di Sergio Mauri
A very interesting topic of Trieste is that on theatres. Trieste has one of the highest percentage of
theatres to inhabitants in Italy. This town confirms its old and deeply rooted tradition theatre-going
and, in particular, for opera and symphonic events. The Giuseppe Verdi theatre was built in 1801 and
is a mixture, in its architectural style, between the Fenice theatre in Venice and the Scala of Milano.
It is spectacular in its location and its magical mitteleuropean atmosphere of Piazza Unità d’Italia, just
opposite the Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta, historically connected with the vibrant life of the Giuseppe
Verdi theatre in hte past two hundred years.
By the same atmosphere, you can have a delicious “reinforced aperitif” at the Duchi place, as an
“Avant-theatre” on the evening of your preferred show. You can even have a dinner at the Harry’s
Grill, on the Duchi’s ground floor.
Anyway, you cannot lack to visit the Schmidl Museum of music. It is a civic museum which
documents the history of the theatre and music in town since 1700s. This museum contains a rich and
vast collection of programmes, posters, musical instruments and signed manuscripts.
However, don’t forget to visit the Politeama Rossetti theatre, which is one of the most important in
Italy – both artistically and economically – and the most important Foundation in the town. The place
was projected by Nicolò Bruno and is shaped in an eclectic style, which is very widespread in town.
The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and
educational opportunities, use to perform its cultural events in this amazing theatre.