THE ENERGY OF PLACES – 11th edition
FESTIVAL OF WIND AND STONE
THE RIGHT TO BEAUTY

In a time marked by the monstrosity of war and by a growing coarseness of language, beauty inevitably becomes a necessity – an antidote to the brutal oversimplification of reality and an engine capable of regenerating more awareness and support throughout communities. From this perspective, beauty is not a privilege but a fundamental right – the precondition for that dignity of existence which our Constitution recognizes among its most treasured values as an integral part of our quality of life.
The Festival explores beauty’s potential to generate energy and its ability to bring landscape, matter, memory and vision together through artistic practices that give voice to the surrounding region and reveal its deepest soul. From the municipality of Duino Aurisina, The Energy of Places reaches out toward the world through cross-border sculpture workshops, land art, naturalistic and creative itineraries, performances in the ancient quarries of Aurisina, visual art exhibitions, screenings, concerts, literary events and lectio magistralis. Our aim is to promote a spirit of cooperation backed by the latest artistic research, as well as a vision of tourism which reflects our commitment to the promotion of the region.
The Festival is part of the KAMEN project – Diffuse Museum of the Quarries and Stone of Aurisina / Muzej nabrežinskega kamna in kamnolomov, and is the result of a dense network of partnerships among Italian and Slovenian institutional, associative, entrepreneurial and non-profit organizations.

PROGRAM

June to December 2026
For further information please call
+39 333 4344188 / +39 339 5081138
or contact u at casacave.art@gmail.com unless otherwise specified
at casacave.art@gmail.com unless otherwise specified.

THURSDAY 25 JUNE — from 15.00

Mental Health Center 2 – Maddalena Via del Molino a Vento, 123 – Trieste
OTHER FANTASTIC ANIMALS — Exhibition Exhibition of the workshop prototypes Curated by Fabiola Faidiga and Madia Cotimbo Presentation by Katarina Lomic
Evoking the historic figure of Marco Cavallo, the workshop involved guests of the CSM (Mental Health Center), artists and citizens in creating sculptures of fantastic animals out of paper, uniting art and mental health to create an inclusive, participatory experience. Over the course of the exhibition, visitors are invited to vote for their favourite fantastic animal. The workshop will continue in September, when the winning prototype will become a large sculpture.
In collaboration with the association Luna e l’altra, SAR-DDSM and CSM 2 Maddalena Trieste. The exhibition can be visited every day from 9.00 to 20.00, until August 2026 / info: 040 3996340

SATURDAY 27 JUNE — 18.00

Portopiccolo Art Gallery – Sistiana, TS
CHASING A CHIMERA — Exhibition Curated by Massimo Premuda
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the death of Leonor Fini, an exhibition on the theme of ideal beauty — understood as an unattainable goal — is the common thread that leads the viewer to discover works and artists who have always worked on the idea of wonder. On display: Leonor Fini, Piero Lustig, David Dalla Venezia, Qing Yue, Giordano Rizzardi, Greta Fila.
Until Sunday 26 July 2026 Gallery hours: Saturday 17.00–20.00, Sunday 10.00–13.00 and 17.00–20.00, or by reservation calling +39 333 4344188

FRIDAY 10 JULY — 10.00

Revoltella Museum, Gallery of Modern Art Via Diaz, 27, Trieste
IN THE TEMPLE OF THE AURISINA NYMPH — Guided tour curated by Susanna Gregorat
An opportunity to learn about the sculpture that is the symbol of the Festival and to rediscover the figure of the founder of the Revoltella Museum. The tour takes its cue from the imposing sculptural group by the Milanese artist Pietro Magni (1858), commissioned by Pasquale Revoltella to celebrate the city’s new aqueduct, before dwelling on some details of Carlo Scarpa’s masterful design for the Gallery of Modern Art (1963), inspired by his visit to the Aurisina quarry.
For info and mandatory reservation: +39 339 5081138 / casacave.art@gmail.com

SUNDAY 12 JULY — 11.00

Portopiccolo Art Gallery – Sistiana, TS
A COFFEE WITH LEONOR FINI — Event Curated by Massimo Premuda
Guided tour of the exhibition Chasing a Chimera and presentation of the book Leonor Fini, from Trieste onward by Corrado Premuda, co-published by Comunicarte Edizioni and Trieste Contemporanea.

SATURDAY 1 AUGUST — 18.30

Portopiccolo Art Gallery – Sistiana, TS
2050: SUBMERGED CITIES Prologue for a changing territory Multimedia project — Exhibition In partnership with Daydreaming Project Trieste
Conceived as the inaugural exhibition of a journey dedicated to the transformations of the Upper Adriatic. Hosted at the Art Gallery, it gathers research materials, maps, archives and introductory works that anticipate future exhibitions. An atlas under construction in which art, memory and imagination question the future of the sea and of our coasts.
Until 6/9/2026 Gallery hours: Saturday 17.00–20.00, Sunday 10.00–13.00 and 17.00–20.00, or by reservation calling +39 333 4344188

MONDAY 10 AUGUST — 20.45

Cine Nabrezina – Campo Sokol – Aurisina
BEYOND THE WOLVES Screening of the documentary film in tribute to Alfredo Lacosegliaz Italian o.v. – running time 74 min. – year 2023 Director: Ennio Guerrato Production: Patchwork_Film – Cristina Gioachin Lacosegliaz Co-production: Casa della Musica – Scuola di Musica 55 Collaboration: Carlo Schmidl Theatre Museum – Municipality of Trieste In synergy with SKD Igo Gruden, Kinoatelje and Comitato San Rocco
In 1970s Trieste, amid physical and ideological borders, among different peoples who have always lived side by side, the musician and composer Alfredo Lacosegliaz begins his adventure, embracing the sounds of Eastern Europe well before they became fashionable. The contributions of musicians, directors and writers who worked with him trace his human and artistic traits. The music in odd rhythms that he composed wraps around the story.
In case of bad weather, the screening will be held at the Slovenian Cultural Center I. Gruden, Aurisina.

SUNDAY 30 AUGUST

— 16.30
THE STONE TAKES ITS TOUR — Itinerary
A scenic and easy walk (in English) with the Estplore guides to enter the Karst atmosphere by walking along the Stone Trail no. 1 and observing the landscape shaped by nature and the human activities connected to it. Afterward, in collaboration with Jus Comunella Nabresina Gemeinde, transfer to the Ivere3 Basin for the concert of the Violoncelli Itineranti (Itinerant Cellos).
Mandatory reservation: info@estplore.it / +39 340 7634805

— 18.30
Ivere3 Basin – Aurisina Cave (quarry)
UNTAMED WORDS – BESEDE NE UBOGAJO VEČ Concert by the Violoncelli Itineranti (Itinerant Cellos) Andrejka Možina, original compositions, cello and voice Ema Krečič Rode, cello Carla Scandura, cello
An all-female ensemble that represents an excellence in the musical scene of our Slovenian community. Their repertoire combines chamber music, folk, jazz and poetry recitals.
CLAY FABLES – Anime vagule blandule  Art installation by Paolo Ferluga
A multitude of sculptures, each different from the others, forming a homogeneous group of heterogeneous singularities, tell us the fable of the evolution of life. Dynamic figures, part human and part animal, born of thought and matter, of chance and will — concrete yet fragile, energetic yet fickle — united on a journey in search of their own name.

FROM 30 AUGUST TO 10 SEPTEMBER

Marble companies Marmi Gramar and Caharija Snc Aurisina Cave, 35f – 35t, TS
THE SCHOOL OF AURISINA The fabulous journey through stone — KAMEN Project THE RIGHT TO BEAUTY Cross-border residencies and workshops in contemporary sculpture
Concept by Maddalena Giuffrida, Fabiola Faidiga Curated by Eva Comuzzi Master sculptors Edi Carrer, Alberto Fiorin and four young artist-sculptors selected through the open Call on the theme The Right to Beauty.
In collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, the Srečko Kosovel Technical-Vocational Institute of Sežana, stone-design section / Šolski Center Srečka Kosovela, Sežana (Slovenia) and Prof. Matej Perčič, Studio Carrer of Pietrasanta, Municipality of Duino Aurisina, SKD Igo Gruden–Aurisina, marble companies Caharija Snc, Gramar Marmi, Cava Romana. During the residencies, an encounter with guest artist Michael Fliri. With the special contribution of the Pietro Pittini Foundation and the support of Le Fondazioni Casali ETS and the CRTrieste Foundation.
Works visible on the walk of 10/09. Inauguration 7/11/2026 at Casa della Pietra, Aurisina.

WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER — 18.00

Portopiccolo Art Gallery – Sistiana, TS
CLIMAX – THE SHAPE OF DREAMS Works on display by Pierre Zufferey Curated by Manolo Cocho
CLIMAX develops a single idea across two projects created by the artists Pierre Zufferey (Switzerland) and Manolo Cocho (Mexico). A single vision from two continents. In all natural phenomena there is a peak, an extreme that touches the limits of the possible — a CLIMAX that defines the direction of a process, the intention of an action, the vision of every dream and every utopia. In collaboration with International Contemporary Art Project Mexico – Suisse – Italia, Sistema Arte Portopiccolo. Until 1/11/2026
continues

SOMNUS IMAGO MORTIS – the beauty of unconsciousness Curated by Mila Lazić
Somnus imago mortis is the title of a celebrated short essay and philosophical reflection by the Nobel laureate writer Ivo Andrić (1892–1975), expressing a profound meditation on destiny.
Gallery hours: Saturday 17.00–20.00, Sunday 10.00–13.00 and 17.00–20.00, or by reservation calling +39 333 4344188

THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

— 17.30
Marble companies Marmi Gramar and Caharija Snc Aurisina Cave, 35f – 35t, TS — KAMEN Project THE RIGHT TO BEAUTY
Meeting with the sculpture workshops Encounter with the four young sculptors in residence and their works (see the event from 30 August to 10 September), under the tutorship of Edi Carrer and Alberto Fiorin, with a presentation by Eva Comuzzi. Followed by a visit with a performance at the Caharija quarry, in synergy with the KAMEN project.

— 18.00
Caharija Quarry – Aurisina Cave
STONES — Performance Written and performed by Sara Alzetta
The actress takes us into the world of the quarries, where geology, poetry, historical memory and introspection are the means to encounter the territory of KAMEN – Diffuse Museum of the Quarries and Stone of Aurisina.

FROM 18 TO 20 SEPTEMBER

Ivere 3 Basin – Aurisina Cave
TRACES IN STONE Site-specific workshop and performance
Exploring the ancient quarry to dialogue with the subtle energy of nature through rock, water and wind and through artistic and bodily expression, under the guidance of choreographer and dancer Marina Rossi and the Lelastiko Company of Brescia, as part of the Danceproject Festival, 23rd ed. / ACTIS Trieste. In collaboration with Jus Comunela Nabrežina Gemeinde.
Times will be indicated on the website www.casacave.eu

FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER — 17.30

Slovenian Cultural Center SKD Igo Gruden Aurisina 89, Duino Aurisina, TS
THE RIGHT TO BEAUTY — Keynote lectures Emilio Casalini, journalist — Dancing in the wind to build futuresAlessandro di Grazia, philosopher — Joseph Beuys, Beauty is everywhere Paolo Cervi Kervischer, artist — What is the Beautiful in Art Moderated by Martina Vocci
A three-voice discussion on the Right to Beauty, the main theme of this edition of the Festival. Investigating beauty as a generative energy, capable of bringing landscape, matter, memory and vision into relation, through artistic research and practices that engage with the region and reveal its deepest soul.

END OF THE BORDER
Multimedia project

Trieste Adventure Park – Ceroglie, Duino Aurisina, TS Basaglia Park – Via Vittorio Veneto 174, Gorizia Kromberk Castle Park – Nova Gorica, Slovenia Parco di San Giovanni, former Opp – Trieste
Concept by Maria Campitelli, Manolo Cocho, Guillermo Giampietro, Fabiola Faidiga, Cecilia Donaggio Luzzatto Fegiz.
The project activates cross-border creative synergies: Land Art, visual art exhibitions, cultural encounters and sound performances in four important parks, with the presence of local and international artists. In collaboration with the projects Past Future by Gruppo78 I.C.A. Trieste and Invisible Planets by the M-arte Trieste collective. In partnership with Goriški Muzej – Nova Gorica. The program is being finalized and will be available on the website www.casacave.eu

SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

— 09.30
Trieste Adventure Park – Ceroglie, Duino Aurisina, TS
WONDERS IN THE PARK — FANTASTIC ANIMALS Guided tour of the Land Art installations, in collaboration with Trieste Adventure Park, Restate Agganciati, Gravità Zero, Aeson, Gruppo78.
Creative signals flowing through the universal harmony of the natural system. Works by the artists: Devid Strussiat, Laura Malacart, Manolo Cocho, Majda Gregoric, Maja Pogacnik, Paola Pisani, Pierpaolo Ciana, Marco Bogar, Cecilia Donaggio Luzzato Fegiz, Rodolfo Liprandi, Cristina Lombardo, Simone Paulin, Aleksander Velišček.
Followed by the workshop The Rebirth of the Dry-Stone Walls, led by architect Danilo Antoni.

— 10.00
Trieste Adventure Park – Ceroglie, Duino Aurisina, TS
THE REBIRTH OF THE DRY-STONE WALLS — Workshop THE SCHOOL OF AURISINA Led by architect Danilo Antoni, in collaboration with Partnerstvo za Ohranitev in Popularizacijo Kraške Suhozidne Gradnje / Partnership for the Conservation and Dissemination of Karst Dry-Stone Construction.
Dry-stone constructions, an intangible heritage of UNESCO, are part of the identity of the inhabitants of the Karst. The meeting introduces the rebuilding system and passes the experience on to new generations. Open to all, in particular artists, creatives, students and inhabitants of the region.
For info and registration: antoni.danilo.55@gmail.com / mobile 335 8388373

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER — 18.00

Portopiccolo Art Gallery – Sistiana, TS
CLIMAX 2 – THE SHAPE OF DREAMS – Membrane Works on display, curated by Manolo Cocho
After Pierre Zufferey, the project continues with Manolo Cocho’s exhibition, in the same climax in search of defining direction, action, vision, dream and utopia. In collaboration with International Contemporary Art Project Mexico – Suisse – Italia, Sistema Arte Portopiccolo. Gallery hours: Saturday 17.00–20.00, Sunday 10.00–13.00 and 17.00–20.00, or by reservation calling +39 333 4344188

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER — 9.30

Marmi Cortese Snc, Aurisina Cave 35b
THE SCHOOL OF AURISINA KAMEN LAB — walking, discovering and carving the stone of Aurisina Artistic-craft workshop open to all Led by the stonecutter Petra Pika Može
The walk through the historic village of Aurisina in search of architectural and ornamental details in stone will be the perfect introduction to the artistic workshop, an opportunity to try the experience of carving stone. In collaboration with Marmi Cortese and Estplore Snc. Limited places, registration required: info@estplore.it

SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

— 9.00
Aurisina tour – along the streets of the village
THE STONE TAKES ITS TOUR A pleasant excursion with the Estplore guides among alleys, walls and courtyards to discover the history of Aurisina, so intimately tied to its natural setting and to the natural resources of the territory: located near the sea and near the great marble-extraction basins of the Karst, this small village helped create great works! Mandatory reservation: info@estplore.it / +39 340 7634805

— 11.00
Casa della Pietra Igo Gruden Aurisina, 158, TS
Inauguration of the Sculptures THE SCHOOL OF AURISINA The fabulous journey through stone Cross-border residencies and workshops in contemporary sculpture: The Right to Beauty
Inauguration of the works produced during the Residencies–Sculpture Workshops (see the event from 30 August to 10 September), under the tutorship of Edi Carrer and Alberto Fiorin, curated by Eva Comuzzi. This will be followed by the presentation of the catalogue The fabulous journey through stone, with the contribution of Rotary Club Trieste Alto Adriatico and the CRTrieste Foundation. Editing and photographs by Massimo Goina.

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER

— 15.30
Portopiccolo Art Gallery – Sistiana, TS
CLIMAX – THE SHAPE OF DREAMS – Finissage Works on display by Manolo Cocho

— 16.30
Small Sculpture Park of Portopiccolo
THE SCHOOL OF AURISINA Inauguration of a sculpture by Edi Carrer, in collaboration with a young student in residence, as part of the project The Fabulous Journey through the Stone of Aurisina – The Right to Beauty.

SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER — 17.30

Slovenian Cultural Center SKD Igo Gruden Aurisina 89, Duino Aurisina, TS — small hall
BORDER WRITINGS Beauty as landscape, myth, encounter and nostalgia for shared spaces A conversation with the writer and poet Michele Gangale.
One hundred years after the death of two of the greatest European poets of the 20th century, Rainer Maria Rilke and Srečko Kosovel, an inquiry into the writers and poets of these lands who knew how to narrate the complexity of the Upper Adriatic, who wrote and worked to live the relationship with different cultural sensibilities in the spirit of listening and human enrichment. In collaboration with SKD Igo Gruden.

BEING FINALIZED

The dates of these events will be indicated on the website www.casacave.eu

END OF THE BORDER – Multimedia project
See the presentation on previous pages / September

TRIBUTE TO PIERO LUSTIG – Exhibition Passage Arte Contemporanea, Trieste — via Domenico Rossetti 3 Curated by Peter Iancovich and Alessandra Spigai. A small but precious tribute to the playful, fairytale-like works of Piero Lustig, husband of Felicita Frai and friend of Leonor Fini. Gallery hours: Mon–Fri 16.00–20.00

FOCUS PIERO LUSTIG – Event Passage Arte Contemporanea, Trieste — via Domenico Rossetti 3 Curated by Peter Iancovich and Massimo Premuda. A video with many images of Lustig’s works, accompanied by a previously unpublished audio interview by Gillo Dorfles about the artist and his relationships with the Trieste and Milan art scenes. Gallery hours: Mon–Fri 16.00–20.00

DANCEPROJECT – Festival Bodily traces: memories of lived experience and openings to the virtual, 23rd ed. As part of the partnership with Danceproject, performances are planned with the actor Daniele Tenze (Giant Cave / Peer Gynt – Base camp) and the dancer Daša Grgič (Casa Carsica Monrupino – dance-theatre performance for the centenary of the death of poet Srečko Kosovel).

MOMENTUM. Temporal overlaps between nature and archaeology — Exhibition A photographic exhibition by Maria Cristina Marzola. The magic of the past blends into the present. The numinous power of nature fascinates and intimidates. Both reveal a beauty that does not fade.

DO STONES DREAM TOO? Surreal photography workshop Led by the artist Maria Cristina Marzola, in collaboration with set designer Madia Cotimbo. Representing stones in a dreamlike language to reveal their symbolic meanings and most unexpected aspects, transforming the ordinary into extraordinary visions.

IN MINOR KEYS – Venice Art Biennale Guided visit At the Giardini and the Arsenale of Venice, curated by Eva Comuzzi. Open until 22/11/26

MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ: TRANSFORMING ENERGY Guided visit At the Gallerie dell’Accademia of Venice, Dorsoduro 1050. Open until 19/10/26

THE STONE TAKES ITS TOUR – Guided visit Visit to the Roman Quarry of Aurisina with the Estplore naturalist guides and geologist Marco Manzoni, as part of the

KAMEN project – Diffuse Museum of the Quarries and Stone of Aurisina.

CREDITS

With the contribution of Municipality of Duino Aurisina / Občina Devin Nabrežina

Organization CASA C.A.V.E. Contemporary Art, Visogliano/Vižovlje Europe
Visogliano 9/R – 34011 Duino Aurisina – Trieste
casacave.art@gmail.com / fabiolafaidiga@libero.it
+39 333 4344188 / www.casacave.eu

Artistic direction: Fabiola Faidiga
Project participation: Maddalena Giuffrida
Project treasury: Annalisa Spoljaric, Bruno Vajente
Social media manager and translations: Jasna Simoneta
Cross-border coordination: Matej Perčič
Secretariat and cataloguing: Alessandra Susa
Art gallery: Fabiola Faidiga, Maria Cristina Marzola, Nadia Blasina
Wind section: Massimo Premuda Stone section: Maddalena Giuffrida Sculpture residencies: Eva Comuzzi
Master sculptors: Edi Carrer, Alberto Fiorin
Visions section: Mila Lazić
Land art section: Manolo Cocho, Guillermo Giampietro, Fabiola Faidiga, Cecilia Donaggio Luzzatto Fegiz, from an idea by Maria Campitelli
Territory section: Sara Famiani
Slovenia events section: Katarina Brešan (Goriški muzej Kromberk)
Creative itineraries: Estplore
Dry-stone wall workshop: Danilo Antoni
Creative workshops: Petra Pika Može, Maria Cristina Marzola, Madia Cotimbo
Website and photographic documentation: Studio Goina
Graphic design: AaVascotto
Press office: APS Comunicazione

Special thanks to

Igor Gabrovec, Marjanka Ban, Culture Office of the Municipality of Duino Aurisina, Cristina Sfreddo, Alenka Bandi, Tavolo delle Cave e della Pietra di Aurisina, Jus Comunella Aurisina, Marko Petelin, Marina Barnabà, Florentia Corsani, Susanna Gregorat, Anna Teresa Pöll, Martina Signore, Christoph Conrad, Teresa Spataro, Elvira Fusco, Matej and Tomaz Caharija, Marino and Roberto Cortese, Fabio Fonda, Michele Gangale, Giovanni Giorgi, Tommaso Pizzul, Valter and Carlo Gruden, Katarina Lomic, Vanni Naspo, Sergio Pancaldi, Giorgio Favet, Valentina Magnani and Claudio Puja, Jelena Todorović, Roberto Vidali, Daniela Pallotta, Angelo Baiguera, Enrico Samer, Marco Manzoni, Aldo Poduie, Damiano Quarantotto, Massimo Romita, Alice Sattolo, Walter Stanissa, Pavel Vidoni, Martina Vocci, Federica Zar.

Thanks to the territory 

Agraria Stanissa, Agriturismo Le Torri di Slivia, Bar Ristorante Why not?, Fiori Dalia, Gran Osteria Tre Noci, Panificio Leghissa, Pastificio Fogar, Ristorante San Mauro, Despar Aurisina di P. Kukanja, Tecnomarmi di Zandomeni, Trattoria Sardoč Precenico.