by InTrieste
A new cultural gem has been unveiled in Trieste, a city long known for its contributions to European modernist literature. The Museo LETS – Letteratura Trieste, which opened today in the heart of the city’s historic Piazza Hortis, is dedicated to the rich and diverse literary history of Trieste. The museum, located in the ground floor of the historic Palazzo Biserini, will open to the public tomorrow, Friday, September 13, welcoming visitors from around the world.
The Museo LETS is a unique space, designed to celebrate not only Trieste’s most renowned literary figures—Italo Svevo, James Joyce, and Umberto Saba—but also the wider constellation of writers and poets who have left an indelible mark on the city. Through multimedia installations, rare manuscripts, and immersive exhibits, the museum offers a vibrant and dynamic exploration of literature’s role in shaping the identity of Trieste.
Trieste’s literary history is interwoven with the lives of authors like Joyce, whose time in the city between 1904 and 1920 significantly influenced his seminal works, and Svevo, whose friendship with Joyce famously helped him break into the international literary scene. But beyond these towering figures, LETS aims to shine a light on lesser-known but equally important voices from the city, such as Scipio Slataper, Giani Stuparich, and the contemporary novelist Susanna Tamaro.
“LETS is a small but precious addition to our city’s cultural offerings,” said Claudio Magris, one of Trieste’s most celebrated contemporary writers, during his keynote speech at the museum’s inauguration. “It enriches not just Trieste, but anyone with a love for literature and the complex histories of Europe’s borderlands.”
The museum is designed with both scholars and casual readers in mind. Its immersive exhibits blend traditional literary materials—books, letters, and manuscripts—with cutting-edge multimedia displays that allow visitors to delve deeper into the lives and works of the writers who made Trieste a literary capital. Highlights include a reconstruction of James Joyce’s writing studio, complete with a multimedia window simulating the sights and sounds of early 20th-century Trieste, and the “Cinematografo delle Storie,” a small video theater showcasing cinematic adaptations of literary works.
One of the museum’s focal points is its celebration of Trieste as a multilingual and multicultural hub. Literature in Trieste has been created in multiple languages, including Italian, Slovenian, German, and the city’s own dialect. The museum underscores this unique aspect through exhibits that feature works in these languages, highlighting how the city’s diverse cultures have intertwined over the centuries.
A key feature of the museum is the “Libreria degli Scrittori” (Writers’ Library), an impressive room where visitors can explore rotating exhibitions of books and documents by authors associated with Trieste. Here, visitors can see rare first editions, personal items, and even contributions from the writers themselves, such as the first book ever read by Claudio Magris—a 1938 edition of The Mystery of the Black Jungle by Emilio Salgari, donated by Magris to the museum.
In addition to honoring Trieste’s literary past, LETS also looks to the future. The museum has dedicated space for contemporary authors, featuring work-in-progress displays and interactive exhibits that invite dialogue between visitors and living writers from the region.
Beyond the museum’s static displays, LETS will serve as a lively cultural center, hosting events such as lectures, film screenings, and book presentations. “LETS will be a museum in constant evolution,” said one of the curators, emphasizing its role not just as a space for preservation, but as a dynamic venue for ongoing literary creation and conversation.
With its free admission and central location, LETS aims to become a cultural meeting point for both locals and tourists. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with shorter hours on Sundays.
