by InTrieste
This All Saints’ holiday, Trieste is set to honor a significant milestone in Italy’s literary heritage with “For a Petrarchan Anniversary (1374-2024),” a city-wide celebration marking 650 years since the death of the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch. This milestone is a tribute not only to the great Italian humanist, often called the “Father of Humanism,” but also to the century-old Libreria Antiquaria Umberto Saba, the famed antiquarian bookshop recently restored and reopened in the heart of Trieste.
Supported by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, this literary homage features two signature events over the holiday weekend. The celebrations will begin with a guided walk on October 30, exploring Trieste’s deep-rooted connections to two monumental figures: Domenico Rossetti, a Trieste-born lawyer and avid Petrarch collector, and Umberto Saba, the poet-bookseller whose bookstore has long been a cherished cultural site in the city. The second event, a special exhibition tour on November 2, will delve into Saba’s career, his passion for books, and his profound admiration for Petrarch.
A Walk Through Time
On Wednesday, October 30 at 3:00 PM, Alessandra Sirugo, director of the Petrarchan Museum Piccolomineo, will join Riccardo Cepach, a literary historian at Literature Trieste (LETS), in leading a city walk that will transport participants back to the Trieste of Rossetti and Saba. “This walk is not only a journey through their lives,” Sirugo explained, “but through Trieste’s literary heartbeat, tracing places these men held dear.” The walk, open to the public with prior reservation, will conclude at Rossetti’s statue on Via Giulia. To ensure accessibility, Italian Sign Language (LIS) interpretation will be provided.
An Exhibition of Heritage and Inspiration
On Saturday, November 2 at 11:00 AM, Sirugo will lead a guided tour of the new exhibition titled, “…now I am almost a bibliophile myself. Umberto Saba and the works of Francesco Petrarca,” on the third floor of the Attilio Hortis Civic Library. Entry to the exhibition is free, while the tour has a modest fee (€4.50 for adults, €2.50 reduced). With displays spanning Saba’s life and works, the exhibit includes rare manuscripts and first-edition books, some previously acquired by the Civic Library from Saba himself. A section devoted to Petrarch highlights the influential poet’s impact on a young Saba, shaping his poetry and fostering his book-collecting passion.
Saba’s journey as a poet and bookshop owner unfolds across three major sections: his poetry, including Petrarch’s influence; the role of the Libreria Antiquaria, which transformed under Saba’s leadership into a small publishing house in collaboration with the poet Virgilio Giotti; and the partnership between the Libreria Antiquaria and the Civic Library, which, over the years, acquired invaluable manuscripts from Saba’s collection.
A Historic Library Restored
With its century-old history, the Libreria Antiquaria Umberto Saba—named after Saba himself—was reopened this year following an extensive restoration project. Originally established as a haven for poets and bibliophiles, the bookstore on Via San Nicolò has become a revered landmark. “It’s fitting that it should reopen in this anniversary year,” Cepach said, noting how the restoration “reconnects Trieste to a vital part of its literary soul.”
Event Details
Trieste residents and visitors can participate in the October 30 city walk and November 2 guided tour, either by reserving their spot online or visiting the Petrarchan Museum Piccolomineo. Additional information can be found on the museum’s website https://museopetrarchesco.it or its Facebook page.
Whether through the written works of Petrarch, the legacy of Saba, or the collection of rare books, Trieste continues to cement its place as a storied cultural hub.
