Mare Nordest

ALL THE REFLECTIONS OF THE SEA - Mare Nordest 2025: a beacon of excellence, innovation, and beauty in the heart of Trieste. From 23 to 25 May 2025, Trieste will host the 14th edition of Mare Nordest in Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia, with a focus on the 4th International Diving Review, organised by the International Academy of Diving Sciences and Techniques, and the awarding of the Tridente d'Oro, the "Nobel Prize" of diving. 

• PROGRAMME - Environment, Culture, Science, Sport and Art

  - 4th International Review of Underwater Activities and the Tridente d'Oro Award: After the success of the previous editions, the Tridente d'Oro and Academy Award will return to Trieste for the 2025 event, attracting important guests from all over the world. In collaboration with the AISTS International Academy of Underwater Sciences and Techniques, these prestigious awards, considered the ‘Nobel Prize’ of the sector, will be conferred on high-calibre personalities from different countries.

  - 2nd Traversata delle Tre Nazioni - International Open Water Cross-Country Swimming Race: Italian, Croatian and Slovenian athletes will face a 27 km challenge in the open sea of the Upper Adriatic Sea, starting from Punta Salvore in Croatia, crossing the stretch of sea in front of the Slovenian city of Piran and finally arriving in Trieste, landing in front of Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia.

  - Trieste Bathyscaphe Project: the Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Trieste, Giorgio Rossi, will present the Trieste Bathyscaphe Project for the realisation of a 1:1 scale replica of the famous boat that in 1960 achieved the human record of depth below sea level, at 10,902 metres, in the Mariana Trench. Based on the original drawings, this important project started with the financial support of the Municipality of Trieste, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and private sponsorships with a work team consisting of many experts, including engineers, historians and entrepreneurs.

  - Technical diving: This year's edition will focus on technical diving, which allows deeper and more complex dives than recreational diving, requiring advanced training and special equipment. Fabio Ruberti introduced IANTD to Italy in 1993, pioneering nitrox training and advanced techniques. Technical diving, besides being an activity, is a philosophy that requires dedication and safety, opening up extraordinary experiences such as exploring caves, underwater mines and wrecks.

  - Marevivo's Underwater Section Conference - Operation Ghost Nets: Massimiliano Falleri, Head of Marevivo's Underwater Section, will present the ‘Operation Ghost Nets’ project, aimed at recovering abandoned fishing nets (ALDFGs), which seriously threaten the marine ecosystem. These nets can trap animals and generate microplastics, compromising biodiversity and causing the death of around 100,000 mammals and one million seabirds every year.

  - Conference ‘Wrecks in the Strait of Messina’: Andrea Murdock Alpini, underwater explorer awarded the Trident d'Oro 2024, discovered a well-preserved ancient harbour in the Strait of Messina, off Cannitello. During targeted dives, he found numerous áncres from different historical periods, suggesting the importance of this harbour over the centuries. Alpini, who is known for his involvement in maritime history and archaeology and in underwater ecosystems, will present at Mare Nordest the historical reconstruction of ships built in Trieste, the wreck of which he found. This discovery greatly enriches the city's cultural heritage, highlighting its connection to the history of shipping.

  - Municipality of Trieste - EUROPE DIRECT Trieste with Eva Zukar and WORLDRISE with Mariasole Bianco: centring on the priority objectives of the European Green Deal, Mare Nordest 2025 is also part of the EUROPE DIRECT Trieste European Information Centre project for the second year in a row, managed by the Municipality of Trieste - Communication Office Innovation and Citizen Services Department, in agreement with the European Commission Representation in Italy.

  - Conference ‘Climate: a journey through past, present and future’: The diversity of living organisms has developed through a long evolutionary process, influenced by climatic variations. Dr Arturo Pucillo, an expert from ARPA FVG, will talk about the transition from weather forecasting to climate understanding, highlighting how modern technologies can improve the prediction of atmospheric events.

  - Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and the women sailors from Trieste who made history: The 2025 edition of Mare Nordest will feature part of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli women's team that won the first edition of the PUIG WOMEN'S AMERICA'S CUP FINAL. Trieste sailors Alice Linussi and Maria Vittoria Marchesini will tell us about their incredible adventure!

  - Conference ‘The History of Bagno Ausonia’: architect and diver Enrico Torlo will lead a journey through the history of Bagno Ausonia, which opened on 1 June 1934, resembling a village on stilts, from the Austrian period, through the Italian 1930s, up to the freedom era of the 1950s and highlighting the vitality of Trieste as a lively cosmopolitan and Mitteleuropean centre.

  - Special screening ‘The Night of the Conte Rosso’: a documentary film about the sinking of the steamship Conte Rosso in 1941, which cost the lives of 1297 young Italian soldiers. The documentary will be presented by directors Mario Bonetti and Giovanni Zanotti, and will be an opportunity to relive and reflect on this part of our history.

  - Conference ‘Sustainable nautical tourism’ - Assonautica Trieste Roberto de Gioia, Vice-President of Assonautica and one of the founders of the ‘Appointment in the Adriatic’ event, which aims to demonstrate navigability and promote nautical tourism along the Adriatic coast, will present the project with a special focus on sustainable tourism.

  - Astronomical Observation: In cooperation with the Centro Studi Astronomici Antares (Antares Centre for Astronomical Studies), an evening of observation of the wonders of the Cosmos will be offered, interweaving astronomy and historical navigation.

  - Nord Adriatico Magazine: The current affairs magazine linked to the sea will be present with some of its journalists, highlighting the importance of the sea for the local economy and reporting on port life in Trieste and Monfalcone.

  - Presentation of the book-non-book ‘ImmagiMare - images and words from the underwater world’: Emanuele Vitale and Romano Barluzzi will present this publishing project that combines images and words, creating an evocative link with water. This work explores diving through a dialogue between texts and photographs, stimulating emotions and feelings linked to the sea and its creatures. The book is also educational, with a simple and engaging reading, designed as a pedagogical tool for high schools.

  - Educational activities in the environmental sphere: In keeping with the long tradition of MARE NORDEST, workshops and seminars on marine issues are planned, involving primary school children and institutional actors. The activities will be carried out thanks to the cooperation of our main institutional scientific partners such as the University of Trieste, the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Friuli Venezia Giulia - Arpa FVG, the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics - OGS, the National Museum of Antarctica - MNA, the Centro Studi Astronomici Antares Trieste - Delegation of the Italian Astrophilic Union (UAI) and thanks to the social innovation paths promoted by the Pietro Pittini Foundation.

  - Trieste Sea Sunset Dance - Contemporary dance performance: On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the GeA Danza school of choreographer Ambra Cadelli, we conceived - together with this extraordinary dancer and teacher - a unique contemporary dance performance. Its essence is found in fluid lines, perfect harmony of form and intrinsic elegance.

  - Ocean Film Festival Schools Programme: The event will be enriched with educational activities for children, promoting environmental awareness and appreciation of marine heritage. These will include an event dedicated to high schools as part of the Ocean Film Festival Italia, a programme curated by ITACA The Outdoor Community, with a selection of short and medium-length films related to the world of the sea, the oceans, and all those who are committed to protecting them.

  - Cani Salvataggio Trieste: four-legged heroes: Enthusiastically welcoming the athletes of the second edition of the Traversata delle Tre Nazioni will be the dogs of the Cani Salvataggio Trieste association. During the event, a rescue demonstration is planned in which dog units specialised in water rescue will be used, ready to intervene in emergency situations. The Cani Salvataggio Trieste association is an organisation dedicated to water rescue, which uses trained dogs to carry out rescue operations at sea.

  - Exhibition - Underwater photography ‘Glances from the Sea’: an exhibition highlighting the beauty of marine habitats and promoting environmental conservation. The photographs will be a selection from the 1st Trieste International Underwater Photography Competition, organised in April 2025 by Mare Nordest and sponsored by FIPSAS, ASI and Marevivo. There will also be meetings with experts to share photographic techniques, making the event an important cultural and educational opportunity for the community.

  - Exhibition - Astronomical photography ‘Antares’: an exhibition will highlight the magnificence of the Cosmos. Meetings with specialists are also planned to exchange knowledge on photography techniques, turning the event into a significant cultural and educational opportunity for both the astronomy community and the merely curious.

  - THE SEA IS SERVITO - Show Cooking - Radio Punto Zero and Eataly Trieste: in collaboration with Radio Punto Zero - a radio station based in Trieste and our media partner for many years - and Eataly Trieste - the large emporium dedicated to Italian cuisine of excellence and located in the old wine warehouse on the seafront in Riva Tommaso Gulli in Trieste - this year we dare to present an exclusive event: qualified chefs will cook live, guiding the MARE NORDEST audience on a gastronomic journey, revealing culinary techniques and secrets for preparing delicious fish dishes.