by Nina Vaclavikova
Thousands of spectators gathered along Piazza Unità d’Italia and Trieste’s waterfront on Tuesday evening to watch “Mille luci… sul mare,” a synchronized drone-light show organized by the City of Trieste and produced by Allumee Italia.
Instead of fireworks, 1,000 illuminated drones took to the sky above the San Giusto basin, forming a series of three-dimensional images accompanied by music. The 2026 edition doubled the number of drones used in last year’s show, allowing for more elaborate formations.
Crowds lined the waterfront, with many spectators holding smartphones aloft to photograph and record the display. The show was part of the city’s summer events program and was presented as a lower-impact alternative to traditional fireworks.
The event also prompted temporary restrictions along sections of the waterfront and nearby cycling routes during the performance, which began at 10 p.m.
