by InTrieste
Interview: FVG governor, Massimiliano Fedriga
Italian singer-songwriter Elisa inaugurated a new regional music initiative Friday evening with a performance aboard the Italian Navy’s training ship Palinuro, launching the first edition of the Floating Festival in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The event, conceived by Elisa and her sister, reflects the artist’s deep personal connection to the sea and her native city of Trieste. Speaking during a presentation on the ship earlier in the day, Elisa emphasized the importance of nature and family in shaping the idea behind the concert series. “The sea has always been part of our lives,” she said. “We wanted to create something that honored that bond through music.”
The festival also carries a broader message. In remarks delivered at the event, Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, described the initiative as “extraordinary,” highlighting its potential to promote both the region’s cultural offerings and a message of peace at a time of ongoing global conflict.
The opening concert, titled Tramonti a Nord Est (“Sunsets in the Northeast”), takes place Friday evening at Molo Audace in Trieste, with performances from Tananai, rapper Gemitaiz, and DJ/producer Mace. The event begins at 7:00 p.m., with public access allowed via pedestrian entry at Piazza Unità d’Italia (sector Red) until 6:30 p.m. The concert is hosted on the Palinuro, with full accessibility features provided through the OpenArts project, including audio description for blind attendees and real-time subtitles for deaf audiences.
The festival continues Saturday, June 28, in Monfalcone’s Gulf of Panzano. The performance will be held on board the Caicco Tango, with audiences attending by boat (maximum vessel length: 10 meters). The show begins at 5:30 p.m. and features Elisa, Samuel, Shablo, and special guests including Joshua and Rkomi.
The final event takes place Sunday, June 29, in the Grado lagoon, again designed for an on-water audience. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the lineup includes Emma, Dardust, and a closing set by Elisa. Boat access (up to 6 meters in length) is required, with entry allowed until 4:30 p.m.
With the Adriatic coastline as its stage, the Floating Festival brings together music, seascape, and cultural inclusivity in a format that organizers hope to establish as a recurring summer celebration.
