Exhibition ‘The photo library in the square. Snapshots of history and stories’

Description

Over forty photographers (including Carlo and Giuseppe Wulz, Ferdinando Ramann, Carlo Wernigg, Pietro Opiglia, Adriano de Rota, Ugo Borsatti, the Giornalfoto agency, Tullio Stravisi, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Franco Fontana and Marino Sterle) document moments, faces, gestures and atmospheres. The oldest views show a bustling square flanked by a nineteenth-century garden: shops, barbers, street vendors and stalls, crowded trams, hotels and cafés. In the background, sailing ships evoke the city's historical role as an imperial port. Other images recount iconic moments: the wait for the ships in 1918, the tragic days of 1953 and the excitement of 1954 when Trieste returned to Italy. There are also shots of unforgettable glimpses of everyday life, such as the square lashed by the bora wind, the filming of Senilità, with a young Claudia Cardinale, sporting events and the eventful history of the Fountain of the Four Continents. The visual and symbolic heart of Trieste's identity, the square is a highly lived-in habitat, a crossroads of social tensions, pressures and identity issues, a proscenium where the city questions itself and tells its story generation after generation through the inexhaustible language of photography. 
You can also see everyday objects and curiosities: the mandolin on sale at Carlo Schmidl's shop, barbers' razors, coffee cups and a cup with a moustache guard from the late 19th century. The exhibition is further enhanced by unpublished materials, historic cameras and tourist guides, making the visit an engaging and surprising experience.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Monday and Tuesday).
Free admission

Organized by:

Servizio Promozione Turistica, Musei, Eventi Culturali e Sportivi del Comune di Trieste