by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Serena Tonel, Vice Mayor of Trieste and Councillor for Economic Policies; Nadia Bellina, President of the Consorzio Centro in Via Insieme a Opicina – Skupaj na Opčinah
Opicina will celebrate its patron saint, San Bartolomeo Apostolo, from Aug. 20 to 24 with a program combining religious ceremonies, local traditions and community activities.
Organized by the Consorzio Centro in Via Insieme a Opicina, the parish of San Bartolomeo Apostolo and the City of Trieste, the festival will take place around the church on Via di Prosecco.
The five-day program includes guided visits to Opicina’s bunkers, orienteering, a historic Trieste tram on display at the Opicina station, a street market, children’s activities and a chess tournament. The market, “Un pozzo di occasioni,” will take place Saturday along Via Nazionale, Strada per Vienna and Via di Prosecco, featuring antiques, collectibles, crafts and vintage items.
Religious celebrations include a bilingual Mass Saturday evening and Slovene and Italian Masses on Sunday, followed by a procession around the church. On Monday, the feast day of San Bartolomeo, Mass at 7 p.m. will be followed by a concert featuring accordionist Aleksander Ipavec and guitarist Marko Feri.
The festival also highlights Opicina’s Slovene-Italian cultural heritage and its role as a gathering place for residents and visitors during the summer.
