WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

20-22 February 2009

CARNIVAL This weekend there will be carnival celebrations in and around Trieste.  Here are some of the events taking place: Until 24 February, there is a market in viale XX Settembre daily from 9-21, with music and entertainment for children from 16-18. Muggia is the main local focal point at Carnival time.  On Sunday, from 13.30, there will be the annual carnival parade through the streets, which is attended by thousands.  All weekend, there will be live music and dancing in the town’s piazza from mid-afternoon and throughout the evening.  On Sunday 22 February at 10:30, starting in piazza Marconi, there will be a free guided tour of Muggia.  Alternatively, on Saturday 21 February, you could take the tram from piazza Oberdan up to Opicina and watch the “Carnevale Carsico”, with the parade starting at 14:00.  The parade in Trieste takes place on the last day of Carnival, next Tuesday 24 February, Mardi Gras starting at 14:00 in piazza Oberdan and ending in piazza Unita.  On Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, there will be entertainment and activities for children in 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

EXHIBITIONS: Multimedia exhibition at the Immaginario Scientifico in Grignano entitled "Tempi e Stratempi" exploring meteorological phenomena is open until 14 June every Sunday from 10-20.  More info on http://www.immaginarioscientifico.it/ and 040-224424.

Inauguration Friday 20 February at 17:30 at Palazzo Costanzi (piazza Piccola, 2) of the exhibition by the artist Roberto D’Ambrosio, entitled ’40 anni di pittura’ (40 years of painting).  Open until 29 March daily from 10-13 and 17-20. Free entrance.

In the historic Caffé Tommaseo (piazza Tommaseo near piazza Unità) there is a personal exhibition by Alberto Sarcina of post-impressionistic paintings. Visible until 22 February 2009 during the caffé’s opening hours. More info on 040-362666.

Until 24 February 2009, in the Sala Comunale d’Arte in piazza Unità in Trieste, you can see an exhibition of works by the artist Marco Miot.  Open daily from 10-13 and 17-20.  Entrance free.

I rioni in mostra: Dal seppia ai colori: Images and documents detailing the history of Trieste’s different districts. Open until 27 February at Mittelnet in via San Giorgio 7/a. Monday-Friday from 9-13 and 15.30-18. Free entrance.

At the Sala del Giubileo (riva III novembre 2, on the waterfront near piazza Untita’) there is an exhibition by the Parisian artist, Vincent Brunot, entitled “Panorama Trieste”, a collection of drawings and watercolours prepared over a period of ten years since 1999. Open until 28 February daily from 17-19.  Free entrance.

At the “Factory-Art” contemporary gallery (via Duca d’Aosta, 6/a) until 28 March the Triestine artist Beatrice Crastini will be displaying her project “How much time do you have?” which focuses on the huge amount of time wasted daily waiting: queuing at the bank, post office, supermarket, hanging on the telephone etc. Empty time, which we cannot reclaim.  From Tuesday to Saturday 17-20.

To mark “Darwin Day”, the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin, Trieste’s Aquarium (molo Pescheria, 2 on the waterfront) has prepared a special exhibition of “Nature anomale” (nature’s anomalies).  Open daily from 9-13. Closed Mondays.  Entrance costs 4.50 euro for adults and 3 euro for children over the age of 5 and young people up to the age of 20.  The ticket is also valid for entrance to the rest of the aquarium’s exhibits.

Until 27 February, the artist Giuseppe Senigaglia will be displaying his paintings of local lagoon scenes entitled “Una finestra sulla laguna” in the Galleria Rettori Tribbio 2 (piazza Vecchio 6).  Open daily from 10-12.30 and 17-19.30. Sundays 11-12.30. Closed Mondays. 

CONFERENCE:  On Saturday 21 February at 10:00 in the sala convegni Friulia (via Locchi, 21b – take bus 30 and get off at the last stop), there will be a conference (in Italian) entitled “I cambiamenti climatici e le ricadute sul nostro territorio”.

MUSIC:  Live performance in Bar Crispi (in via Crispi) by the group “Wet-tones” at 21 on Friday 20 February.

Saturday 21 February from 18.30-22 in the Caffé Orizzonte (via San Spiridione 12) live music by the “Tri-Gliceridi” band. Free entrance.

CINEMA:  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.

TOURS IN TRIESTE AND SURROUNDINGS:  Guided Tour on foot of Trieste’s historical monuments (in Italian and English) at 10:00 each Saturday and Sunday.
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: The cave is considered the largest tourist cave in the world.  It is situated on the Triestine Karst (Carso), about half an hour from the city centre. 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. Entrance costs Euro 8.50 per person, and Euro 4.50 for a group of 15.  More info online: www.grottagigante.it.

Faro della Vittoria – Lighthouse visits: Trieste’s lighthouse in Strada del Friuli, built as a monument to the fallen of the First World War, has 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 6.35.  If you prefer to go by road, bus 20 from the railway station takes you all the way to the centre of Muggia.  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 during the winter months.  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 is considered one of the most attractive castles in Europe and is still the official residence of the Torre e Tasso royal family.  From its cliff-top location it overlooks the small fishing village of Duino, and it is surrounded by extensive gardens.  Inside you can see the furnishings, pictures, books and mementos collected over centuries.  In the grounds you can visit a World War 2 bunker. Take bus nr. 51 (the airport bus) or bus 44 (city bus 44 from Piazza Oberdan) to the centre of Duino, right outside the castle gates.. 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 3 May, 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