by InTrieste
City officials and organizers gathered Wednesday morning at Trieste’s City Hall to present the first edition of “Barbacan Produce 2025,” an annual artisan market now entering its tenth year. The initiative, which has become a fixture in the city’s cultural calendar, will begin its 2025 edition on Sunday, April 13.
Speaking at the press conference were representatives of the municipal administration, including Francesca Dambrosi, head of Economic Activities, and Barbara Comelli, head of Economic Promotion. They were joined by Lodovica Fusco, president of the Barbacan Produce Association, along with vice president Nika Furlani and secretary Alessia Alessio – Vernì.
Four events are scheduled as part of the 2025 program. In addition to the spring edition, upcoming dates include an evening market on June 15, an autumn edition on October 26, and a Christmas market on December 14. The spring, autumn, and winter events will run from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., while the summer event will extend into the evening.
City officials highlighted the market’s continued popularity, crediting the appeal of its historic location and the rigorous selection of participants. Exhibitors are chosen with attention to both the strength of their business models and the aesthetic quality of their products.
“Barbacan Produce” hosts independent designers, artisans and artists in a curated open-air marketplace that spans several locations in Trieste’s historic center. These include Piazza Barbacan, Via dell’Arco di Riccardo, Piazza San Silvestro, and the Scalinata delle Medaglie d’Oro. The latter was originally introduced during the pandemic to provide additional space and has since become a permanent part of the event layout.
According to organizers, the opening event will feature 84 exhibitors selected from a large pool of applicants. The program also includes workshops, with this year’s edition introducing a session on kokedama, a traditional Japanese method of growing plants without pots, led by instructor Serena Sartori. Additional features will include live music and a space for local social and cultural associations to share their work.
Participation in the market has steadily increased over the years, attracting visitors not only from Trieste but also from other parts of the region and beyond. Despite the high demand, the number of exhibitor slots remains limited, typically capped at around 80 per edition.
Organizers emphasize that “Barbacan Produce” aims to offer more than a shopping experience, seeking instead to foster community engagement and support for small-scale craftsmanship in an increasingly commercialized landscape.
