by InTrieste
Interview: Andreina Contessa, director of the Miramare Museum
A long-awaited announcement from Miramare has captured attention this week: the return of the Egyptian collection from Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, set to headline the next major exhibition at the historic site just outside Trieste. This news comes as part of a broader reflection on the transformation of the Miramare cultural complex, coinciding with the conclusion of Andreina Contessa’s eight-year directorship.
Contessa, who took the helm of the institution in 2017, is stepping down after nearly a decade of reshaping Miramare into what many now consider a fully integrated cultural destination—far beyond the postcard-perfect image of its iconic castle overlooking the Adriatic.
To mark the end of her tenure, a public conference was held at the headquarters of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the same place where Contessa first laid out her vision for Miramare. Titled “Miramare, Nature That Inspires Culture”, the event featured discussions on the site’s evolution, moderated by Il Piccolo’s editor Fabrizio Brancoli.
In his opening remarks, Brancoli noted the shift in how the site is perceived and presented: from a focus primarily on the romantic image of the castle and the biographies of its founders, to a broader narrative encompassing the entire estate. This includes the botanical gardens, associated historical buildings, and an emphasis on biodiversity and landscape history.
Under Contessa’s leadership, the museum narrative was expanded and diversified. What began as emergency stabilization work across key structures soon evolved into a comprehensive restoration and enhancement campaign. The efforts touched not only the castle itself and its permanent collection but also extended to several outbuildings and the surrounding parklands.
The transformation has yielded notable results. Data presented during the conference highlighted significant growth in visitor numbers and revealed insights into the changing demographics and expectations of those who come to Miramare. The site now attracts a more varied audience, drawn by both its natural beauty and its expanding cultural offerings.
While the return of the Egyptian collection is expected to be a major cultural event, many see it as a fitting symbol of a chapter that is closing—and a new one just beginning. As Miramare looks to the future, the legacy of Contessa’s directorship may be remembered most for the way it redefined the potential of a site once frozen in time.
