Trieste welcomes Spring with many outdoor events. There are many to choose from covering everything from sports to literary events. But the ones that really mark the thaw of the city from Winter’s grip are among my favorites : Trieste in Fiore, Castelli Aperti and Horti Tergestini.
Trieste in Fiore is the annual garden and flower show & market held in Viale XX Settembre usually in the third week in March. From Largo Don Francesco Bonifacio all the way up to Teatro Rossetti, the entire Boulevard is filled with kiosks and stands.
They carry a vast selection of fruit trees, garden plants of every variety, roses, cacti, perennials, annuals and more. Mixed in among them are kiosks selling handmade all natural soaps & lavendar sachets, artisans selling jewelry or dried flower arrangements, candles, linens and table cloths. There are also food stands offering small producer cheeses, cured meats and breads. The festival lasts one week and one never comes away empty-handed. It is the true kick-off to Spring and often coincides with the first flowering of the trees around town and in the Carso.
The second event is Castelli Aperti FVG, this is a region wide event. Both Castles held by the local counties and those still held privately are opened up to the public. Events marking this special weekend (usually held in the Spring in April and one in the Fall around October) are tours of the castles, historic reinactments, wine tastings, food markets, crafts fairs, etc. It is fun because they become day trips as they are not too far from Trieste and you get to enjoy the countryside and visit these beautiful historic sites and homes while enjoying local flavors.
The third event, in mid April, is Horti Tergestini. This is a beautiful garden & home show and market that takes place inside the expansive, beautiful gardens of the ex-Psychiatric Hospital of Trieste, Parco San Giovanni. It also coincides with the blooming of the park’s famous rose garden. This event includes everything from plants, to crafts, to artisanal products. In addition there are activities for the whole family; presentations and classes about gardening and nature, there are theatrical performances, book readings, live music etc. The park also has a very nice family friendly restaurant and both there and in the rose garden one can find live music all spring and summer long.
Also in full swing starting in mid-March are the Botanical Garden of Trieste Civico Orto Botanico, and the Giardino Botanico Carsiana dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Carso.
Trieste is an active city that is loved and supported by its citizens and they are always eager to participate in any and all events! There are many scheduled everyday, year-round which are open to the public and often free. One thing you can never complain about in Trieste is that they have nothing to do, so get out there and soak up sun and the city!
Discover Trieste from those who know it best!! 