by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Christina Dow – Austrian writer and journalist, author of the book La mia Trieste nascosta, Alessia Mannella – translator and colleague
Trieste’s mayor, Roberto Dipiazza, welcomed the journalist Christina Dow to City Hall on Wednesday afternoon, marking the release of her latest book, La mia Trieste nascosta (“My Hidden Trieste”). Dow was accompanied by her colleague Alessia Mannella.
The meeting took place in the Salotto Azzurro, an ornate reception room often used for official engagements. Dipiazza described the book as a thoughtful contribution to the city’s cultural narrative, noting its role in highlighting Trieste’s identity beyond its more familiar landmarks.
Dow, who divides her time between Austria and Trieste, has developed a close connection to the city over recent years. Her first book on the subject, Mein Triest, was published in German. The new volume, available in German, English, and Italian, expands on that work with a broader, more personal exploration.
Drawing on interviews with residents, Dow compiled 177 recommendations spanning cafés, restaurants, traditional buffets, pastry shops, osmize, and producers from the Karst region. The book blends these local insights with reflections on her own experience living in Trieste.
Mannella, originally from Bergamo and now based in Trieste, contributed to the Italian translation and collaborates with Dow on cultural and food-focused tours that promote the region, particularly its wine producers.
During the meeting, Dipiazza also outlined the ongoing redevelopment of Porto Vecchio—now referred to as Porto Vivo—a large-scale urban regeneration project transforming the historic Habsburg-era port into a mixed-use district intended to connect the city’s past with its future.
The encounter concluded with an exchange of gifts between the mayor and his guests.
