by Edward and George Hunt
Photography: Erin McKinney
Dottoressa Andreina Contessa has been the director of the Historical Museum and Park of the Miramare Castle for over six years and she still loves her role. Despite being simultaneously head of the Friuli-Venezia-Giullia museums organization, the castle has been the focus of her efforts since her arrival in June 2017.
Dott.ssa Contessa has had extensive experience of historical works and museums over her career. Originally from Lombardia, she studied in Palma for her MA in History of Art but moved to Jerusalem for her PhD in Jewish History at the Hebrew university, which resulted in a Research Scholarship at Princeton University.
During her time in Israel, she became the Chief Curator of the Umberto Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art, work that resulted in her continuing to spending much of her life in Israel. She describes Jerusalem as international, vivacious but intense. During her time there she was also a frequent visitor to London, of which she has fond memories, using the libraries to access original illustrated manuscripts as part of her studies.
She admits that she found the Castle administration somewhat lacking and unimaginative on her arrival. She has made great efforts to work with wider European historical institutions, museums, and collection to strengthen the wider goal of education and preservation across the neighbouring regions. Italy is famous for its history and the FVG museum association is one of the leading examples of managed art, artifacts, and architecture in the country.
One of her key missions is communication, which she feels is a better description of her goals than simply publicity or advertising. This began with the Trieste authorities and institutions within the city to streamline dialogue, planning, funding and relationships. She works closely with the Rossetti and Verdi theatres, with the SISSA organisation and Trieste University, particular its arts and associated teaching departments. In a realisation of this she and her small, professional team have focussed on bringing to Trieste a range of events, concerts and similar performances to encourage the widest variety of people and generate maximum interest in the Castle.
These efforts, however, are aimed beyond what might be expected for general adult interest. This communication is also aimed at younger visitors, with the castle having a Facebook and Instagram account to reach a youthful audience and to engage and demonstrate all the work, the events, the activity to everyone, encourage studios, research, activities, appreciation of nature and similar.
Her term will expire at the end of 2025 and a new director will be appointed. She hopes that, through a focus on transparency of her management decisions, daily administration and the castle’s finances, a newcomer will find their first days far easier than did she.
Despite this wider philosophy, her goals have been very much driven by a desire to improve all aspects of her fiefdom on a day-by-day basis. Examples of this include improved access to the castle and grounds for wheelchair users without disturbing the structure or landscape. Another, focussed on the beautiful garden, is to improve its ‘green’ credentials with less water usage, removal of chemicals as part of a wider move towards an improved degree of low carbon sustainability.
Dott.ssa Contessa is confident that she has made a tangible and positive difference to the Castle and its relationship with Trieste. Though her remaining time is short, the structural differences to its organization, new ideas and activities and the gradual plans to improve its sustainable identity means that this iconic treasure will continue to flourish long after she has moved on to new challenges.
