
Penultimate concert in the programme of ‘Mattinate Musicali’ in the Auditorium of the Museo Revoltella (via Diaz 27) on Sunday 14 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 Bach, Hindemith, Bellini and Visnovitz by the Nuova Orchestra “Ferruccio Busoni”.  More info on the site: www.museorevoltella.it.

As part of the pre-festive outdoor celebrations taking place in Muggia, there will be a concert by the Gypsy Quartet Remake in Piazza Marconi on Saturday 13 December at 17:00.   At 10:30 on Sunday 14 December, the local orchestra, Filarmonica di Santa Barbara, will be playing in the streets and squares of Muggia’s town centre. From 9:00-19:00 in Piazza della Repubblica and surrounding roads there will be a flea market and Christmas Fair.

On Sunday 14 December at 16:00, there will be a puppet show entitled “Storie e Meraviglie” in Piazza della Borsa in Trieste performed by the Teodor Marionettes.

On Saturday 13 December in Piazza Unita’ in Trieste from 17:30 onwards, there will be live music by the Boogie Nights band who will play a selection of disco hits from the 70s and 80s, as well as Christmas music.  Krapfen and mulled wine will be on offer.

Magic shows at the Torri d’Europa shopping centre this weekend.  On Saturday 13 December, there will be two shows for children on the third floor in the food and drinks area, one at 16:30 and the other at 17:45.  From 15:30, clowns will be making animals from balloons for all the children present.  On Sunday, from 15:30 to 19:30 there will be various magicians performing Close-up Magic.

Live concert “The Colour of Gospel” in Piazza della Repubblica in nearby Monfalcone (airport bus 51 stops right by the square) on Sunday 14 December at 17:00.  There is also a Christmas market in the square.

EXHIBITIONS
Opening of new art gallery in Trieste: Galleria San Giusto on Thursday 11th December at 6.30 pm in Via Conti 1/2 .
There will be a group art exhibition "LA TRACCIA D'ARGENTO" by 30 Italian and foreign artists. 
Entrance free and refreshments offered until 20.   The show will be on until 11 January 2009, daily from 18-20. For Info call : 3493162541

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”.

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.

Last chance to see 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.

SPORT
On Sunday 14 December at 10:30 there will be the annual Corsa di Natale fun-run around the centre of Trieste, open to families, fun-runners and runners with dogs.  Sign up from 9:00 in the ‘sala matrimoni’ in piazza Unita.  5 euro per person, or per family.  The run is over 5km, starting and ending in Piazza Unita.  Prizes and gadgets for participants.

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.

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