Models, images, installations, works of art and artefacts tell the story of a stone that carries the name of Italy and neighboring Slovenia throughout the world. A full calendar of related events.
Until July 14th an interesting exhibition will take center stage at Magazzino 26 in Trieste in the reborn district of Porto Vecchio. This is one of the most extensive and detailed exhibitions dedicated to the stone of Aurisina, Karst and Istria: “From Ljubljana to Trieste, the stone of Aurisina, Karst and Istria in Italy and in the world”. A material journey into the culture of stone that allows the visitor to delve into its history, use in architecture and art in a large exhibition, which is accompanied by guided tours, excursions, cultural insights, workshops, performances.
The exhibition is organized by the Ermada Flavio Vidonis Group in co-organization with the Municipality of Trieste and with the support of the FVG Region with the patronage of the Municipality of Duino Aurisina.
A real material journey into the culture of stone to delve into its history, use in architecture and art in a large exhibition, which is accompanied by guided tours, excursions, cultural insights, workshops, performances.
The exhibition, divided in several sections in the two pavilions on various routes (Nathan room and Sbisà room) of Magazzino 26 in Porto Vecchio starts from the entrepreneurial history and life of Gustav Tönnies, born in 1814 (birth anniversary in 2024), son of a Swedish ship carpenter in the city of Stralsund in Pomerania (Germany). He was a carpenter, manufacturer, builder, industrialist and merchant, probably the most important Carniola merchant of the second half of the nineteenth century.
The aim of the exhibition is to present Karst and Istrian stone, which has played an important role in the economic and social development of one of the most productive and particular regions of Italy which is currently going through a period of great rebirth. The use of karst stone is regaining its importance, both in the reconstruction of pre-existing buildings and in the insertion of stone elements in new buildings.
Stone, as a natural material, is gaining popularity again. In addition to its use in construction, it is also increasingly appreciated in art.
In the exhibition itineraries, one can appreciate its use in architecture, construction, art and craftsmanship through photographs, projects, models, artefacts, installations and models. A journey that the stone has undertaken over time, landing all over the world.
The construction of the South Vienna – Trieste Railway played a key role in this development. With rail and sea connections, Trieste became the main port of the eastern Mediterranean, which opened the way from northern and central Europe to the Far East and America in the West with connections via Gibraltar and the new Suez Canal.
Trieste experienced the golden age of its economic development. After 1383, when it came under the authority of the Habsburg monarchy; in 1719, when it acquired the status of a free customs port, in 1849, when it was granted a special direct connection with Vienna, it experienced extraordinary development until the beginning of the First World War. The number of inhabitants rose from 60,000 to 240,000 and it became an international commercial and financial centre.
Ljubljana (in Slovenia) has existed since the times of the Illyrian provinces at the beginning of the 19th century. The Congress of Ljubljana of 1822, with a railway line and a connection to Vienna and Trieste, gained more and more importance, and the earthquake of 1895 only accelerated its role as the regional center of Carniola.
The Karst with its stone, extracted in numerous local surface quarries, with the new railway had the opportunity to sell the stone all over the world. Aurisina and Monrupino took advantage of this and with the modernization of production these quarries became the largest quarries in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Karst stone became a “fashionable product” of that era. Many public buildings, parliaments, opera houses, railway stations, post offices, banks, insurance companies, cultural institutions, schools, hospitals, barracks, churches and residential buildings also contained elements of karst stone.
A very important role in this development was played by Gustav Tönnies and his sons, who from the second half of the 19th century made significant contributions and participated in the production of building materials, the development of the construction site, the production of machines and devices and the inclusion of this region in modern industrial development. Even then the individual quarries were unable to satisfy demand, which is why they coordinated with each other regarding offers and subsequent deliveries. Their story is told through images and stories within the exhibition.
The use of karst stone is regaining its importance, both in the reconstruction of pre-existing buildings and in the insertion of stone elements in new buildings.
Stone, as a natural material, is gaining popularity again. In addition to its use in construction, it is also increasingly appreciated in art.
