by InTrieste
A three-day celebration of vintage automobiles will return to this northeastern Italian city from May 8 to 10, as organizers present the 35th edition of the “Città di Trieste” Historic Car Rally.
The event, introduced this week at the city’s Civic Museum of Oriental Art, marks two notable milestones: the 90th anniversary of the Fiat Topolino, one of Italy’s most iconic small cars, and the 60th anniversary of the Automotoclub Storico Italiano, the national body dedicated to preserving historic vehicles.
Organized by the Club Amici della Topolino Trieste, the rally has evolved beyond a gathering of collectors into a broader cultural event that intertwines automotive history with the region’s landscape and heritage. Founded in 1989, the club has long promoted the preservation of vintage vehicles as artifacts of industrial design and social history.
City officials described the rally as an opportunity to highlight Trieste’s role as a cultural crossroads. “The event offers a chance to showcase the city and its identity to visitors,” said Francesco di Paola Panteca, president of the City Council, during the presentation.
This year’s edition, titled “Sapori e Palazzi” (“Flavors and Palaces”), will open on Friday afternoon with a public conference examining the challenges and opportunities surrounding historic cars, including regulatory frameworks and sustainability concerns.
On Saturday, participating vehicles will follow a scenic route beginning in Basovizza, crossing the Karst plateau to Opicina, and continuing to the Porto Vecchio waterfront. The program includes visits to the Magazzino 26 exhibition space and the Museo del Mare, linking automotive heritage with the city’s maritime past.
Sunday’s events will bring the rally into the city center, where the cars will be displayed in Piazza Ponterosso. Visitors will be able to view the vehicles up close and speak with their owners, alongside guided tours of municipal buildings and historic palaces. A closing awards ceremony is scheduled for midday.
Organizers have also incorporated a charitable component, with a fundraising initiative supporting a local association that assists children undergoing surgery and their families.
The rally will conclude with a procession to Grignano, where participants will gather for a final lunch.
Additional exhibitions, free and open to the public, will be held across the city and surrounding plateau, extending the event’s reach beyond traditional automotive enthusiasts.
Now in its 35th year, the “Città di Trieste” rally continues to draw a diverse audience, using vintage cars not only as objects of admiration but as vehicles for telling a broader story about Italy’s technological and cultural past.
