by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Maurizio De Blasio, councilor for Education and Family Policy, Comune di Trieste; Riccardo Cepach, head of the Museum LETS–Letteratura Trieste; Guido Corso, Director of Rai Friuli Venezia Giulia
The voices of some of Trieste’s most celebrated writers — Giani Stuparich, Carolus Cergoly, Fulvio Tomizza and Biagio Marin — will soon echo through the halls of Palazzo Biserini. The recordings, drawn from the historic archives of Rai Friuli Venezia Giulia, will be unveiled as part of the first anniversary celebrations of the city’s new literary hub, the Museum LETS–Letteratura Trieste.
Since opening its doors on Sept. 12, 2024, the museum has attracted more than 52,000 visitors, a figure city officials say underscores the public’s appetite for a space dedicated to the region’s rich literary heritage. “It is a place of encounter, dialogue, study, and preservation of our artistic and literary patrimony,” said Maurizio De Blasio, Trieste’s councillor for education and family policy, at a press conference announcing the anniversary events.
The museum’s first year has been marked not only by visitor numbers but also by a broad program of exhibitions, lectures, readings and collaborations with local and international institutions. Highlights have included annual events honoring Italo Svevo, Umberto Saba and James Joyce, as well as visits by authors such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Mauro Covacich and Veit Heinichen.
To mark the anniversary, a documentary dedicated to the museum, produced by Rai Fvg and directed by Tanja Marmai, will premiere on Sept. 12 at the museum’s Forum Hall. The film, curated by Roberta Sangermano, will later be broadcast on Rai 3 and made available on Rai Play.
The same evening, visitors will hear for the first time archival audio of Marin, Stuparich, Cergoly and Tomizza, presented by Alessandro Spanghero, head of the broadcaster’s archives. “This collaboration adds historical and cultural value,” Mr. De Blasio said. “Personally, I come here both to pause and to learn.”
In its first 12 months, the museum has hosted around 160 guided tours, including special programs for preschool children, alongside more than 60 public events. Its collaborations have spanned universities, poetry associations, literary festivals and international institutions such as the James Joyce Center in Dublin.
The anniversary will be observed on Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the museum’s Forum Hall. Entry is free until capacity is reached.
