Guest Post: Trieste Staycation

Today's post is the second in a series of guest posts that explore Trieste by the people who live here.  It was inspired by the lockdown period during the first wave of Covid-19 and the idea of the "Staycation" and looking at our city from a different perspective. 

The following post is by Susanne Seghayer.   

When I attended college, I studied literally every single day. In the best-case scenario, I had only one week to rest and charge my batteries. During that week I did not make exotic travels, I just tried to relax and explore as much as I could my hometown, Trieste. Staycation was my routine during my college days.

When I was a sophomore, during the last days of July, I was enjoying my staycation with my sister. We decided to have lunch at one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in town but when we were near it, we realized that it was not lunch time yet. I offered her to visit my favorite museum in Trieste, the Revoltella museum. It is the modern and contemporary art gallery of Trieste and one of the most prestigious museums in the city. I’ve visited this art gallery several times and I have many personal memories linked to this place. For instance, when I attended elementary school, I went to visit this museum with my class, and I started to love art thanks to those visits. I had a strong desire to return to this place again especially because I was finally able to appreciate contemporary and modern art, my favorite ones.

The museum is built in the house of an important figure in Trieste history, the baron Pasquale Revoltella. He was crucial in the economic growth of Trieste during the 19th century and was an art and science lover too. The museum is divided into two parts. In one part, you can explore the house of Revoltella and in the other the art gallery. The latter is developed into 3 floors in which there are mainly paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries but the most important and relevant works of art are from the 20th century. On the top floor you can find paintings and sculptures made by some of the most prestigious and talented contemporary Italian artists such as Pomodoro, Fontana, Casorati and Vedova. 

When I was in the museum with my sister it was like being miles away from home. We were totally captured by the beauty of the place and by the amazing works of art that were exposed. It was like entering in a pyramid where your perception of space and time are completely different from the rest of the world. Contemplating art gave me a sense of peace and the feeling that I was on a completely different planet.

On the top of the building there is a panoramic terrace where you can see the gulf of Trieste. During summer evenings they often organize happy hours and concerts where you can relax and elaborate all the beauty that you watched during the visit.

I think that the secret of a rewarding staycation is trying to see your town through the eyes of a tourist, of someone who visits your city for the first time. You need to look at things that you have seen for years with a new glance, trying to observe details that you usually miss and surprise yourself with the beauty that every city hides inside. Every town has angles and places that you usually don’t visit and discovering them gives you the feeling of exploring something new and exciting. From my experience we tend to visit more other cities than ours. I know people who are born and raised in Rome that have not visited important galleries and monuments in Rome such as the Saint Peter church! Monuments that people from distant parts of the world come to Rome to see.

Another trick for an exciting staycation is exploring your city with different friends and members of your family. Each of them has particular interests and passions and they will open your mind showing you the sights that they love and are interested in. For instance, if you have a friend who is fond of science, you can go with him to visit the Immaginario Scientifico in Grignano and take also a swim there. If you have a relative that loves art you can go with him to visit monuments, churches and palaces that you usually do not look at with attention and interest. In Trieste there are palaces of different architectural styles and visiting them with an expert of art is such an incredible experience. Try it to believe!

So this year, explore your city, spend time with your friends and family, take photos and make new memories in YOUR town! Enjoy!