by InTrieste
In the year it marked its 100th anniversary, Osteria da Marino, a longstanding fixture of Trieste’s social life, has become the subject of a new book that traces a century of local history through the life of a single tavern.
Titled “Osteria da Marino: A Triestine Story Spanning a Century,” the volume is written by Micol Brusaferro and Francesca Sarocchi and will be officially presented on December 16 at 6 p.m. at the osteria itself. The book offers a portrait not only of a business, but of a place that has mirrored the city’s daily rhythms and collective memory for generations.
The project was developed in collaboration with the current owners, Ivan Glavinic and Niels Guermonprez, who took over the historic osteria in recent years. Both in their thirties, they chose continuity over reinvention, keeping the interior unchanged and preserving relationships with former managers and long-standing patrons. Their approach reflects a desire to protect what many consider an essential part of Trieste’s cultural fabric.
The idea for the book originated with Sarocchi, who, together with Brusaferro, collected and organized stories, anecdotes, and recollections tied to the osteria. The result is a narrative that blends documented history with oral memory, capturing the atmosphere of a place where everyday life and the unexpected have often intersected.
Among the episodes recounted are stories that border on the surreal: a horse reportedly led inside by its owner for a drink, a television set thrown into the street by a resident during a moment of neighborhood drama, and elaborate, sometimes invented tales designed to amuse or astonish customers late into the evening. The book also recalls the presence of well-known figures who stopped by after concerts or performances in the city, lingering into the night in a setting that offered familiarity rather than formality.
Beyond individual anecdotes, the book emphasizes the role of Osteria da Marino as a social anchor. For many, it appears repeatedly in personal histories as a “second home”—a place to meet friends, classmates, colleagues, or simply to feel part of a community. Over the course of a century marked by political changes, economic shifts, and evolving social habits, the osteria has retained its identity as a traditional, welcoming gathering place.
The book’s preface is written by Trieste’s mayor, Roberto Dipiazza, who describes a personal connection to the osteria and situates it within the broader narrative of the city. His contribution underscores the extent to which Osteria da Marino is intertwined with public as well as private memory, bridging generations of Triestines.
The public presentation on December 16 will feature both authors and include music by DJ Wandervogel, turning the launch into a community event rather than a conventional literary introduction. In keeping with the spirit of the project, the book will be sold exclusively at Osteria da Marino.
Published by White Cocal Press, the independent imprint founded by Diego Manna, the volume features a cover designed by Sara Paschini. Modest in scale but rich in detail, the book positions the osteria not as a nostalgic relic, but as a living place—one that continues to evolve while remaining recognizably itself.
In telling the story of Osteria da Marino, Brusaferro and Sarocchi offer a lens on Trieste itself: a city where history is often preserved not only in monuments and archives, but around small tables, shared glasses, and stories passed from one generation to the next.
