by Nina Vaclavikova
We wandered through downtown Trieste to gauge whether locals were already easing into the holiday spirit ahead of Friday’s unusually full program. This year’s festivities mark one of the most ambitious Christmas seasons in recent memory. Piazza Unità will become the city’s luminous centerpiece, with twenty-four decorated firs, a towering comet star, and carolers warming the square before the ceremonial lighting led by Mayor Roberto Dipiazza. Music will spill from the historic center into the rioni, where local bands and choirs bring holiday cheer to neighborhood piazzas. Civic museums will anchor the cultural offering with theatrical tours, special exhibitions, and hands-on activities for children, from treasure hunts at San Giusto Castle to sensory workshops at the Revoltella. A holiday promotion for the Museum Card—€15 for a year of unlimited access—underscores Trieste’s effort to turn the season into a celebration of culture, community identity, and shared public space.
