The experience
Every two years in the last week of August in Monrupino (Repen) the Karst Wedding, Kraška Ohcet in Slovenian, is celebrated, a folkloristic event that evokes a ceremonial from the late 1800s.
From Thursday to Sunday, visitors can attend the bachelor and hen parties, where the engaged couple greet their friends, the serenade dedicated by the fiancé to his beloved, the transport of the dowry to the groom’s house and, finally, on Sundays, the real Karst wedding in which about 500 people in popular costume take part. The wedding ceremony takes place in the church on Mount Tabor, then the guests walk to Repen, where they can still watch the handing over of the bride to the groom’s family in the Karst House. Usually, the celebrations of these four days are followed by thousands of onlookers and tourists.
It is an event that keeps alive a tradition of the Slovenian community of the Trieste Karst, and thanks to this itinerary, travelers of the roots will be able to relive the popular wedding customs experienced firsthand by many of our ancestors, in a territory rich in cultural diversity.
Shortly
Tour
Trieste
Beautiful and cultured, Trieste is the most cosmopolitan city in Italy. The glorious Habsburg past can be breathed there, and in the intersections of languages, peoples and religions that still characterize it, one can easily sense its Central European and Mediterranean soul at once.
Guided city tour with licensed tour guide. Seafood lunch in typical Istrian tavern.
Address: Piazza Unità d’Italia – 34121 Trieste (TS)
Castle and Park of Miramare
In the early afternoon the tour continues with a visit to the Miramare Park and Castle. The Castle was built in the 19th century as a residence for Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg, later Emperor of Mexico, and his wife Charlotte of Belgium.
Address: Viale Miramare – 34151 Trieste (TS)
Giant Cave
World’s largest single-room tourist cave. Descent into the cave accompanied by a specialized guide for about an hour along an 850 m route.
Address: Borgo Grotta Gitante, 42/A – 34010 Sgonico (TS)
Karstic House / Kraška Hiša
Transfer to the locality of Rupingrande and visit the Karst House Museum (Kraška Hiša in Slovenian), an example of spontaneous Karst architecture, dating from the late 1700s, characterized by an enclosed courtyard that brings together living quarters and agricultural outbuildings inside.
Typical the use of stone both for construction and ornamental purposes.
Address: Locality Rupingrande, 31 – 34016 Monrupino (TS)
Osmizza
A short distance from the previous locations is one of the many home wineries, known as “Osmizza.” This is an ancient custom established by a 1784 decree issued by Joseph II of Habsburg. The decree allowed farmers to sell home-produced bulk wine for a period of eight days. The term osmizza comes from “osem” which means eight in Slovenian and indicated the duration of the concession of the opening period.
Tasting of local products and stage of Karst folk dances (polka and waltz) with musical accompaniment (accordion) in preparation for the festive evening of wedding preparations.
Address: Trieste Karst
Monrupino
Transfer to Monrupino and participate in the evening of dances in celebration of the Karst Wedding.
Address: Locality Rupingrande, 31 – 34016 Monrupino (TS)
Ljubljana
A vibrant green city that combines the charm of a small capital city and the ease of large European metropolises. Tour of the historic center with tour guide. Free lunch at one of the many places along the Ljubljanica River, the banks of which form an authentic “city lounge.”
Address: Prešern Square, 1 – 1000 LJUBLJANA (Slovenia)
Monrupino
Return to Italy and transfer to Monrupino to attend the Serenade that the groom-to-be dedicates to his beloved.
Address: Locality Rupingrande, 31 – 34016 Monrupino (TS)
Rosandra Valley
Trekking in the nature reserve accompanied by a nature guide to learn about the many peculiarities of this area of contact between the alpine territory and the sea and preferred route for the descent of the Bora wind from the hinterland to the coastal area. From the trails of the Rosandra Valley there is an extraordinary view of the Gulf of Trieste.
Address: Località S. Dorligo della Valle, 507, 34018 San Dorligo della Valle (TS)
Trieste
Afternoon free for individual sightseeing.
Address: Address: Piazza Unità d’Italia – 34121 Trieste (TS)
Monrupino
Participation in the third wedding preparation evening to witness the transfer of the bride’s dowry.
Address: Locality Rupingrande, 31 – 34016 Monrupino (TS)
STRONGHOLD OF MORUPINE
On Sunday, weddings are celebrated in the small stone church of the Monrupino Rock (ceremony reserved), with the bride and groom and guests dressed in traditional clothes, the local peasant clothes. The entire procession then makes its way down the rock, led by an accordion player, to the Karst House, which symbolizes the groom’s abode where the ritual handing over of the bride takes place. At the end of the ceremony there is a wedding luncheon of traditional dishes, and the party continues into the evening with folkloric dancing among invited bride and groom and anyone who wants to have a good time.
Address: Fortress of Monrupino/Repentabor – 34016 Monrupino (TS)
N.B. Visitors can participate in all stages of the event that take place outdoors on all days.
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