The Palazzo della Borsa, today also known as Borsa Vecchia and seat of the Chamber of Commerce, is one of the most important neoclassical buildings in Trieste and a symbol of its commercial and financial vocation. It stands in Piazza della Borsa, the economic heart of the city throughout the XIX century, a few steps from piazza Unità d’Italia.
Origins and Construction
The construction of the palace was desired by the Deputazione di Borsa, which in 1799 purchased a marshy plot to build a suitable headquarters for the growing commercial activities of Trieste, then in full expansion thanks to the free port. After a competition between the projects of Matteo Pertsch and Antonio Mollari, that of Mollari, an architect from the Marche region, was chosen.
- Laying of the first stone: took place on 17 May 1802
- Completion of works: in 1806
- Official inauguration: on 6 September of the same year
Architecture and Decorations
The palace stands out for its monumental neoclassical facade, with a portico of Ionic columns and a rich sculptural apparatus.
- Statues on the ground floor: in the niches represent the four continents known at the time (Asia, Africa, Europe and America)
- Statues on the first floor: depict Vulcano and Mercurio, symbols of industry and commerce
- Upper balustrade: allegories of the Danubio, the Genio di Trieste, Minerva and Nettuno, all works by Antonio Bosa
- Pediment: adorned with two winged figures of Fama
Inside, the Gran Sala on the first floor is frescoed by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison with the scene of the proclamation of the Free Port of Trieste by Carlo VI.
An element of great scientific interest is the camera obscura sundial built in 1820 by the clockmaker Antonio Sebastianutti, which allowed the synchronization of marine chronometers of departing ships, essential for navigation and the calculation of longitude. The sundial, 12 meters long, received sunlight through a hole in the wall and traced a golden ellipse on the floor of the loggia.
Functions and Transformations
The palace was the seat of the Borsa until 1844, when the activities were transferred to the nearby Palazzo del Tergesteo and, subsequently, to the Palazzo Dreher (Borsa Nuova). Since then, the building has housed the Chamber of Commerce, maintaining its central role in the city's economic life.
During the twentieth century, the palace suffered damage during the Seconda guerra mondiale, followed by restorations between 1949 and 1955 and further interventions until 2005, which restored the building to its original elegance.
Symbols and Curiosities
- Marble plaque: on the main facade, with a Latin inscription by Labus
- Bronze plaque: commemorates the visit of Vittorio Emanuele III in 1922
- External pavement: in sandstone, preserves fossil traces and since 2010 has hosted a second sundial
The palace is also linked to numerous historical anecdotes, including the synchronization of marine chronometers and the presence of statues that celebrate Trieste's international vocation, a crossroads of trade between Europe and the Mediterraneo.
Il Palazzo della Borsa di Trieste remains today one of the most representative places in the city, a witness to its economic history, its openness to the world and the artistic and architectural richness of nineteenth-century Trieste.