by InTrieste
The monthly street market known as “Un pozzo di occasioni” returns on Saturday, April 25, bringing antiques, crafts, and collectibles back to the streets of the Carso district above Opicina. The event, organized by the cultural association Cose di Vecchie Case in cooperation with the Municipality of Trieste, continues its regular schedule on the fourth Saturday of each month in 2026.
Opening at 8 a.m. with free admission, the market will line the sidewalks of Via Nazionale, Strada per Vienna, and Via di Prosecco. It brings together exhibitors from across the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, offering a curated mix of small antiques, modern collectibles, handmade crafts, and hobbyist creations.
Organizers describe the initiative as both a cultural and economic effort aimed at supporting the Opicina area by increasing foot traffic and encouraging visitors from Trieste and beyond. Local businesses are expected to benefit from the influx of visitors, which typically includes both residents and tourists.
The market’s offering ranges from vinyl records, comic books, miniatures, and model kits to a wide variety of collectible objects appealing to enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. Alongside vintage items, artisans present handcrafted goods made from wood, glass, and ceramics, as well as decorative pieces such as pressed-flower compositions, painted stones, and artistic glassware. Traditional crafts including lacework, embroidery, and crochet are also featured, along with handmade jewelry, soaps, and painted textiles.
The event takes its name from a historic site nearby: the Stele of Zinzendorf, located at the intersection of Strada per Vienna and Via di Prosecco, where a well once stood. The monument commemorates Karl von Zinzendorf, who served as governor of Trieste from 1776 to 1782 and played a key role in developing regional infrastructure and trade routes linking the Adriatic to Central Europe.
Zinzendorf promoted the construction of a major commercial road network connecting Trieste to Vienna and further into Central Europe, reinforcing Opicina’s position as a strategic crossroads. In 1780, a commemorative stele was erected in the area to honor Emperor Joseph II and Empress Maria Theresa, reflecting the imperial ambitions behind the project. A postal station was also built nearby, including a cistern that once provided water to the local community; its stone basin is now preserved in Trieste’s Lapidarium.
The market is scheduled to return on May 23, weather permitting. Organizers note that in the event of strong wind or heavy rain, the May edition will be canceled.
