THE LARGEST SAILING RACE IN THE WORLD
Trieste, 1 - 12 October 2025
Trieste, 1 - 12 October 2025
20.09.25
The "Borgo Cavana" project is born
Music, culture and exhibitions will transform the district during the Barcolana.
A long-closed space in piazza Cavana reopens as a gathering point and the beating heart of the project
A long-closed space in piazza Cavana reopens as a gathering point and the beating heart of the project
Rediscovering the ancient traditions of the historic seafaring village and reinterpreting them with a contemporary twist: this is the aim of Borgo Cavana, a new project promoted by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano together with the Municipality of Trieste, Casa della Musica and FIPE (the Italian Federation of Bars and Restaurants). The initiative brings Barcolana beyond the waterfront and into the very heart of the city. Trieste, like Brest, Lorient, or Cowes, showcases its maritime roots and the centuries-old traditions that once animated the Borgo, when the cavane—ground floor boathouses—were used to shelter fishing boats.
Thanks to this innovative project, Cavana becomes a “Borgo” once again and an integral part of the Barcolana Village: a shared space where shops, bars, and restaurants join forces to welcome locals and visitors alike with music, art, readings, workshops, and unique atmospheres.
The project was presented inside the Barcolana Shop, newly opened in Palazzo Ca’ Prandi in Cavana after many years of closure. This venue will serve as a hub for the event and a showcase for the district’s cultural and commercial highlights. It will host special activities, guide visitors through the streets of Borgo Cavana, and offer more than fifty events to bring the area to life. It will also be home to the official Barcolana shop, dedicated to the regatta and its history—a new point of reference for residents and travelers alike.
BORGO CAVANA – Once a neighborhood of fishermen, sailors, and salt warehouses, Cavana still bears traces of its maritime identity. Today it is a lively, creative quarter filled with small shops, cafés, and intimate piazzas—an ideal backdrop for a Barcolana that celebrates not just sailing, but also culture, social life, and togetherness.
The project is designed to transform Cavana into a true festive village, in the style of Breton towns or English coastal communities that host major international regattas. Streets and squares will be decorated with flags, info totems, and small stages, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. The events program will spread across the district, featuring live music, exhibitions, street theatre, photography, workshops for children and adults, and performances that will animate every corner. In the heart of Piazza Cavana, thanks to the Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia e Arte, historical photographs of the old town will be projected and the story of the Bathyscaphe Trieste will be told, celebrating its pioneering spirit of innovation.
Local businesses will play a central role and can symbolically “enter” Barcolana through two thematic itineraries: the “Via del Pesce” (Fish Route), focused on food and conviviality, and the “Via del Sale” (Salt Route), highlighting artisan shops and ateliers. Participation has been enthusiastic, far exceeding organizers’ expectations. To prepare the neighborhood for the festivities, AcegasApsAmga will provide special cleaning services, ensuring Cavana is welcoming throughout the event.
“With Borgo Cavana we are carrying out a strategic project for Barcolana: bringing institutions, businesses, and cultural organizations together to make the regatta come alive within the city’s neighborhoods and squares,” explains Mitja Gialuz, President of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano. “Cavana is the ideal starting point because it still embodies the maritime soul of Trieste, alongside the creative and welcoming spirit that the district has developed over the years. The project will improve the quality of the event experience: music, curated and coordinated by Casa della Musica, will be at the core, but there will also be culture and a strong focus on crafts and local businesses offering an extraordinary program. Triestini will rediscover hidden spaces that open up and transform for Barcolana. The enthusiastic participation of businesses already shows this is a successful model that can be extended to other parts of the city.”
“The bond between Trieste and Barcolana is growing ever stronger,” adds Trieste Deputy Mayor Serena Tonel. “It’s very positive that the Barcolana Village is expanding to involve more of the city’s urban fabric. This not only benefits the regatta’s side events but also gives greater visibility to local businesses. Broadening the scope of the Village both enhances safety for visitors and allows everyone to enjoy the wide range of activities and the festive atmosphere in the days leading up to the race.”
PROGRAM – The official calendar, filled with events for all audiences, runs from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 October. Events are organized by Barcolana, Casa della Musica (artistic director and host of many performances), and local businesses contributing their own initiatives to the official program.
Tuesday 7 October – Launch of one of Barcolana57 presented by Generali’s new highlights: Cavana Runclub Barcolana Edition, a non-competitive 5 km run along the waterfront and Old Port, organized with Cavana Run to support the Burlo Garofolo Foundation.
Wednesday 8 October – Opening day of Borgo Cavana with lively street band Spakkazuk and the refined harmonies of female vocal trio MissMass, bringing music into alleys and squares.
Thursday 9 October – Highlights include Adriano Giraldi performing the celebrated Maldobrie, humorous tales of Adriatic coastal life under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, accompanied by the New Era Quartet. Cavana Stories will guide the public through a storytelling journey with characters and light installations. The evening closes with a concert by DANKA, a rock band led by guitarist and producer Andrea “Ringo” Rigonat.
Friday 10 October – Cavana turns into a creative hub: from the upcycling workshop From Sail to Bag, to the conference Great Sailors for Ocean Sustainability, to Voices from the Well, with Gualtiero Giorgini reading works by Trieste poets. Music includes the UWC Adriatic choir and an evening concert by Swing à la Carte.
Saturday 11 October – Activities include the Sea of Embroidery workshop, the CrafTS exhibition, a presentation by illustrator Giulia Silipo, and the Red Light art installation. In the afternoon, a One Knot and Go workshop introduces the Japanese art of Furoshiki. Music will feature Bandomat in Piazza Cavana, comedy-musical acts by Maxino and Flavio Furian in Piazza Barbacan, and DJ sets culminating with the Techno Cluster collective on the main stage.
Sunday 12 October – Visitors can explore numerous exhibitions hosted at Casa della Musica and throughout the Borgo. The closing night will feature Sagravana, with Etra, Romastino, MaiFidarsi, and Lucrezia performing an eclectic mix of songwriting, soul, blues, and experimental sounds—from Trieste to London, via Sanremo and X Factor—closing the festival with a unique blend of voices and stories.
Thanks to this innovative project, Cavana becomes a “Borgo” once again and an integral part of the Barcolana Village: a shared space where shops, bars, and restaurants join forces to welcome locals and visitors alike with music, art, readings, workshops, and unique atmospheres.
The project was presented inside the Barcolana Shop, newly opened in Palazzo Ca’ Prandi in Cavana after many years of closure. This venue will serve as a hub for the event and a showcase for the district’s cultural and commercial highlights. It will host special activities, guide visitors through the streets of Borgo Cavana, and offer more than fifty events to bring the area to life. It will also be home to the official Barcolana shop, dedicated to the regatta and its history—a new point of reference for residents and travelers alike.
BORGO CAVANA – Once a neighborhood of fishermen, sailors, and salt warehouses, Cavana still bears traces of its maritime identity. Today it is a lively, creative quarter filled with small shops, cafés, and intimate piazzas—an ideal backdrop for a Barcolana that celebrates not just sailing, but also culture, social life, and togetherness.
The project is designed to transform Cavana into a true festive village, in the style of Breton towns or English coastal communities that host major international regattas. Streets and squares will be decorated with flags, info totems, and small stages, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. The events program will spread across the district, featuring live music, exhibitions, street theatre, photography, workshops for children and adults, and performances that will animate every corner. In the heart of Piazza Cavana, thanks to the Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia e Arte, historical photographs of the old town will be projected and the story of the Bathyscaphe Trieste will be told, celebrating its pioneering spirit of innovation.
Local businesses will play a central role and can symbolically “enter” Barcolana through two thematic itineraries: the “Via del Pesce” (Fish Route), focused on food and conviviality, and the “Via del Sale” (Salt Route), highlighting artisan shops and ateliers. Participation has been enthusiastic, far exceeding organizers’ expectations. To prepare the neighborhood for the festivities, AcegasApsAmga will provide special cleaning services, ensuring Cavana is welcoming throughout the event.
“With Borgo Cavana we are carrying out a strategic project for Barcolana: bringing institutions, businesses, and cultural organizations together to make the regatta come alive within the city’s neighborhoods and squares,” explains Mitja Gialuz, President of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano. “Cavana is the ideal starting point because it still embodies the maritime soul of Trieste, alongside the creative and welcoming spirit that the district has developed over the years. The project will improve the quality of the event experience: music, curated and coordinated by Casa della Musica, will be at the core, but there will also be culture and a strong focus on crafts and local businesses offering an extraordinary program. Triestini will rediscover hidden spaces that open up and transform for Barcolana. The enthusiastic participation of businesses already shows this is a successful model that can be extended to other parts of the city.”
“The bond between Trieste and Barcolana is growing ever stronger,” adds Trieste Deputy Mayor Serena Tonel. “It’s very positive that the Barcolana Village is expanding to involve more of the city’s urban fabric. This not only benefits the regatta’s side events but also gives greater visibility to local businesses. Broadening the scope of the Village both enhances safety for visitors and allows everyone to enjoy the wide range of activities and the festive atmosphere in the days leading up to the race.”
PROGRAM – The official calendar, filled with events for all audiences, runs from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 October. Events are organized by Barcolana, Casa della Musica (artistic director and host of many performances), and local businesses contributing their own initiatives to the official program.
Tuesday 7 October – Launch of one of Barcolana57 presented by Generali’s new highlights: Cavana Runclub Barcolana Edition, a non-competitive 5 km run along the waterfront and Old Port, organized with Cavana Run to support the Burlo Garofolo Foundation.
Wednesday 8 October – Opening day of Borgo Cavana with lively street band Spakkazuk and the refined harmonies of female vocal trio MissMass, bringing music into alleys and squares.
Thursday 9 October – Highlights include Adriano Giraldi performing the celebrated Maldobrie, humorous tales of Adriatic coastal life under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, accompanied by the New Era Quartet. Cavana Stories will guide the public through a storytelling journey with characters and light installations. The evening closes with a concert by DANKA, a rock band led by guitarist and producer Andrea “Ringo” Rigonat.
Friday 10 October – Cavana turns into a creative hub: from the upcycling workshop From Sail to Bag, to the conference Great Sailors for Ocean Sustainability, to Voices from the Well, with Gualtiero Giorgini reading works by Trieste poets. Music includes the UWC Adriatic choir and an evening concert by Swing à la Carte.
Saturday 11 October – Activities include the Sea of Embroidery workshop, the CrafTS exhibition, a presentation by illustrator Giulia Silipo, and the Red Light art installation. In the afternoon, a One Knot and Go workshop introduces the Japanese art of Furoshiki. Music will feature Bandomat in Piazza Cavana, comedy-musical acts by Maxino and Flavio Furian in Piazza Barbacan, and DJ sets culminating with the Techno Cluster collective on the main stage.
Sunday 12 October – Visitors can explore numerous exhibitions hosted at Casa della Musica and throughout the Borgo. The closing night will feature Sagravana, with Etra, Romastino, MaiFidarsi, and Lucrezia performing an eclectic mix of songwriting, soul, blues, and experimental sounds—from Trieste to London, via Sanremo and X Factor—closing the festival with a unique blend of voices and stories.
