by InTrieste
For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Civic Museum of Natural History in Trieste is set to participate in the national reading campaign “Il Maggio dei Libri” (“The May of Books”). This year, the campaign’s theme, “If You Read, You Are Free,” underscores the transformative power of reading, with a focus on three core strands: “Free to Know,” “Free to Dream,” and “Free to Create.”
Trieste’s museum has chosen to spotlight the “Free to Know” strand. On Wednesday, May 29, the museum will host two special events in its Meeting Room at via dei Tominz 4. Titled “The Algology Section of the Natural History Museum: Knowing Books and Specimens,” these sessions will take place at 3 PM and 5 PM, respectively.
The study of algae burgeoned in the 19th century, marked by an upsurge in publications and sample collections. Trieste, with its rich marine environment, along with the Civic Museum of Natural History, has played a pivotal role in the advancement of algology. Scholars and researchers from across Europe flocked to the city and the Istrian peninsula, collaborating with local botanists, sharing discoveries, and incorporating specimens from the Gulf of Trieste and the Adriatic Sea into their own collections.
These historical exchanges significantly enriched the museum’s collection, with many artifacts still available for public viewing today. During the upcoming events, attendees will have the opportunity to delve into the contributions of key figures in marine study through both ancient and modern texts and their associated collections.
Admission to these educational sessions is free, though each is limited to 40 participants. The venue is fully accessible to individuals with motor disabilities.
For a detailed schedule of all events organized by the libraries of the Municipality of Trieste for “Il Maggio dei Libri,” please visit this link.
