Italian
Trieste is getting ready to transform into an elegant open-air museum dedicated to historic automobiles. From May 8 to 10, 2026, the traditional appointment with the 35th Historic Car Rally “Città di Trieste” returns
Trieste – Organized by the Club Amici della Topolino Trieste, in a special edition celebrating two important anniversaries: the 90th anniversary of the Fiat Topolino and the 60th anniversary of the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI). An event that is not only a passion for engines but a true journey through history, culture, and the landscape of the area, capable of engaging citizens, enthusiasts, and tourists.
The vintage cars featured in the event represent living testimonies of the evolution of the automobile in our country. The Club, active since 1989, has always promoted the preservation and enhancement of the historical automotive heritage, with the aim of raising public awareness about the cultural importance of these vehicles.
“It’s not just about cars, but about memory, stories, and identities that continue to evoke emotions and tell our past through design, technique, and passion.” Highlighting the institutional value of the initiative is also the President of the City Council of the Municipality of Trieste, Francesco Panteca di Paola: “The ‘Città di Trieste’ Gathering represents a significant event for our city, capable of combining culture, tradition, and promotion of the territory. The Club Amici della Topolino
Trieste does invaluable work in preserving and narrating the memory of historic motoring, turning it into an opportunity for community engagement and for new generations.”
Providing a technical and prospective insight is the ASI Manager, Di Lauro: «During the conference, we will delve into the increasingly central role of historic cars in the contemporary context, among preservation, regulations, and sustainability. It is essential today to raise awareness around these vehicles, which are not just objects of the past, but true cultural assets to be preserved and enhanced.»
Highlighting the value of the initiative is also the President of the Club Amici della Topolino Trieste, Antonio Lombardi: «Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Topolino and the 60th anniversary of the ASI means paying tribute not only to two symbols of Italian motoring but to a culture that unites passion, expertise, and respect for history. Our gathering aims to be a moment of sharing open to the city, capable of bringing new generations closer to this extraordinary heritage and allowing once again,
the excitement of vintage cars to live in the heart of Trieste.»
The program
Friday, May 8, at 5:00 PM, the program will open with a conference titled “The Historic Car: Pros and Cons,” hosted at the Unified Circle of Trieste, featuring interventions from industry experts and representatives of ASI. A moment of in-depth discussion dedicated to regulations, the certification of historic vehicles, and new perspectives related to sustainability, open to all citizens.
Saturday, May 9 will be dedicated to the dynamic route of the cars: starting from Basovizza, the crews will cross the Karst to Opicina, and then reach the Old Port of Trieste.
The program also includes a visit to the Warehouse 26 and the Sea Museum, with exhibitions that intertwine automotive history and local memory. The day will conclude with a dinner at the Unified Club.
Sunday, May 10 the city center will become the heart of the event: vintage cars will be displayed in Piazza Ponterosso, offering the public the chance to admire them up close and talk to the owners. Guided tours of the Town Hall will follow, along with a walking tour of the city’s historic buildings, with an awards ceremony also in Piazza Ponterosso at 12:00 PM.
During the morning, there will also be a fundraising campaign in favor of the ABC Association for Surgical Children of Burlo, an organization committed to supporting hospitalized children and their families, demonstrating the gathering’s attention to social issues.
At the end, the parade of vintage cars will arrive at Grignano for farewells and the final lunch. Alongside the gathering, free exhibitions open to the public are also planned in various locations in the city and the plateau, making the initiative accessible and widespread.
The 35th “Città di Trieste” Gathering thus confirms itself not only as an event for enthusiasts but also as an occasion capable of uniting different generations, telling an important piece of our collective history through vintage cars.
