WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

19-21 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.

CARRIAGE RIDES On Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December from 11-13 and 14.30-19.30, there will be horse-drawn vintage carriages giving free rides around Piazza Unita’ in Trieste town centre.

EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKET Until 22 December in and around Piazza Sant’Antonio there is the annual Christmas market open daily from 9-20.  In the same square you can visit the “live” nativity scene.  Open from 10-12 and 16-19 until 30 December.
This Sunday 21 December, there is also the monthly antiques market in and around Trieste’s old town behind Piazza Unita’.

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
Friday 19 December at 20:30 in the S. Pio X church in via Revoltella 132 there will be a Christmas concert by the Chiara Schumann female choir and the Max Reger male voice choir.

Throughout the region the annual “Nativitas” choral festival is taking place.  Here are some of the concerts in the Trieste area over the next few days: Saturday 20 December at 18:00 in the main hall of the Ferdinandeo, 20:30 in the Ss Pietro e Paolo Church.  On Sunday 21 December at 16:30 in the Immacolato Cuore di Maria Church, at 17:00 and 20:45 in the Ss Andrea e Rita Church.  For more information you can consult the whole calendar of events on the following site: http://www.uscifvg.it/calendario_2008.htm

On Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 December at 18:00, there will be evenings of literature, music and poetry taking place at the Antico Caffe’ San Marco (via Battisti 18).  Full programme details here: http://www.altamareatrieste.eu/docs/La_Parola_alla_Scrittura_2008_programma.pdf.  Free entrance.

Final concert in the programme of ‘Mattinate Musicali’ in the Auditorium of the Museo Revoltella (via Diaz 27) on Sunday 21 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 poetry by Tennyson accompanied by music by Strauss.  Until 1 February, there is an exhibition dedicated to Triestine artist Federico Righi, to commemorate the centenary of his birth on display in the museum.  More info on the site: www.museorevoltella.it.

On Saturday 20 December at 17:00 in Piazza Marconi in Muggia there will be a gospel concert by the American “Grace and Mercy” choir. Also in Muggia, on Sunday 21 December at 16:30, there will be a concert of Christmas music by local bands and children’s choirs in the Duomo. 

On Sunday 21 December from 17:30, starting in via San Lazzaro and culminating in a grand final in piazza Unita at 19:00, there will be a parade and performances by local brass bands.

EXHIBITIONS
New art exhibition in the Sala Fittke in Piazza Piccola 3 in Trieste from 20 December- 1 January.  Entitled “Gioia di un Bimbo”, the theme is motherhood.  Open daily from 10-13 and 17-20.  Free entrance.

New art gallery in Trieste: Galleria San Giusto in Via Conti 1/2.
There is a group art exhibition "LA TRACCIA D'ARGENTO" by 30 Italian and foreign artists. 
Entrance free. The show will be on until 11 January 2009, Mondays to Fridays, from 18-20.

Photographic exhibition by Valentina Oppezzo entitled “Toys” until 6 January in the Sala Comunale d’Arte in Piazza Unita’. Daily from 10-13 and 17-20. Free entrance.

Photographic exhibition entitled “MagieSottoAcqua” organized by various deep-sea diving clubs is on display until 15 January in the Hotel Continentale  in via San Nicolo’ 25.

Typical traditional model Italian nativity scenes are on display until 15 January at the Museo della Tradizione Presepistica (via dei Giardini 16). Open Mon-Sat 15-18 and  on Sundays from 10-12 and 15-18, and also in Palazzo Costanzi (Piazza Piccola 2) until 6 January daily from 10-13 and 16-19.

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”.

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.

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.  Until 11 January there is an art exhibition entitled “Bellezza e Bonta’”, with the pictures on display being sold for charity. 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