The Microcosm of the Karst: Shapes and Colors Captured in Rocks

On Saturday, November 22, at 10:30 a.m., in the Sbisà Hall at Skladišče 26 (Old Port, Trieste), the opening of the exhibition Microcosm of the Karst: shapes and colors captured in rocks, a photographic exhibition on the richness of the fossil microcosm of the Italian and Slovenian Karst. The opening is intended for invited guests, and the exhibition will then be open to the public with free admission.

The exhibition was organized by the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Padua and the Geological Service of the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR-ISMAR) and the Municipality of Trieste. The project offers an evocative journey between science and art, presenting the geology of the Karst in a new and wonderful light. 

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The invisible beauty of the fossil world hidden in karst rocks is revealed through a collection of unusual photographs. Under the microscope, microfossils are transformed into compositions of shapes, patterns, and colors, where science and art meet in a narrative about the natural and geological heritage of this unique area.

The exhibition route is enriched with a section dedicated to the nomination of Nabrežina stone for the Heritage Stone award, which is presented by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) to rocks that are considered world heritage due to their use in architecture and monuments of exceptional historical and cultural value.

"This exhibition transforms academic research into an accessible and engaging communication tool and demonstrates how geology can establish a dialogue with culture, art, and space," says Prof. Nicola Surian, Director of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Padua.

Massimo Zanetti, director of the Geological Service of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, adds: "The exhibition builds a bridge between the local community and geological research, offering a new perspective on the Cretaceous tropical sea of the Karst and the microscopic elements that composed it."

The exhibition will be open to the public from November 22, 2025, to January 11, 2026, Thursday through Sunday (10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Admission will be free.