Museo della Comunità Greco Orientale di Trieste "Costantino e Mafalda Pisani"
Museum next to the church of San Nicolò, with Byzantine-Orthodox icons, liturgical silverware and Western paintings from Trieste's Greek community.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Greek Orthodox Community of Trieste was officially established in 1782. Between 1784 and 1795 it built its own temple on the waterfront, dedicated to Saint Nicholas and the Holy Trinity. The museum, named in memory of Costantino and Mafalda Pisani, opened in January 2014 in the renovated rooms of the Community's historic seat on Riva III Novembre, next to the church. Costantino Pisani, a shipping agent, served for many years as Consul General of Greece and worked to protect the Community's heritage.
Half of the rooms house works of the Byzantine-Orthodox tradition: icons from the 15th to the 20th century from Greece, the Aegean and Ionian islands, Crete, Russia, the Slavic and Middle Eastern areas and Mount Athos, as well as those painted in the Veneto and in Trieste by Greek painters. Outstanding are the Epitaphios, a carved and gilded wooden piece of 1823 made under the guidance of the painter Michele Speranza from Corfu, and a display case of Greek, Russian and Venetian liturgical silverware.
The other half is dedicated to Western art, with history paintings, views of Venice and works of Catholic tradition. These include the panel of the “Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple” by the Maestro delle Storie di Sant'Agnese, a “Penitent Magdalene” by Natale Schiavoni and a “sacra conversazione” from the Venetian school. One section brings together portraits of the Community's distinguished members, works among others by Antonio Lonza, Eugenio Scomparini, Giuseppe Tominz and Gino Parin, with a display case on the Community's educational and charitable history. The museum's curator is Antonio Sofianopulo.
Highlights
- Byzantine-Orthodox icons from the 15th to the 20th century
- Gilded wooden Epitaphios of 1823
- Greek, Russian and Venetian liturgical silverware
- Portraits of distinguished members of Trieste's Greek community
- 16th-century panel of the “Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple”
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione di arte bizantino-ortodossa e di arte occidentale – Icons, liturgical silverware and the 1823 Epitaphios on one side; Western paintings and portraits of Community members on the other.
- Founded
- 2014
- Operated by
- Comunità Greco Orientale di Trieste
- Visitors per year
- approx. 3,506
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Good to know | The museum is open thanks to volunteers from the Touring Club Italiano. The catalogue “La Pinacoteca della Comunità Greco Orientale” (Zel Edizioni, 2021) is available at the museum and at the Community's office. |
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Museums nearby
All 44 museums in Trieste All museums in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
